Tuesday, May 29, 2012

CALL-TO-ARMS ANNOUNCED


A 6-week nationwide film season celebrating all forms of cinema exhibition
 
18th August - 29 September 2012


Following the success of 2011’s Scala Forever film season in London, the team behind it are back with Scala Beyond (18th August - 29th September 2012), a six-week season celebrating all forms of cinema exhibition across the UK, from film clubs to film festivals, picture palaces to pop-up venues and even venturing into homes and schools. With a number of partners and major events, the season will shine a spotlight on the people and organisations who keep independent exhibition in the UK alive and thriving.

Operating like a fringe festival, Scala Beyond has announced its Call-To-Arms period with the publication of their own Manifesto for Cinema (see below) and is now seeking event submissions and proposals from any exhibitor, individual or group from across the country. Whilst last year's Scala Forever celebrated the legacy of the legendary Scala Cinema in London, this year they will be highlighting the passion, determination and enthusiasm of film programmers across the country, and focusing on what makes their screenings special. Anyone can take part, any film can be included - exhibitors just make it an event, come up with a Declaration about themselves and the passion behind your screening and then submit it via the Scala Beyond website to be included. Visit www.scalabeyond.co.uk for more information.

The full programme will be announced in mid-July along with the launch of a new interactive listings website. To keep updated with Scala Beyond follow them on Twitter@scalabeyond or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/scalabeyond).


More Information on Scala Beyond

Whilst last year’s Scala Forever season (13th August - 2nd October 2011) celebrated the legendary Scala Cinema in King’s Cross, London, Scala Beyond builds on that legacy by highlighting the passion, determination and enthusiasm of innovative film programmers and venues operating today, with a range of initiatives aimed to get creative juices flowing, inspire collaboration and reveal diversity.

Operating as a fringe festival with an open submission policy, between 18th August - 29th September the organisers of Scala Beyond expect hundreds of screenings, selected by a variety of programmers, to be part of this wide-ranging season, giving all audiences an opportunity to discover local, ongoing film activity. Scala Beyond is now open for submissions which can be made via the website www.scalabeyond.co.uk during the ‘Call-To-Arms’ period (29th May – 30th June).

In order to explore the passion behind cinema going, as part of the event submission process exhibitors are asked to submit a Declaration explaining why they want to show the films they show, what does cinema mean to them and what motivates them - this could take the form of a written text, a video, a poem... however they want to declare it! And leading from the front, the Scala Beyond team have come up with their own Manifesto (see below).

Also, for the first time this year, Scala Beyond is coordinating with regional hubs in several cities across the UK, including Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Birmingham, in order to showcase the vibrancy of filmgoing culture outside of London, enabling film communities to work together in a nationwide endeavour.

Alongside the hub activity, Scala Beyond will be launching nationwide events including the first Home Cinema Day in association with MovieMail to encourage communal film-watching in domestic environments and a partnership with film education body FILMCLUB that will inspire the next generation of programmers. Partners already signed up to Scala Beyond include Frightfest, Filmbar70, Midnight Movies and Electric Sheep Magazine, as well as our first media partner Resonance104.4fm who will be broadcasting the weekly Radio Scala show during the season.


Key Dates

Open for Submissions (‘Call-to-Arms’ period begins): Tuesday 29th May
First Event Submission/Programme Print Deadline: Friday 30th June
Season Press Launch/Confirmation of Events/Website Launch: Mid-July (Date TBC)
Season Starts: Saturday 18th August
Home Cinema Day: Saturday 1st September, Nationwide
Season Ends: Saturday 29th September


Scala Beyond Manifesto

Where there is a film and an audience, there is cinema.

1 FILL THE LAND WITH CINEMAS

Cinemas can be in bars, cafes, libraries or schools.
They can be under motorways, on boats, in petrol stations or on the move.
If you can’t find your cinema, start it.

2 ASK YOURSELF WHY DO WE WANT TO SHARE?

Show it.
This is our strength.

3 CINEMA IS NOT JUST THE FILM

Everything around it matters.
Create an experience.

4 JUDGE FOR YOURSELF

Good and bad are redundant.
High-art, low trash, critic’s choice, family favourite.
All films are valid if you believe in them.

5 YOUR AUDIENCE ARE YOUR GUESTS

Find your audience and engage them.

Online Searches


76% of people conduct online searches in two or more languages
It might be assumed that not many people conduct online searches in more than one language. However, results from a global survey undertaken by leading independent digital marketing agency, Greenlight, suggest quite the opposite, that a significant 76% do. Occupations one might most readily associate with the Internet - IT and Marketing - topped the list of those who are most likely to search in more than one language.

Greenlight’s global “Search & Social Survey (2011-2012)” asked 500 people – from students, law enforcement professionals, medical staff, accountants, lawyers to the unemployed, how they engage with online advertising, search engines, and social networks, in order to glean insight into how consumers engage with marketers today, and to formulate views on what the future might hold.

Italy and Spain top multi-lingual search

Some of the countries topping Greenlight’s chart are not entirely surprising – Belgium, for example, has three official languages. However, others, namely Italy and Spain, are not so obvious.

“The fact that Italy and Spain top the chart with 100% of respondents claiming to search in multiple languages, despite reasonably homogenised language use, is possibly a testament to the position of English as the quasi-official language of Europe and the relative prevalence of English language web pages,” says Adam Bunn, director of search engine optimisation (SEO), at Greenlight.

Bunn points to data compiled by Greenlight in 2010. It showed the UK produced the most web pages per head in Europe at 17 pages per person, compared to ten per person in Spain and just six per person in Italy. “Presumably as well as there being more English spam on the web, this also means there is more high quality English content to be searched for by Europeans as well,” says Bunn.

Respondents who search in multiple languages by country
Source: Greenlight

So what if English is used to conduct an online search in Spain?

Search engines use the domain extension to help them determine the geographical relevance of a site, so while a .co.uk domain stands an increased chance of ranking within the search engine results pages (SERPs) in the UK, it will count against it when people are searching in another country. Consequently, this behaviour may warrant the creation of multiple language sites for a brand or business. This of course runs counter to traditional SEO logic which states that duplicate content is bad – which it is – so this would have to be undertaken with some caution, ensuring that all content is properly localised so that search engines know that one version is intended for region A, the other for region B.

Bunn concludes:

“The point here is that proper research, beyond just gathering a few keywords from the Google AdWords Keyword Tool, really does help to inform SEO strategy. The first step to deciding whether to progress an opportunity is to define the size of that opportunity. This data does give some food for thought.”

ART ATTACK CRAFTS A NEW LOOK SECOND SEASON ON DISNEY JUNIOR UK



Your browser may not support display of this image.



New presenter Lloyd Warbey stars in the second season of one of the UK’s best-loved children’s series

The second season launches on Disney Junior UK from 2nd June 2012 at 10.35am

London, 03 May 2012:  Disney Junior UK will debut the much anticipated second season of its children’s arts and crafts based series, Art Attackfrom 2nd June 2012 at 10.35am.  Art Attack will provide new localised content when the classic British children’s show returns with a brand new presenterLloyd Warbey, who will host an exciting twenty-seven episodes.

New host Lloyd Warbey will invite audiences to get involved and interact with the programme like never before; demonstrating step-by-step instructions for how to create different art works and techniques using simple everyday and easy to find materials. Before joining the show, Warbey gained anabundance of experience both on and off camera with theatre credits that include Rinaldo at the Glyndebourne Opera House and Sleeping Beauty at The Sands Centre.

Art Attack presenter, Lloyd Warbey comments: I was a big fan of Art Attack growing up and used to watch the show with my family, and then try to recreate the makes. I’m thrilled that I can now be a part of the show’s heritage and hopefully inspire a new generation of children to think imaginatively and get creative.”

Art Attack returns with a fresh and colourful mix of do-it-yourself activities and creative ideas to spark imagination and creativity amongst its core target audience of five to seven year oldsThe much-loved elements from season one such as the trademark Big Art Attacks return, as well as new Disney themed ‘makes’ and regular artistic segments including:

       Main Make – Presenter Lloyd Warbey will show viewers how to make a ‘big make’ involving more detail such as puppets and secret treasure boxes in different shapes.
       Art Technique – This segment will describe a technique that kids can use to apply to pictures such as creating a wood effect on a sign or tree, using tape to create a curly head of hair or turning pictures into ‘spooky’ images.
       Simple Art (Easy Makes) - Similar to Main Make, but simpler!  This segment demonstrates ‘makes which will involve fewer stages – a lot of fun ideas with basic steps to create.

The series will continue to be supported by its bespoke website, disneyjunior.co.uk/artattack, which also launched with great success in 2011 achieving the best weekly audience on record for Disney Junior UK website traffic.  Exclusive video clips will also be streamed on Disney Junior’s You Tube channel to coincide with the new season.

Disney Junior launched in the UK on 7th May 2011 rolling out across EMEA territories throughout 2011. Building on the success of the Playhouse Disney channel, which launched in the UK in September 1999 and currently airs in 109 countries globally, the newly created Disney Junior channel replacedPlayhouse Disney and extended the already loyal audience to encompass 2 – 7 year olds and their families.  Disney Junior broadcasts daily content across television, an integrated website, VOD, mobile and paid download platforms. 

Art Attack season two premieres on 2nd June 2012 at 10.35am on Disney Junior

The Million Pound Drop Live returns and you could play alongside a celebrity!



•    New episodes every Friday and Saturday from 15th June on Channel 4
•    Mystery celeb on the lookout for a viewer to play alongside them



The Million Pound Drop Live is back with ten brand new shows for five consecutive weekends from Friday 15th June on Channel 4.

With Davina McCall at the helm, new pairs of players will be taking on the Drop in an attempt to win big. And once again there will be some celebrity duos playing live in the hope of bagging some serious cash for their chosen charities.

However, this series one of our celebrity players is without a partner so is on the lookout for one lucky viewer to join them. The celebrity in question will be announced live during the first show, so tune in for details on how to be in with a chance of playing alongside them live on Channel 4.

Last series saw Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes emerge victorious, winning an incredible £175,000 for their charities. Tune in to find out how our latest pairs of contestants fare with only eight questions standing between them and one million pounds. If they’re brave and smart they stand to take home a fortune. However, one wrong move could see thousands of pounds drop through the floor.

Viewers at home can play with a virtual million pounds alongside the contestants with the hugely successful play along online game. And those who do will also have the chance to apply for the show and play for real money, live on Channel 4.

The series was ordered by Entertainment Commissioner Syeda Irtizaali. Ed de Burgh is Series Producer and the Executive Producers are David Flynn, Tom Blakeson and Michelle Woods

www.themillionpounddrop.com
http://www.facebook.com/TheMillionPoundDrop
http://twitter.com/the1mpounddrop

Monday, May 28, 2012

Film maker talent search launched



A search for Scotland’s next generation of talented film-makers has been launched with a call for screenplays.
Contemporary Scottish stories are being sought by lo-fi – a low budget film initiative run by Screen Academy Scotland at Edinburgh Napier University.

lo-fi Phase 1 will see up to seven screenplays developed over an eight month period by some of Scotland’s most exciting new talent.

The projects will then be pitched to an industry panel, where one screenplay will be selected for advanced development and financing – lo-fi Phase 2.

The programme is being supported by Creative Scotland, Matador Pictures and BBC Scotland.

Oscar van Heek of Screen Academy Scotland said: “This is a fantastic new opportunity to help kick start the next generation of talented film makers in Scotland.

“By focusing specifically on generating low budget features, we aim to develop films that show a genuine ambition to find an audience in the current market place.

“Screen Academy Scotland is proud to have industry backing for this initiative from BBC Scotland, Creative Scotland and Matador Pictures.”

Organisers are looking for up-and-coming film-makers who have made a minimum of two short films that have each been screened in at least one international festival.

Applications will also be considered from individuals with a track record in writing/directing for theatre or television.

Ewan Angus, Commissioning Editor at BBC Scotland, said: “We are delighted to support this exciting new initiative to find and produce a low budget feature with up and coming film makers, and look forward to screening the final film.”

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland, said: “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Screen Academy Scotland, the BBC and Matador Pictures to offer Scotland’s up-and-coming talent a chance to develop their skills and work with professionals.”

Nigel Thomas of Matador Pictures: “We are delighted to be involved in this exciting initiative which will aim to uncover and foster some of the brightest up-and-coming talent in the UK.”

To submit a screenplay, or for more information, please visit www.lo-fi-movies.com

The Limelight


The Limelight is a feature film that was based on an original script called “Tears of a Clown” by Comedian/writer Glen Maney.


He wrote it after witnessing a comedian who had had experienced  the death of a parent, the loss of a day job and the break-up with a girlfriend who ran off with another comedian, all in the space of 72 hours, put aside his depression to get up on stage and make people laugh before resuming his depression after the show.


Glen sold the option to the script in 2001 but when the production company couldn’t raise the required £2 million pounds they wanted to make the film the option wasn’t taken up and Glen had the script and rights returned to him on 2004.


With the encouragement of fellow comedians such as Ricky Grover and film makers and friends Paul Anthony Long and Stephen Hammal, Glen decided to take a leap of faith and make a film of the script himself, with the support of those friends.


After much planning it was decided that because of his busy work schedule and other filming commitments, Ricky Grover (Eastenders –Big Fat Gypsy Gangster) would take the role of Al Moran (The Greedy Comedy agent) instead of the lead role that he was originally cast for, that of Gary Shand. There was an open casting for the lead role but no one really captured the essence of the ageing, struggling comedian who was fighting, depression, alcohol dependency, schizophrenia and a marriage break-up caused by his ambitions and desire to be a success in the world of comedy. It was suggested by both Ricky Grover and Stephen Hammal that as Glen knew Gary Shand better than anyone else, he should take the role. So Gary Shand was cast !


Comedians and friends of Glen since his early days in comedy Patrick Monahan (Winner of Show Me The Funny 2012) and Jay Sodagar also agreed to join the cast as Sean Bollinger and stereotypical landlord Mr.Ali respectively.


The creative talent of John Robson who had overseen several promotional music films and was also a friend of Glen’s was brought on board at the eleventh hour as Glen decided he needed the strongest possible team around him in order to deliver the project using only funding (£30K) from his own earnings, £1500 from Screen South and finance from friends and family after the defunct National Film Council had turned him down for funding in favour of other projects that needed the money more, such as an instalment of the Harry Potter franchise!


On the 5th February 2006 with the kind permission of owner Noel Faulkner, the first scenes were shot at the Comedy Cafe in London.


John Robson persuaded friends Mark Monero (Eastenders-Wild Bill,Trial and Retribution) and comedians Craig Campbell (Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow) and Phil Nichol (Confetti ) to become involved and also recruited Ricky Stanbridge and The Almighty Chancers, for the soundtrack.


Sonya Roseman was cast as former escort and love interest Sara Meo and Amanda Williamson who Glen had worked with before came onboard as Gary Shand’s estranged and long suffering wife Linda. Again an open casting didn’t really provide the actor and actress needed to play Gary Shand’s children, so Glen’s own children Laura and Nicholas played Gary Shand’s children.


Filming when funds and cast were available it has taken five long years for this project to reach a conclusion.


The film was shot in London,Glasgow and on the Isle of Wight.


The final piece of the jigsaw saw Ricky Milling and Taj Deol join the production team with their editing and colouring skills,overseen by John,who had gained many of the skills himself during the long production process..


What have we produced after all this time? We believe that we’ve produced a black comedy that could reach cult status if the plaudits continue to arrive along the lines of those that we have already.


“You’ll laugh and You’ll cry longer than you have done in ages” Paisley Gazette.


“A Unique and Funny Film” Malcolm Mowbray – Director of A Private Function and Meeting Spencer.


“Funnier than an entire season of The Miranda Show put together. The best laugh I’ve had in ages.” Garry Bushell, Total Rock Radio.


“Some fine performances in a darkly funny low budget film with Ricky Grover on fine comedic form” BBC Films


John and Glen directed the film together and co-produced it. It’s their debut feature.
Glen and John have sweated tears and John in particular has learned many new skills in order to get this project to the screen and early signs are that it’s been a worthwhile journey as everyone who has seen the private screenings agree. The Limelight will make you cry but will also make you laugh and make you laugh like you haven’t for a long, long time. Enjoy.


QUOTES FROM THE SET


“We must be the only film production company who doesn’t have a camera!” John Robson 2006.


“We’d better film this scene quick. A fat bloke with his pants around his ankles shagging thin air in the stairwell of a block of flats is an arrestable offence if ever I saw it and we don’t want to frighten the locals!” Glen Maney 2011

The film Premiere’s was at The London Independent Film Festival 2012.


The film goes on sale on 20th May via download or stream via the Film’s official website.


http://www.thelimelightmovie.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2378521/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/21027195195/
http://www.twitter.com/limelightmovie

Friday, May 25, 2012

WHERE DO WE GO NOW

Tells the heart-warming tale of a group of women's determination to protect their isolated, mine-encircled community from the pervasive and divisive outside forces that threaten to destroy it from within.

United by a common cause, the women's unwavering friendship transcends against all the odds, the religious fault lines which criss-cross their society and they hatch some extraordinarily inventive and often comical plans, in order to distract the village's menfolk and diffuse any signs of inter-religious tension. 





Thursday, May 24, 2012

‘The Physician’


BBC’s Dominique Moore to Star alongside Ben Kingsley and a host of stars in the remake of Noah Gordon’s medieval drama ‘The Physician’

Dominique Moore is known for her comedic roles in top rating shows like the BBC’s BAFTA winning series Horrible Histories and lately in the just released BBC Comedy Social Media Addict.  Now she transcends onto the big screen alongside Ben Kingsley, in the UFA adaptation of Noah Gordon’s bestseller The Physician

This talented young actress is no stranger to playing historical characters having brought to life the long forgotten heroine Mary Seacole in Horrible Histories on CBBC and BBC with Stephen Fry.  She will be travelling back in time again for her role in The Physician, an adaptation of Noah Gordon's bestseller about an 11th-century Englishman who travels to Persia to study medicine.  This exciting period drama will be filmed for the big screen and has an all-star cast attached; Ben Kingsley, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Payne, French actor Olivier Martinez (UnfaithfulS.W.A.T.) and of course Dominique Moore.  The Physician has secured €3.3 million ($4.6 million) in regional and funding and production begins in Morocco and Germany next month.   Originally published in 1986, The Physician has sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.

Dominique’s wealth of credits include lead roles in BBC shows like Hotel TrubbleMy Almost Famous FamilyThe Queens NoseDisconnected, ITV2’s Footballers Wives Extra Time, Channel 4's Phoneshop and Drama Kings of London. She is also known for BBC’S Little Miss Jocelyn, as well as starring in the Disney Channel series Life Bites.  Horrible Histories is currently being shown on BBC and the new BBC comedy Social Media Addic online, alongside Steve Jones as the lead character Donna Rush.  The show can be seen right here:




Landscape Conference Screens The Exiles

How physical places affect people’s emotions – whether by inspiring fear, love or even anger – will be the subject of a University of Derby conference called Affective Landscapes.

This Friday and Saturday (May 25-26), 150 academics, researchers and others will be at the University’s Kedleston Road site, in Derby, to discuss the many different ways writers, film-makers, photographers and artists have conveyed the sensations, memories, dreams and emotions evoked by landscapes they’ve lived in or visited.

Among the speakers at the prestigious conference will be Kathleen Stewart, Professor of Anthropology at the University of TexasUSA, who will speak on Worlding; or the attempt to study human culture in a globalised era, rather than the traditional cultural studies approach looking at individual peoples, regions or nations in isolation.

The two-day event will also include a related screening at Derby’s QUAD centre of director Kent Mackenzie’s little seen film The Exiles (1968); a documentary covering 24 hours in the life of a group of relocated Native Americans living in and around Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, in the late 1950s.

The Affective Landscapes conference is being hosted by the University’s Identity, Conflict and Representation Research Centre in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Studies in Literature. It follows the success of Derby’s 2009 symposium on Land and Identity.

Neil Campbell, Professor of American Studies and Faculty Research Manager at the University of Derby, said: “This conference will bring together scholars working in cultural studies, literary studies, creative writing, film and media studies, photography, fine art and many others; interested in examining the different ways in which human beings respond and relate to, as well as debate and interact with, landscape.

“Ideas we will be looking at include national identity, suburbia, wastelands, rural versus urban areas, and landscapes which evoke trauma and memory.”

For more information about the Affective Landscapes conference see website www.derby.ac.uk/events/affective-landscapes

Molly Maid stars in ITV’s latest expose on how some modern Brits live




Positioned as the authority in the domestic cleaning industry, Molly Maid featured alongside a number of other companies involved in cleaning up Britain in a prime time national television documentary last night entitled ‘Dirty Britain’ on ITV1 narrated by Zoe Wanamaker.

‘Dirty Britain’ was a two-part documentary which aired on ITV1 at 9pm on 15th and 22nd May exposing the remarkable things found behind the nation’s front doors and those personalities dedicated to their jobs in helping to clean up Britain. Often going over and above the call of duty, Molly Maid was well placed to provide some insight into the expectations from a variety of its customers. As a professional, discreet and trusted service, Molly Maid always takes great pride in maintaining the utmost care and regard for all of our valued customers.

The producers spent two days filming behind the scenes with a team from Molly Maid Wimbledon and with Franchise Owner, Sandra Redmond, in different homes each providing character led and anecdotal references on how the maids rise to the daily challenge of meeting differing customer expectations.

Commenting on the exposure, Pam Bader OBE, CEO of Molly Maid, “We were very proud to be approached to take part in such a high profile programme highlighting the great work some people do for which they often receive little recognition and are often taken for granted. We are proud of the service and quality that our maids provide to customers whose needs and expectations vary so widely and that is what we are all about.”

'MOVIE INVESTORS' LAUNCHES AT CELEBRITY CANNES FILM FESTIVAL PARTY



Movie Investors, a new international movie fund for independent and studio-backed movies is thrilled to announce its exclusive celebrity supported launch party at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The party will take place on Saturday, 26th May at  No 100, Avenue des Anglais, Cannes, one of the most stunning villas in Cannes and the location of parties held in the past by MTV, DSquared and Puff Daddy. The party will raise awareness of and showcase filmmakers currently raising revenue for their movies, ranging from micro-budget productions of under $100,000 to big budget blockbusters of over $30,000,000.

Movie Investors are offering guests the exclusive chance to win cameos, speaking, starring, supporting and executive producer roles in the movies being financed on the website. Films included in the Movie Investors slate at launch are the first ever interactive movies from the Fighting Fantasy book franchise; including ‘House of Hell’ and ‘Appointment with F.E.A.R’ being produced by Pinewood Studios based Supertream productions and directed by Ian Patterson.

Also showcasing will be a cutting edge 3D epic science fiction film trilogy produced by MTV Film director Tim Edmund Burke and Seth Ward called ‘Planet X’ that has been described as a cross between ‘Star Wars’, ‘Avatar’ and this year’s ‘Prometheus’. The fund is also taking advantage of the huge growth in popularity of the low budget found footage genre with a stag party comedy called ‘Vegas Baby’ and new POV serial killer horror ‘L.A Slasher’.

The company also launches a new global charity idea supported by the Hollywood A-listers and a number of fractional-ownership, multiple-owner, schemes such as a new Hollywood Hills based digital effects company and a super yacht to be used for film locations and film festival events around the world.

A number of celebrities are expected to attend including Ed Norton, Bruce Willis of Wes Anderson's Cannes opener 'Moonrise Kingdom', Cannes jury members Tim Roth and Ewan McGregor, actresses Eva Longoria, Diane Kruger and actors Shia LaBeouf and Sacha Baron Cohen, who is in town promoting ‘The Dictator’. Kelly Brook, model Natasha Poly and Cheryl Cole are also expected to attend for the gifting suite at the villa run by newly launched gifting series Strangelove Gifting Suites which will see designer dresses and modern electronics gadgets given to celebrity attendees prior to the party starting.

Guests will enjoy an array of delicious cocktails by Belvedere, from 8pm to 12am, alongside music from acclaimed VJ’s The Urban Knights and international music producer Jimmy V.

Inline images 1

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Introducing Film Stars, an exciting new series from BFI Publishing


Stars of the screen: their careers, triumphs, disasters and lasting legacy

Our obsession with celebrity shows no sign of slowing down. For decades, screen icons have captured the
public imagination, fascinating us with their beauty, glamour, lavish lifestyles, scandals and successes –
and, of course, their unforgettable performances.

Elizabeth Taylor and Nicole Kidman are the first titles in the brand new Film Stars series from BFI
Publishing. Each title shines a spotlight on an international screen legend, exploring their life, career,
methods, and cultural legacy. This unique series offers diverse perspectives, bringing together historical
and contemporary views with a study of modern celebrity.

Elizabeth Taylor was undeniably one of the 20th century’s greatest film stars. In a career spanning six
decades, she made more than fifty films, won numerous awards, and collaborated with greats including
Marlon Brando, Spencer Tracy, and Vincente Minnelli. She left an indelible mark on global cinema, from
her child-star beginnings to her ‘screen siren’ status and many memorable performances; yet these
achievements have often been overshadowed by media storms surrounding her tumultuous personal life.
In this book, Susan Smith takes an in-depth look at Taylor’s life and career, considering her distinctive
performance style, the roles that made her name, her changing image, creative collaborations, the
complex interplay of her on- and off-screen personae, and the legacy she left behind.

Nicole Kidman is more than a star; she is a global celebrity whose fame spans film, TV, theatre, music,
fashion, luxury brands, newspapers, magazines, biographies and the internet. Her thirty-year career is
studded with hits and acclaim, including To Die For (1995), Moulin Rouge! (2003), The Others (2001), The
Hours (2002) and Cold Mountain (2006), but also controversial film choices. This new book by Pam Cook
explores Kidman’s ‘personal brand’, image, story and lasting contribution to modern culture, as well as
tensions between her Australian roots and international superstar status. A chronological approach
outlines her career trajectory and examines key films and performances in context to evaluate her lasting
contribution to modern culture.

Star Studies: A Critical Guide is both a fascinating introduction to the study of cinema’s greats and an
ideal companion to the other Film Stars titles. Its critical overview of important contributions by leading
scholars tracks the evolution of this important field and establishes new directions for its future.
Publishing in 2013 are books on Brigitte Bardot, Carmen Miranda, Sabu and
Mickey Rourke.

Monday, May 21, 2012

DocHouse


BITTER SEEDS + Q&A(TBC)
Screening Thursday 28th June | 8pm | Rich Mix

Indian cotton farmers duped by the promise of new GM seeds
find themselves in a desperate spiral of debt and often suicide in this compelling and tender film.

Every 30 minutes an Indian farmer kills himself as a consequence of overwhelming debt. In India many farmers switched to genetically modified seeds produced by the American company Monsanto, and the drawbacks proved to be manifold. In contrast to the supposed benefits, the costs for fertilizer and pesticides turned out to be far higher than before. What's more, the seeds require more water, and the farmers are rain-dependent in an arid area but the low cost of the GM seeds priced traditional methods out of the market and the farmers find themselves trapped in a spiral of debt. The film follows a young female journalist trying to uncover India’s tragic suicide statistics.

‘The documentary is among the most subtle and artful condemnations of the food industry…. wrapped within a gripping character-based narrative.’ Filmmaker Magazine


DocHouse is a year-round festival of weekly showcase documentary screenings in UK cinemas. Established for over ten years through events, masterclasses, festivals and education outreach, DocHouse has achieved a high profile within the documentary community and beyond, raising public awareness of documentary across the UK.
We work in close collaboration with leading international filmmakers, distributors, festivals, social networks and broadcast organisations, encouraging audience interest in the best international documentary.


DocHouse



DocHouse and Open City Docs Fest present…
5 BROKEN CAMERAS London Premiere
+ Q&A with both directors, Emad Burnat coming especially from the West Bank

Screening Thursday 21st June | 7.30pm | Riverside Studios | £7/5 concs

Palestinian farm laborer Emad has five video cameras - each tells a different part of the story of resistance

Using the first camera Emad recorded how the bulldozers came to rip the olive trees out of the ground in 2005 but was prevented from filming further as his camera was broken in the protest. Yet, Emad keeps on filming with new cameras despite pleas from his wife, who fears reprisals. It makes for an intensely powerful personal document about one village's struggle against violence and oppression. ‘We made this film with sincere initiative, trying to avoid all the clichés’ and traps as much as we could, and to challenge our own prejudgments’.

‘Eloquence, spare cinematic metaphor and intimate personal vision create a visceral, first-person story of non-violent resistance in Bil’in’ (Hotdocs)

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with directors Guy David and Emad Burnat who is visiting from the West Bank for this London Premiere.

BOOK TICKETS .

DocHouse is a year-round festival of weekly showcase documentary screenings in UK cinemas. Established for over ten years through events, masterclasses, festivals and education outreach, DocHouse has achieved a high profile within the documentary community and beyond, raising public awareness of documentary across the UK.
We work in close collaboration with leading international filmmakers, distributors, festivals, social networks and broadcast organisations, encouraging audience interest in the best international documentary.