ArtsFest

Kicking off with a special Digital Film Breakfast Club as part of Birmingham’s Artsfest 2007, the Forum will be running two mornings focusing on digital film production.

Short films at the Electric Cinema

On Saturday 15th September at the UK’s oldest working Cinema, the Electric on Station Street, the focus will be on short film production – from shooting fantastic films without a budget right through to applying for Digital Shorts – the annual strand funded by the region’s agency for film, Screen West Midlands. Producers, directors, set designers, animators and representatives from Screen WM will all be present to screen their films and answer questions from the audience about how their productions were made.

Confetti

Feature Films - Confetti

Then on Sunday 16th September, the focus will switch to feature films, with a screening of the smash hit regional comedy ‘Confetti’ (for over 15’s only), followed by a unique opportunity for the audience to take part in a Q&A with both the Producer, Nick Jones and Director of Photography, Dewald Aukema, who will be discussing digital technologies and the reasons for choosing to shoot the film on HD. Both mornings are free of charge and start at 9.30, with a networking breakfast where aspiring filmmakers can meet representatives from the industry.

Digital Filmmaking Programme

Guests who attend both mornings will be eligible to take part on the Forum’s Digital Filmmaking programme – a series of fun packed workshops which will be running on three consecutive Saturdays starting on 13th October at the BAYC centre in Birmingham.

Participants will be taken through the process of shooting a short film with RTS award-nominated filmmaker Paul Hardy. From script development right through to distribution, participants on the course will follow Paul developing a script, working with actors, shooting the film, overseeing the edit and finally distributing the final film.

Shoot your own film and win a camera

Finally, participants who attend the whole programme will be eligible to showcase their new skills in the Forum’s Digital Film Challenge. They’ll be given a title to go out and shoot their own work, with a selection panel choosing the best films to be added to a special DVD which will be distributed throughout the region. The best films will also be selected and screened at a special West Midland’s Digital Film corner at the Birmingham Digital Film Festival next summer. The competition’s overall winner will receive their very own video camera to help them on their way to Hollwyood.

How to get involved

To book your place on this free programme, please call 0121 772 6070 or email info@producersforum.org.uk. Please note, participants who wish to take part on the Digital Filmmaking Programme with Paul Hardy must be over 18 years old.

Dates:

Digital Film Breakfast Club - Short Film Production: Saturday 15th September, 09.30 - 12.30 @ The Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham

Digital Film Breakfast Club Part 2 - Feature Film Production: Sunday 16th September, 09.30 - 12.30 @ The Electric Cinema, Station Street, Birmingham

How to make a Digital Short Film – A hands on guide: Part One - Pre-Production: Saturday 13th October, 09.30 - 17.30 @ BAYC Centre, Pershore Road, Birmingham

How to make a Digital Short Film – A hands on guide: Part Two - Production: Saturday 20th October, 09.30 - 17.30 @ BAYC Centre, Pershore Road, Birmingham

How to make a Digital Short Film – A hands on guide: Part Three - Post Production: Saturday 27th October, 09.30 - 17.30 @ BAYC Centre, Pershore Road, Birmingham