Useful Information
Meet other filmmakers!
It's always good to see people getting their work made and onscreen. Carey Films, a small, independent, Leeds-based film company are due to premiere their film The Spell in September. Take a look at their website for more information and a trailer for the film.
http://careyfilms.com/thespell.html
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*BAFTA has launched ACCESS ALL AREAS, a new monthly events programme featuring on-stage interviews, webcasts, preview screenings, competitions and events. It's a tad London-centric, but does an "Around the country" section - with this month includes information about the Bafta-nominated shorts on tour in Leeds and Hull. You can sign up for the newsletter here: http://www.bafta.org/newsletter/.
*Check out www.twelvepoint.com - a subscriber-based resource for screenwriters of all shapes and sizes. Events, opinions, juicy tips - you'll find it all there.
*The Screen Writers' Festival held at Cheltenham Ladies College has proved over the years to be rich in talent, ideas, creativity and opportunity. Their website is www.screenwritersfestival.com - make sure you click on the competitions section!
* Rollem works closely with our regional screen agency, Screen Yorkshire. Screen Yorkshire provides information, advice and guidance to new and established writing talent. in the region. They offer a professional script reading service and throughout the year run various creative opportunities for writers such as their Digital Shorts Scheme and the Page One writer's programme. For more information visit their very comprehensive website at http://screenyorkshire.co.uk/.
* The Script Factory is an organisation specifically dedicated to finding and nurturing screenwriting talent. They run many training courses, as well as a Diploma in script development. You can check them out here: http://www.scriptfactory.co.uk/go/Default.html
* If you're into short films and independent films, then Shooting People is the site for you, Packed with writers, directors, actors, all wanting to make the next exciting project on the tiniest budget possible, it's a great place to get involved and meet people who share your passion. You need to be a member to fully benefit from the site, but at £30 a year, it's pretty good value. They are also 10 years old this year, and you can wish them happy birthday at http://shootingpeople.org/birthday/
* The BBC of course are always on the look out for talent and have a great resource for writers at http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/. They have MUCH more information than we could possibly gather on this site so make sure you check out their opportunities section. They even plug the 4talent scheme so it's not only BBC based!
* Channel 4 also offer some really interesting opportunities and resources. Coming Up is a great scheme where writers with no previously produced original work have the opportunity to see their script made and transmitted on Channel 4. That's the tip of the iceberg however, so do take a look at http://www.channel4.com/4talent/national/tv/
* At Rollem, we always recommend getting your work "stood up" whenever possible. Whether it's you and a friend reading alternate lines in your front room, or a group of actors gathered together for a professional reading, it's always useful to hear your words outloud. As well as theatres, which often run such initiatives, there are various organisations round the country that exist primarily for this purpose - as a resource for both actors, writers and directors to work on new material outloud, with an audience. The ones we know about are Cento - a Leeds-based company who put on two evenings of short plays from new writers four times a year, and Player-Playwrights - a London based group who meet once a week for a rehearsed reading of new work.
Cento's facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91039060211
Player-Playwright's website:
- and email address: P-P@dial.pipex.com
