Globe Education and the British Film Institute celebrate Sven Gade’s Hamlet

Screening with live music at BFI Southbank, Thursday 27 January

  

Globe Education’s season of events for Spring 2011 opens on Thursday 27 January with a rare screening of a 1920 silent film version ofHamlet directed by Sven Gade. Held in partnership with the BFI (British Film Institute) and supported by the German Embassy, the screening will be the London premiere of a new print of the film, and will feature a live, improvised piano accompaniment.

The film stars Asta Nielsen in the title role as a hero who was born a girl but raised as a boy as part of a dynasty determined to retain the crown in the aftermath of war. Nielsen was one of the greatest stars of the silent era and a role model for Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Sven Gade’s startling reinvention of the play provides a remarkable exploration of the European psyche in the wake of the First World War.

Describing the film, Patrick Spottiswoode, Director, Globe Education, commented, “Shakespeare without words may seem a contradiction in terms but this London premiere will present one of the finest ever Hamlets on screen - all the more remarkable is that it dates back to 1920 and stars the great actress Asta Nielsen in the title role.”

The film will be played with a live piano accompaniment performed by Neil Brand. A renowned accompanist of silent films, Brand performs regularly at the BFI and has composed the scores for many television, film and theatre productions over the last 25 years.

Commenting on the forthcoming performance, Neil Brand said: “It's always worth remembering that silent film is a time capsule - in this case a glimpse of a theatricality and a cinema stardom which could only be Europe in the 1920s. It is always a privilege to accompany these films, as each time the performance is unique and the audience takes away something different. But when the music prepares the stage for a diva of the quality of Asta Neilsen, the atmosphere in the auditorium becomes electric.”

Describing his preparation for the event, Brand continues, “I've known the film for nearly twenty years and, being aware particularly of the audience's expectations, I will try to make the music walk a very narrow line between the majesty of filmed Shakespeare and the sultry, theatrical Weimar quality of this adaptation and the time it was made.”

The screening is taking place as part of Globe Education’s ‘Shakespeare, Hamlet and Wittenberg’ season, which sees events running throughout the Spring. Other highlights of the programme include a series of lectures in which Professor Ewan Fernie and Dr Adrian Streete will explore the relationship between Shakespeare’s Theatre and the Protestant Reformation. Frank Günther will discuss the art and politics of translating Shakespeare’s plays into German with particular reference to Hamlet. Globe Education’s Read Not Dead series will feature a staged reading of David Davalos’ acclaimed 2008 play Wittenberg which wittily imagines conversations between Luther, Doctor Faustus and Hamlet at the university.

Screening: Sven Gade’s Hamlet (1920)

6.45pm, Thursday 27 January 2011 at BFI Southbank, NFT1

The new print of Sven Gade’s film with live piano accompaniment.

Tickets: BFI Members £7.60 (£5.25 concs); Non-members £9 (£6.65 concs); under 16s £5

Booking: BFI box office 020 7928 3232 (11.30 – 20.30 daily) or www.bfi.org.uk 

Betting on the Razzie Awards

Razzie Awards: You Bet The Last Airbender Is Worst Film 2010 But Will City Girls Get Panning!

 William Hill make the Last Airbender their 6/4 favourite to pick up the dubious honour of worst film of 2010 but it is the Sex In The City quartet who are offered at 1/1 to jointly pick up the worst Actress of the year.

 "There were many different opinions in the office to what was the worst film of 2010 but we had unanimous support for the Sex In The City Girls to pick up worst Actress awards," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

 William Hill Razzie Awards 2010:

Worst Film: 6/4 The Last Airbender, 2/1 Sex And The City 2, 3/1 Eclipse, 5/1 Bounty Hunter, 10/1 Vampires Suck

Worst Actress: 1/1 The Four Girl (Sex In The City 2), 5/2 Jennifer Aniston (The Bounty Hunter), 7/2 Kristen Stewart (Eclipse), 6/1 Miley Cyrus (The Last Song), 10/1 Megan Fox (Jonah Hex)

Worst Actor: 7/4 Ashton Kutcher (Killers), 2/1 Gerard Butler (The Bounty Hunter), 3/1 Taylor Lautner (Eclipse), 6/1 Robert Pattinson (Eclipse), 10/1 Jack Black (Gulliver's Travels)

Shop assistants in need of assistance

 Staff in some of the UK’s biggest electrical stores lack basic knowledge of the products they’re selling, reveals an undercover investigation by Which?.

The consumer champion visited branches of Comet, Currys, John Lewis and Richer Sounds, plus independent shops, to assess the advice given by staff. The experts found staff regularly gave bad advice, including confusing HD Ready with Full HD TVs.

Only eight of the 154 stores visited were rated as excellent for knowledge of TVs and personal video recorders (PVRs) - none of these were Currys or Comet stores.  Several staff also used “hard sell” tactics when promoting LED TVs over LCD models, although LED is generally more expensive and not always better. 

Peter Vicary-Smith, Which? chief executive, says: 

“Electrical stores have to up their game and train their staff properly.  We trust them to know about the products they’re selling. 

“Unfortunately, big retailers are letting their customers down, offering wrong or misleading advice that could leave people shelling out more money for features or products they just don’t need.”

To see examples of poor advice filmed during follow up visits to the worst performers, visit www.which.co.uk/shopfloor; and to share your experiences, visit the Which? Conversation

The Last Kung Fu Monk

Martial arts continues to be a hugely popular movie genre which is just one reason why ‘The Last Kung Fu Monk’, released on rental and retail DVD and retail Blu-ray by Scanbox Entertainment on 21 March will be another massive hit with martial arts fans. 

Directed by and starring Peng Zhang Li (Tooth Fairy and Shaolin Temple), this thrilling, high-kicking adventure delivers on everything the core audience wants … spectacular martial arts action and extravagant, dangerous villains!

Chinese Shaolin Fighting Monk Li Bao Xin has to emigrate to New York City to look after his dead brother’s son. Struggling to make a new life Li Bao faces challenges that test his character and emotional strength rather than his physical prowess.
While setting up a kung fu school he becomes embroiled with the Mafia and must defeat a barrage of deadly fighters to save the day.

Through it all his mind remains filled with the heroic stories of the Shaolin Temple, a great tradition that defines him but which also makes his acceptance of Western culture more difficult.

While in China he was a revered Master but in America he is nobody. To make a life for himself and his brother’s son. he must come to terms with a modern society where his great fighting skills and heroic lineage mean nothing.

Eventually he has to decide what is more important … his dreams or his family.

‘The Last Kung Fu Monk’ has a run time of 90 minutes, a 15 certificate and a recommended retail price of £ 12.99.

Cuckoo on DVD

‘Cuckoo’, a creepy thriller starring Richard E. Grant, Laura Fraser (‘Lip Service’, ‘A Knight’s Tale’), Tamsin Greig (‘Episodes’, ‘Tamara Drewe’, ‘Love Soup’ and ‘Green Wing’) and award winning jungle/drum & bass artist Adam Fenton (Adam F) will be available on DVD and on Blu-Ray from 28^th February.

In one of his darkest roles, Richard E. Grant plays an ageing professor obsessed with his star student, Polly (Fraser). Polly is trapped in a dead-end job working for intrusive Professor Julius Greengrass (Grant).  Her relationship with boyfriend Chapman (Adam Fenton) is falling apart, and jealous sister Jimi (Antonia Bernath) rarely leaves her side. When Polly has the chance to escape, her nearest and dearest have other ideas.

Alone in her flat, Polly struggles to keep her grip on reality. Mysterious sounds surround her, voices in the darkness, whispers of deceit. Polly knows she’s not cuckoo, but why won’t the noises go away? She turns to the one person she can trust – her boss. But Julius has a dark secret of his own. He wants Polly, and he’ll do anything to get her.

Using oppressive cinematography and a haunting soundtrack from BAFTA nominee Andrew Hewitt, writer/director Richard Bracewell, whose first film was the acclaimed low-budget comedy ‘The Gigolos’, carefully builds Polly’s world, echoing her stressed and anxious state.  Expertly played by Fraser, we feel Polly’s sense of isolation as events unfold around her in this darkly atmospheric and compelling story of deception and intrigue.  

‘Cuckoo’ teases and provokes as it heads towards its dramatic and shocking climax, asking as many questions as it answers.

”Masterly and thrilling” said Clive James at the Cambridge Film Festival premiere. 

Travellers, Arrive On DVD

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Kris McManus

STARRING Dean Jagger, Shane Sweeney, Tom Geoffrey, Alex Edwards, Celia Muir, Charley Boorman

Travellers is a fearsome survival thriller that marks the directorial debut for the UK’s newest rising talent Kris McManus and features some of the most brutal bare-knuckle fighting ever seen on film.

Four young friends from London set out on a motorcycle adventure weekend, clocking up miles in an attempt to outrun the big three-o and their City-boy lifestyles. One night they set up camp in a muddy field only to discover the next morning that they’re sharing the field with an ominously- deserted, beaten-up old caravan. When the City boys investigate, they quickly discover that the beaten-up caravan is anything but abandoned.

Within seconds, a idiotic prank sets off a series of brutal events pitching the City boys against a group of angry Irish travellers in a deadly race for survival involving kidnap, murder and bare-knuckle boxing. As events spiral out of control and we learn more about the back story of each of the City boys, we’re forced to question our own prejudices. Its City boys versus Irish travellers and the unfolding sequence of events lead us to reconsider who the villains of the piece really are.

Travellers comes to DVD with a whole host of extras on 28 February 2011.

Captain America Car Auction

As a curtain raiser to its expanded 2011 auction programme, Historics at Brooklands has consigned to its next sale on 3^rd March, a blockbusting collection of classic American vehicles fresh from the set of the forthcoming Marvel Studios movie, Captain America – ‘The First Avenger’.

The epic 50+ strong collection features vehicles from 1931-1948; the more unusual including a 1942 Chevrolet Gillig School/Tour Bus, a 1933 Dodge Tow Truck and a WWII Dodge Military Ambulance, with all vehicles used during filming at Shepperton Studios in London, and on location in Manchester and Liverpool, UK.

With the film due for global release from July 2011, the cars will be part of an action-packed sale at Brooklands on 3^rd March 2011, alongside a supporting cast of a further 65 fine classic and sports cars.

Each car from the Captain America collection boasts its own intriguing history – including a 1933 Dodge Tow Truck sourced from the Nevada Desert that comes complete with genuine bullet holes on the driver’s wing and bonnet - and all will be accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity.

Other stars on show are a 1941 Cadillac Series 61 boasting superb art deco styling and a 1935 Hudson Sedan bristling with a mighty straight eight powerplant, whilst a number of two door coupes from the likes of Dodge, Hudson, Chevrolet, Plymouth and Ford – many of which are fitted with flathead V8’s – will appeal to hot rod fans.

A whole host of commercial vehicles will also share the limelight, including a pair of Dodge and Chevrolet pick-up trucks, a 1942 Dodge Ambulance, an imposing 1942 Diamond T Wrecker truck, a trio of Berliet military trucks and a superbly restored 1938 Harvester Van.

Having undertaken the painstaking process of sourcing and acquiring the collection,

Executive Producer Nigel Gostelow, commented, "I, along with our Director, Joe Johnston, are both avid 'petrol heads', and so historical accuracy was vitally important to us.  When it comes to movie production, the settings need to look and feel real, and these cars played a large part in that process.  Ultimately they looked great on set, and pleasingly, were correct and very well prepared."

Historics at Brooklands Auction Director, Edward Bridger-Stille, added, “We are delighted to be working with Marvel Studios on this project. The cars are fascinating and with extremely low reserves set across the board, everybody will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a little piece of cinematic history.”

Historics continues to utilise the Internet auction tool, i-bidder, which allows for real-time, online monitoring and bidding, and increases the possibility that a number of the sought-after cars may head back across the pond to their country of origin.

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the afternoon of 3^rd March, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk.  Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the day of the auction.

Open Eye: BBC World Service Documentary

Open Eye is not a series about photography, but more about the people and the landscapes with which a photographer forms a deep and visceral bond.   

  

In part one Lebanese photographer Dalia Khamissy attempts to uncover what happened to the estimated 17,000 people kidnapped during the Lebanese civil war.  Her journey takes her to a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut where she meets seventy nine year old Amina Hassan Banat.  In 1981 Christian militants took four of her sons, which she was never to see again.  Even after all these years, Amina still has hope that she will be reunited with her sons, but as one politician tells Dalia, ‘Lebanon is a country of mass graves.’  

Open Eye is accompanied by a unique photo film, featuring the stills of Lebanese photographer, Dalia Khamissy, online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12216975  

In the second programme, acclaimed photographer Joseph Rodriguez turns his lens on a group of young Muslims growing up in the city of Malmo, Sweden. Its a city increasingly divided on racial, religious and cultural grounds,  and one  in which Joseph discovers many young Muslims feel they are treated as second class citizens. One young woman who runs a youth club declares that she is tempted to wear the veil in protest of the racism she feels is prevalent in Sweden. 

The first episode is available to listen to at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2011/01/110117_open_eye.shtml .  The second episode will air on BBC world Service  26^th January at 15.06 – 15.30 GMT 20.06-20.30 GMT

TRAINSPOTTING COMES HOME TO EDINBURGH

Volkswagen celebrates 15^th anniversary of cult classic with screening in original Edinburgh film location

A one-off screening of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, based on the Irvine Welsh book of the same name, is set to take place on Wednesday 2 February at the Royal Scottish Academy, followed by an exclusive exhibition held at Ingleby Gallery - two key locations which feature in the cult British classic.

The film, which celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year, is the third free event in Volkswagen’s See Film Differently series.  It follows original location screenings of An American Werewolf in London which was held inside ZSL London Zoo and gangster classic, Get Carter, shown at Newcastle Racecourse; both notable locations featured in the classic films.

The immersive cinema experience will turn the camera on the original Edinburgh film locations and is designed to provide a behind the scenes-style insight into the BAFTA award winning favourite.

Fans of the movie will be able to watch the film in the Royal Scottish Academy, an iconic building which features in the background of the unforgettable opening chase scene which sees Renton, played by Ewan McGregor, being chased down Princes Street.   

After the screening, local film fans will be invited to follow Renton’s route to the Ingleby Gallery on Calton Road, where the chase ends abruptly after Renton is hit by a car. 

The exclusive exhibition held at the Ingleby Gallery will feature rare stills, original promotional material and photography, along with a live DJ set featuring music from the film.

Tickets for the event are free and available courtesy of Volkswagen through an online ticket draw.  For the chance to win tickets, film fans should log on to www.seefilmdifferently.com, and register their interest.  Tickets will be available from Wednesday 12^th January until midday on Friday 28^th January and all lucky winners will be informed on Friday 28^th January.  Tickets will be allocated at random.

Those fortunate enough to attend will enjoy luxury seating and complimentary high-end cinema style food.

Film fans can find out more about Volkswagen’s campaign and share their views on the events by visiting the Facebook page:www.facebook.com/seefilmdifferently. 

Dolby partners with RAAM for prestigious 3D award

This year Dolby Laboratories, a leader in digital cinema services, is to sponsor the RAAM Awards “3D Movie of the Year” category. The award will be presented to the highest grossing 3D movie during 2010 (Jan 1 – Dec 31 2010) at a gala dinner in London’s five star Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in the heart of Mayfair.

Richard Welsh, Director of Digital Cinema Services (UK) at Dolby said, “Dolby is pleased to be partnering with RAAM for such an important award. In 2010, there were a significant number of high-grossing movies produced in 3D, proving the technology’s popularity with the public and its significance to the cinema industry.”

Tony Meehan Chairman of RAAM commented

“We are very happy to welcome Dolby to our growing list of sponsors. We recognise the importance of 3D to the industry and we recognise the opportunity which this award offers to Dolby and the industry as a whole.”

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in London’s Mayfair Marriott Hotel on the 9^th February 2011 where the guest of honour will be FDA President, Lord Puttnam.

David Puttnam spent thirty years as an independent film producer.   His many award winning films include The Mission, the Killing Fields, Local Hero, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone, and the Memphis Belle.

Hindus concerned about “Monkeys of Bollywood”

Expressing concern at the recently announced animated musical “Monkeys of Bollywood”, Hindus have urged its proposed maker DreamWorks Animation to be careful in handling Hindu concepts and terminology.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that since the reported movie announcement claimed it to be “inspired” by timeless epic Ramayan and Ramayan being a highly revered scripture of Hinduism, the film should stay true to the story and the spirit of Ramayan. Insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes results in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees.

With seasoned and skillful professionals at the helm, we did not expect any problem, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said and added that they were just urging for more sensitivity towards faith traditions. If DreamWorks Animation or their associates in this film needed any expertise on Hinduism related issues, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the resources, Zed added.

Hindus welcomed Hollywood/Bollywood to immerse in Hinduism, but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning Hinduism concepts and symbols for mercantile greed. Hollywood/Bollywood were welcome to make movies about Ramayan but the final product should be the true depiction of it and not a fantasized or a re-imagined version, Rajan Zed pointed out.

Zed argued that changing Ramayan to fit the Hollywood/Bollywood machine was likely to hurt the Hindu sentiment as Ramayan was an integral part of Hinduism and was held in such reverence that Hindus believed that simply reading/hearing of it showered blessings upon the reader/listener. Ram, the hero of Ramayan, was incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was worshipped by Hindus.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be plundered, Rajan Zed adds.

This is said to be the first feature musical for DreamWorks. Directors Paul Mayeda Berges (What’s Cooking) and Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), lyricist Stephen Schwartz and Oscar winner composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) have reportedly teamed on Bollywood-style “Monkeys of Bollywood”, which reportedly revolves around two monkeys. DreamWorks chief creative officer Bill Damaschke and development executive Chris Kuser will reportedly oversee it.

Ramayan, an ancient Sanskrit scripture that consists of 24,000 stanzas, explores various themes, including human existence, concept of dharma, etc.

DreamWorks Animation, which claims to create high-quality entertainment, reportedly theatrically released 21 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon. Roger A. Enrico is Board Chairman, while Jeffrey Katzenberg is CEO.

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)