Chloe’s ‘Made Up’ Over Film Industry Career

A favour while at University making photographic models look good for the camera has turned into a career as a film industry make-up artist for graduate Chloe Furze.

She will graduate with a 2:1 for her BA (Hons) in Film Studies degree course on Friday January 21, as part of the University of Derby’s Awards Ceremonies at the Derby Assembly Rooms.

Since finishing her course last summer (2010) she has rarely been out of work; doing the make-up for a music video and two feature films, a horror movie called Inbred and a Bollywood-style dance film called Some Day.

Chloe, 21, of Glebe Close, Bolton Percy, near York, said: “My flatmate when I was at Derby was a photographer and she asked me to do the make-up for some of her models, and I ended up doing the same for other photographers. I then worked on a short film called Sugar Drop, written by University lecturer Tom Craig.

“Since completing my course I’ve done the make-up for a video by an up and coming Belper musician called Leni Ward, and worked on two feature films shot in Yorkshire.”

Chloe is currently working on Gallery, a short film by York-based production company MilesTone Films, whose 2010 featureCrimeFighters was screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Gallery is being produced in association with fellow York production company Parashoots, whose chief executive is Mark Herman; director of acclaimed films Brassed Off, Little Voice and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

“It’s been very much about learning on the job, which is fine. I would like to do some further training on hair styling, though.

“When I watch a film now I’m always looking at the way they’ve done the make-up and if they could have done it better,” added Chloe.

Tom Craig, University of Derby Lecturer in Film Theory and History, said: “From the moment Chloe arrived on the Sugar Drop set, it was clear how naturally gifted she was.

“Furthermore, her background in both film theory and practise, one of the key strengths of our course, meant she really understood the effect her use of make-up would have on the audience.”

Danny Dyer's Funniest Football Foul Ups!

‘Can someone explain to him it’s the ball that should go

in the back of the net not the player’!
 

Professional footballers might not realize it but they’re well capable of entertaining their fans in more ways than one as comedy sensation Danny Dyer explains. 

Everyone’s favourite cheeky chappy is back with another hilarious football selection which is absolutely guaranteed to be top of every soccer nut’s wish list.

‘Danny Dyer’s Funniest Football Foul-Ups’ was released by Revolver Entertainment on November 22 and is the much anticipated sequel to his first ‘Football Foul-Ups’ DVD which was last Christmas’s number one selling sports title. 

Presented by a very relaxed Danny propping up the bar at his local pub the DVD is crammed full of hilarious football foul-ups, outrageous skills and sensational action from many of today’s star players and teams … from the England squad downwards!

He shows how soccer really is a game of two halves as he takes you through the best, the worst and the wackiest moments of the game which all add-up to the ultimate must-have DVD for footie fans.

We see the stupidest of gaffes … ‘when you’re a goalie and your manager tells you to stay on your line its worth finding out what line he’s referring to’ ……… to the most sublime of goals … ‘not even BA’s cabin crew could put together a better strike than this one from Lampard!   And on penalties taken inside the box – ‘whoever made that wall should be named and shamed on watchdog’!

‘Danny Dyer’s Funniest Football Foul-Ups’  has a run time of approx 50 mins, a PG  certificate and an RRP of £19.99

French Film Comedy

Could it really be that French is the true language of love? Revolver Entertainment presents a romantic comedy of the more original kind, by award-winning director Jackie Oudney – French Film is released in February.


French Film, a hilarious new British romantic-comedy from Revolver Entertainment, is the feel-good tale of how to find love…and more importantly, how to keep it! Starring Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, Anne-Marie Duff, Douglas Henshall, Victoria Hamilton and charismatic Eric Cantona, the story holds as much charm as humour.


Following the entangled lives of four British people, the narrative is punctuated by the fictitious French films of Thierry Grimandi, which inspired both writer and director from the outset.


In French Film, journalist Jed Winter (Hugh Bonneville) is preparing to interview the celebrated French auteur film-maker Thierry Grimandi (Eric Cantona), a self-appointed expert on the nature of love. Jed quickly dismisses Grimandi's theories of love and romance as pretentious nonsense, but when long-term girlfriend Cheryl (Victoria Hamilton) refuses to marry him, forcing him into couple counselling instead, Jed begins to realise that his own emotions aren't as straightforward as he once believed.


Meanwhile, even Jed’s best friend Marcus (Douglas Henshall) is talking less about football, and more about love, as the truth about his relationship with perfect girlfriend Sophie (Anne-Marie Duff) gradually emerges...As one by one his loved ones reveal their dedication to l'amour, Jed begins to think that Grimandi might have the answers after all. But he's damned if he's going to admit it.



Director Jackie Oudney’s most recent short film VAGABOND SHOES has won 13 awards so far, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Lille International Short Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Kodak/BAFTA Short Film Showcase. Her debut short, STATION, won several International awards and was nominated for Best Short Film and Best Director at the Scottish BAFTAs. She is a leading commercials director, having made over 30 ads and picked up a string of awards including a Silver Lion at Cannes, where she was also short listed for the Young Director award.


DVD INFORMATION
• TITLE: French Film
• RELEASED: 7th February 2011
• SPECIAL FEATURES: Interviews with Hugh
Bonneville, Anne-Marie Duff, Victoria Hamilton and
Douglas Henshall; behind the scenes feature

LAMB PUPPET TO FRONT CHILDREN’S CANCER CHARITY

A renowned creative team, including a puppet-maker who has worked with the Muppets and the designer of ITV Digital’s Monkey character, have donated their time and skills to produce a puppet-fronted awareness campaign for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.

High street retailer hmv, which has supported the charity since 2008, and its creative agency Libertine developed the campaign to help the charity raise awareness of the impact of childhood cancer, and the services it provides to support the whole family through treatment and beyond.

The campaign has kicked off with a 40-second advert that highlights the work of CLIC Sargent’s play specialists, who use puppets and other play methods to make medical procedures such as radiotherapy less scary for younger children. It is currently being played at the hmvcurzon cinema in Wimbledon.

The ad is written by renowned copywriter and author Rohan Candappa, directed by celebrated creative director Derek Hayes and produced by an award-winning team at Bare Films. The full-size puppet was designed by Scott Brooker, who created ITV Digital’s Monkey; built by Janet Knechtel, who has worked with the Muppets; and animated and voiced by Mark Jefferis, who began puppeteering on Spitting Image and has also worked with the Jim Henson Company, Disney and CBBC.

John Wood, Managing Partner at Libertine says: “Charities often use hard-hitting images to raise awareness, but we wanted an approach that would engage people who are at the cinema to have a fun night out, but who might also be receptive to hearing about cancer and CLIC Sargent’s work. Just like in real life, the puppet enables CLIC Sargent to talk about cancer in a less intimidating way and it will appeal to both children and adults.”

Gennaro Castaldo, Head of Press & PR at hmv, adds: “CLIC Sargent makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people with cancer, but it relies on donations from the public, so raising awareness is vital for it to continue with its work. hmv is delighted to be able to use its contacts in the creative industry to help the charity in any way we can.”

The campaign will be supported by a national PR campaign across print, broadcast and social media, which will include a competition to name the lamb. CLIC Sargent is also exploring other opportunities for using the puppet in its awareness-raising, fundraising and in the delivery of its services.

Liz North, Director of Communications and Campaigning at CLIC Sargent says: “We are so grateful to hmv, Libertine and the rest of the creative team for their generous support in helping us raise awareness of the help we give to families who are affected by childhood cancer. Currently CLIC Sargent can only support two out of three children and young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK, but with the public’s help we could be there for each and every one.”

CLIC Sargent has teams of care professionals including play specialists, nurses, social workers and youth development workers at 27 hospitals across the UK.

LATE MIZOGUCHI – EIGHT FILMS 1951-1956

Rreleased in the UK on DVD on 24 January 2011

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SYNOPSIS:

Kenji Mizoguchi looms over the history not only of Japanese cinema -- but of world cinema altogether. These eight films from the last decade of Mizoguchi's career represent a collection of eight of his greatest works, which is to say, eight of the greatest films ever made.

Oyû-sama (1951) is an adaptation of Tanizaki Jun'ichirô: a poignant tale of two sisters and their ill-fated relationship with the same man: a tale of the social mores and affairs of the heart that might destroy siblings. Ugetsu monogatari (1953), a ghost-tale par excellence and one of the most highly acclaimed works of the cinema, is an intensely poetic, sublimely lyrical tragedy of men lured away from their wives which consistently features on polls of the best films ever made. Gion-bayashi (1953) is a drama set in the world of the geisha, a subtle masterwork that yields myriad insights into the lives of Japan's "service-class" in the early '50s. Sanshô-dayû (1954) recounts an unforgettably sad story of the 11th century involving kidnapping and indentured servitude — and figures, again, with its exquisite tone and purity of emotion as one of the most critically revered films of any era. Uwasa no onna (1954), another Mizoguchi picture set in a modern geisha house, pits mother against daughter, with the ensuing drama forcing both to confront their attitudes toward family and business in what is one of the filmmaker's most astute filmic examinations of oppressed femininity. Chikamatsu monogatari (1954), the tragic story of a forbidden love affair between a merchant's wife and her husband's employee, was hailed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa as "a great masterpiece that could only have been made by Mizoguchi." Yôkihi (1955) recounts an 8th-century Chinese story of a widowed emperor and his imperial concubine, filmed in sumptuous, hallucinatory Agfa-stock colour. Akasen-chitai (1956), aka Street of Shame, is Mizoguchi's final masterpiece and one of the greatest last films ever made, depicting the goings-on in a Tokyo brothel carrying the name "Dreamland," where dreams are nevertheless shattered beneath the weight of financial necessity and all questions of conscience — a last testament which inspired the great French critic Jean Douchet to proclaim: "For me, along with Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux and Renoir's La Règle du jeu, the greatest film in the history of the cinema."

Late Mizoguchi: Eight Films, 1951-1956 represents a definitive introduction, and a lasting assemblage, of the Japanese master's most profound artistic expressions, released as an 8-disc DVD box set as part of the Masters of Cinema series on 24 January 2011

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SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDING:

• 4 Lavish booklets featuring writing by Keiko I. McDonald (author of Mizoguchi) and much more

• Video discussions by acclaimed Japanese film expert/critic, festival programmer, and filmmaker Tony Rayns 

• Original theatrical trailers 

• New and improved English subtitles.

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DETAILS:

DVD Catalogue No: EKA50046

DVD Barcode: 5060000500462

DVD RRP: £49.99

Release Date: 24 January 2011

Certificate: 12

Run Time: Over 760 min

Format:  B&W/Colour 1.37:1 OAR

Genre: World Cinema

Director: Kenji MIZOGUCHI

Year: 1951-1956

Country:  Japan

Language: Japanese

Subtitles: English (Optional)

BFI Campaign to 'Rescue the Hitchcock 9'

The BFI’s campaign to Rescue the Hitchcock 9, a worldwide fund-raising initiative to support the urgent restoration of Hitchcock’s nine surviving silent films, has just received its largest single donation to date. The Film Foundation (chair: Martin Scorsese) is supporting the project, in partnership with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, with a generous donation of $275,000 which will go towards the restoration of The Lodger, The Ring, Blackmail and The Pleasure Garden.

Donations have been coming in from around the world thanks to support from the online community and international press coverage from The Times of London to the New York Times, and reports everywhere from Japan to Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. The campaign is off to a great start but we still need more contributions to help us reach our target.

Martin Scorsese said, “I’m thrilled that these films will be preserved and made available with the best possible prints for audiences to enjoy. Hitchcock remains an enduring influence on world cinema, and these early works provide a wonderful glimpse into the development of his signature style.”

Amanda Nevill, BFI Director said, “We are delighted to acknowledge this very generous grant from our friends at The Film Foundation and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Hitchcock belongs not just to Britain but to the world, and we are grateful that so many people share our passion for his work.”

Hitchcock is internationally recognised as one of Britain's greatest ever film-makers. 30 years since his death he remains one of the world's most influential and important directors.

Hitchcock's early films are among the finest achievements of British silent cinema. On its first release The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1926) was acclaimed as a masterpiece and his subsequent films refined his techniques of stunning visual composition, richly cinematic storytelling linked to dramatic invention, which are uniquely Hitchcock.

New digital techniques mean that the BFI’s team of technical experts are now in a position to restore scratched and damaged negatives and produce much improved viewing copies. The surviving nitrate materials for these films bear the marks of wear and tear over the decades. .

As the campaign continues we are happy to receive even small amounts to help us reach our target. Members of the public who would like to save an important and historic film can contribute by visiting www.bfi.org/saveafilm.

THE HITCHCOCK 9:

THE PLEASURE GARDEN (1925), THE LODGER (1926), DOWNHILL (1927),

EASY VIRTUE (1927), THE RING (1927), THE FARMER'S WIFE (1927), CHAMPAGNE (1928), THE MANXMAN (1929), BLACKMAIL (1929)

BRITAIN IS A NATION OF ONLINE-A-HOLICS

Gone are the days when Britons liked nothing better then to be tucked up in bed with a mug of cocoa and a good book or the newspaper crossword puzzle. In today’s modern society, the nation is totally addicted to social networking. So much so, that 72% of adults spend their time in bed before falling asleep either updating or checking their friends status updates on Facebook – according to findings from a new report issued today.     

The bedtime behaviour study commissioned by Travelodge surveyed 6,000 adults to explore the nation’s bedtime habits and key findings revealed, Britons have become social networking addicts and are completely hooked to the web. So bad is the problem that adults are tweeting, poking, surfing and writing on each others’ walls even at bedtime. On average Britons will spend 16 minutes each night socially networking with pals between the sheets on Facebook – with the peak chatting time being 9.45pm.

A further 18% of adults tweet every night in bed whilst one in five Britons catch up on the latest news from their favourite celebrities and friends via Twitter.        

Further research findings revealed that 65% respondents stated the very last thing they do before nodding off at night is to check their mobile phone for text messages. On average Britons will spend around nine minutes every night texting before falling asleep. Four out of ten adults reported they have a regular text communication with friends in bed every night.

So bad is the obsession with bed-texting that 20% of Britons surveyed confessed they have stopped mid-way whilst making love with their partner to check on an incoming text message. 

Twenty seven per cent of adults reported they are regularly awoken during the night by an incoming text message. Whilst a quarter of workers (25%) reported they frequently get a late night work related text from their boss.          

Fifty one per cent of British adults surveyed stated the very first thing they do when they wake up – before even getting out of bed is to check their mobile phone for new texts or emails. One in ten respondents reported they will respond to any texts that have come through the night before getting out of bed.   

Corinne Sweet, Psychologist, comments on the research findings: “We have become a nation of “online-a-holics’. This addiction for social networking supports Maslow’s theory of humans having three basic needs. One of these being the need for love, affection, belonging and self-worth and Facebook provides the perfect solution to fulfil this requirement. By socially networking we can fulfil our need to communicate and share our news in one hit with all of our contacts across the world 24 / 7 and obtain a comprehensive snapshot of what they are up to at any given time.”       

“Like all things there is a time and place and social networking should not take place between the sheets as it can be detrimental to our well being. By texting, tweeting, surfing and writing on our walls in bed we are nodding off with a busy mind which impacts upon our quality of sleep during the night. Bedtime should be associated with calming down and chilling out with a good book, listening to easy music, catching up with your partner or enjoying a love-making session; in order to get a night of deep, nourishing sleep. Make time earlier in the evening for social networking as it will help you distress after a hard day and prepare you for bedtime.”  

  

As well as socially networking, a quarter of the nation (25%) does their weekly grocery shopping between the sheets. Whilst one in ten adults settles any outstanding bills online before nodding off. Over a third of the nation (35%) likes to surf celebrity news websites in bed for the latest showbiz gossip before slumbering.   

With the festive season fast approaching 47% of respondents reported they are spending their time before falling asleep shopping for Christmas presents and making the necessary festive season arrangements. 

One in ten Singletons surveyed admitted they like to check out online dating websites before falling asleep in the hope of finding their perfect partner.        

The study also revealed the time-honoured, faithful alarm clock is set to become obsolete with 84% of adults now using their mobile phone as an alarm clock - to help wake them up in the morning. In contrast in 2008 only 34%* of Britons used their mobile phone as a wake-up call. On average 36% of adults will get out of bed immediately once the alarm goes off whilst 42% like to press the snooze button a couple of times.

One in ten adults will set their daily alarm half an hour earlier than they need to get up - so that have 30mins of snooze time every day.       

Travelodge Sleep Director, Leigh McCarron said: “Alarm clocks have been shown to cause heart rhythm irregularities which can cause a heart attack. The alarm clock’s strident ringing tone can be a shock to the body and mind. My recommendation is to wake up naturally as the awakening is part of a natural sleep-wake cycle and it can help you feel less groggy. Make your last thought before sleeping to be your intention to wake up at a particular time and sleep in complete darkness to aid a natural wake-up call.”

Listed below are details of famous celebrities who regularly tweet from their beds with a tweet message from them:

Russell Brand: I’m in bed with my cat Morrissey. He’d be furious if he knew I was writing this. He conveys affection by milking me, sans consent. Grim

Rob Brydon: “Almost ten hours of sleep, a modern day personal best!”

Paris Hilton: Going to bed
. Tweet dreams my friends. Love Paris

Kim Kardashian: It’s November!!! Finally got a good night sleep and feel so much better! Have the best day ever!!!

Debbie Moore and Ashton Kutcher – Tweeted a picture of themselves in bed to defuse the rumors that Ashton was having an affair.

BFI statement and open letter to the film industry

Greg Dyke, Chair of the BFI, said: “This decision is a great vote of confidence in the BFI. It is a bold move to create a single champion for film in the UK and we welcome it. We want to achieve greater coherence across the whole film sector and to strike a balance between cultural and commercial. We see an opportunity to reduce overhead costs which in turn will allow us to put more of the Lottery funds into frontline activities and provide greater public value. It is our aim to increase the Production budget for film from £15 million to £18 million in the coming year. This is possible because of the cut in overhead costs.”

 

Note from Greg Dyke to the Film Industry

 

You will have heard that in a speech he gave this morning (29 November), Ed Vaizey has asked the BFI to take responsibility for film policy in Britain. Under this umbrella is the distribution of Lottery funding. Also included are certification, the MEDIA desk, support for film in the nations and regions, and education.

 

It is a bold move to create a single body to champion film across the whole of the UK and provide a clear focus internationally.

 

In his speech Ed also confirmed an ongoing commitment to the tax breaks and he reaffirmed that lottery funding is expected to increase from £27m currently to over £40m by 2014. We obviously welcome both decisions.

 

This move will mean a major transformation for the BFI. In the immediate term we will be working closely with staff at the UK Film Council to make sure that the skills, expertise and knowledge needed for this new world are retained. For some time we have deliberately held back from making new appointments to the BFI Board, but now that we understand the full scope of our new responsibilities, we can begin the process of recruiting the new Board members. In particular we will be looking to appoint new Governors who are active in the film industry.

 

Also in the short term, we hope to make more money available for film in the coming year, increasing the size of the Production Fund in 2011/12 from £15m to £18m – that’s an increase of 20%. This is possible because we will be making significant overhead savings.

 

We are looking forward to working even more closely with our colleagues in each of the Nations and with those across the English regions through the new 'Creative England'. We currently have a good relationship with Film London that is set to be come stronger and this announcement from Government has already become a catalyst for a new drive to promote British film, with initial pledged partnership commitments from BBC Worldwide, BAFTA and Odeon plus, we anticipate, many others.  

 

Of course all of this is subject to the inevitable process of due diligence which will take several months, but we aim to move quickly and to work in an inclusive and collaborative way to develop a new, exciting and coherent vision for film in Britain going forward. 

 

Best wishes

 

Greg Dyke

Chair, BFI

Jenny Eclair's Stand Up Tour 2011

STAND-UP TOUR RESCHEDULED FOLLOWING

'I’M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE!'

NEW DATES FROM 08 JANUARY TO 18 JUNE 2011

Whilst continuing to amuse the nation in the I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! jungle – the old dog is clearly toughening up; fearlessly taking on bushtucker trials, succeeding in the Starbugs challenge, beating the Dreaded Digger – all  whilst stirring things up as a jungle spy.  However, the time has nearly come for her to get back on the road and do what she does best.  Nearly a whole dress size smaller, the Perrier Award winner and self-appointed Grumpy Head Girl JENNY ECLAIR has rescheduled as well as extended her critically acclaimed Autumn 2010 tour Old Dog, New Tricks by a further 28 dates.  New shows have been added across the country and tickets are available now from www.jennyeclair.com.

JENNY ECLAIR has been a stand up comic since the last millennium: she was the first woman to win the covetedPerrier Award and hasn’t stopped banging on about it ever since.  She is also the Grumpy Old Women Team Captain, having co-written and starred in the live versions of the show.  Additionally she has done ‘acting’ on Skinsand The Bill, and is an acclaimed writer (sometimes it’s nice to just sit down), having just released her new book Chin Up, Britian, and being author of Camberwell Beauty and Having a Lovely Time and non fiction books including The Book of Bad Behaviour, Grumpy Old Couples and Wendy: The Bumper Book of Fun for Women of a Certain Age (the latter two were co-written with Judith Holder).

ends

What the press has said about Old Dog, New Tricks so far:

“Ruthlessly funny”

Clive Davies, The Times

“Every comic plays to their demographic, but the directness of Eclair’s confessions, crude but usually justified, will appeal beyond the target market… she deploys the well-established attitude and techniques to enjoyable effect. Good dog.”

Steve Bennett, Chortle

Charlie Brooker Gets ‘Wiped’ for BBC Two

·         ‘Charlie Brooker’s 2010 Wipe’ moves to BBC TWO

·        1 x 60 minute special to broadcast on 27 December at 10.00pm  

 

Zeppotron, a UK leader in entertainment and comedy programming, today announced that it has been commissioned by BBC Two to produce Charlie Brooker’s 2010 Wipe.

 

Previously broadcast on BBC Four, ‘Wipe’ returns for its annual Christmas shindig and will air for the first time on BBC Two.

 

Written and presented by Charlie Brooker, the programme looks back at the best and worst things that have happened in the world of news, television, games, and film over the past twelve months.

 

From the Chilean minders saga, the historic elections to the Pope’s controversial visit, Charlie will take an impertinent look at this year’s top news stories and how they were reported in the media.

 

Comedian Doug Stanhope gives his take on year’s BP disaster, Investigative Journalist Nick Davies examines the Andy Coulson affair, and Journalist Grace Dent takes a lathery look back at soapland’s key storylines of 2010. 

 

Plus there will be a splattering of topical poetry courtesy of Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Tim Key.

 

Charlie Brooker comments,“For those who don't have the patience to relive the entire year in real-time, 2010 Wipe will condense the whole of 2010 into one compact, easily-digestible package. Think of it as a souvenir, if that helps. We'll be looking back at the year before it's even finished, and pointing and laughing at various bits of it, like the repugnant animals we are.”

 

 

Charlie Brooker’s 2010 Wipe will be Executive Produced by Zeppotron’s Managing Director Annabel Jones. The Series Producer is Nick Vaughan-Smith.

Helen Mirren welcomes first ever UK Wii-habilitation study for Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s UK has awarded an innovation grant of nearly £35,000 to Dr Cathy Craig at the School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, to investigate the potential benefits of the Nintendo Wii for people with Parkinson’s.

The charity has invested in this research because it has received overwhelming feedback from 

people with Parkinson’s who are finding that using a Wii is a really good way to exercise at home and has helped them with their balance, movements and mood.  

Existing research shows that exercise could protect the nerve cells that are dying in Parkinson's, helping them work better and survive for longer. 

As Parkinson’s develops, many people experience slowed movement, rigidity and tremor, as well as lack of balance and co-ordination. These symptoms often get worse over time. Difficulty with memory and attention are also common for people with Parkinson’s.

In a recent snap poll¹ of people with Parkinson’s who use the Wii eight out of ten (81 per cent) respondents said that they use it for exercise and two thirds (68 per cent) felt that using the Wii helps them manage their symptoms. One in three (30 per cent) respondents said that they use the Wii every day, while 39 per cent use it at least once a week.

Karen Rose, 47, from Bristol, is currently being featured in one of Nintendo’s real story TV adverts. She started using the Wii a couple of years ago and uses the Wii Fit.  She said: “Keeping moving is really important because of the stiffness. By doing the Wii I find that you loosen up the muscles that are constantly spasming. 

“Most people with Parkinson’s find that they lose their confidence. So I tend to do exercise at home. I’ve got all the benefits of a gym, but I can do it to fit in with my lifestyle and my medication. It gives you a burst somehow, and it makes you feel better, and then you have a better day.”

Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren commented in the media this morning about how Parkinson’s affects the lives of people with the condition. She revealed that a good friend of hers was diagnosed with Parkinson's about 10 years ago. 

This personal connection to Parkinson’s is the reason that she’s interested in how the Wii could help people with Parkinson's with their balance and she welcomed our research.

Dr Craig’s team aims are to evaluate the benefits of existing games using Wii technology and harness the power of this movement based game technology to develop their own specially designed bespoke games to be used by people with Parkinson’s.

The research aims to address two questions:

• Does the use of the Wii system improve the physical abilities and lifestyle of people with Parkinson’s?
• How do the various games improve specific symptoms of Parkinson’s including tremor, slowness of movement and balance?

Two groups of people with Parkinson’s will take part in the research. One group will be asked to use the existing Wii system. The second group will try out new, specially designed bespoke movement-based games. 

Dr Craig said: “Our hope is to harness the benefits of the Wii technology to develop a system designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s. If the project is successful the benefits could be twofold. It could allow us to develop a simple way to assess Parkinson’s symptoms yet provide a safe and effective way for people with the condition to be more active and keep fit.”

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Exercise can help people with Parkinson's to control movements, improve balance and improve their mood and we are hearing of more and more people who are finding it of benefit, and this research will explore the science behind it.  

“It could lead to more people feeling confident about using the Wii in the comfort of their homes. The Wii also has the potential to be used as a way of measuring the symptoms for Parkinson’s in future clinical trials of other treatments.

“This is just the kind of innovative research we like to fund to help improve life for people affected by Parkinson’s, while we search for that all important cure.”

To find out more about Parkinson’s and the Wii visit parkinsons.org.uk/wii. 

THE GIFT OF ANIMATION THIS CHRISTMAS WITH MOVIESTORM

This Christmas give the gift of movie-making with Moviestorm - the downloadable software that lets anyone to write, produce, direct and edit their own digitally animated movies on their PC or Mac. 

Get going quickly with template movies and pre-built sets and characters, or choose from thousands of movie assets perfectly designed to bring all types of production to life.  You can also create yourself, your friends or famous celebs to be the stars of your show using the character generator, then output your film as an in-your-face epic with the 3D filter and upload it to share with your friends on YouTube, or other sites.

This virtual movie-making  studio is now available with a range of Theme bundles ranging from Action Movies to Factual TV, Kids Shows to Music Videos and more.  Alternatively, you can get the lot with Complete 2010 which contains 35 content packs ,  each including a varied mix of movie props, costumes and animations. From just £50 to buy, it makes a perfect gift for film hobbyists, or you can even rent for just a few pounds per month

Moviestorm.co.uk provides an easy-to-use software platform enabling anyone to write, produce, direct and edit their own digitally animated movies. Aspiring movie-makers, from total novices to students and professionals can create animated movies.

“The Moviestorm software package makes an ideal gift for creative types who want to produce professional-looking animation - anything from satirical comedies to horror movies. Go to our site to choose from our new range of bundles, that are designed to suit any budget.” says Andrew Kennedy, Managing Director of Moviestorm.

The box product is available to buy only from the Moviestorm.co.uk website, and the product is available to ship worldwide in time for Christmas. Delivery takes between 4-6 days.