100m is a film project from Talking Birds:
At the time of writing, the world record for the 100 metres is 9.58 seconds and is held by the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. In March 2012 we will be screening 8 very short films at the Fierce Festival in Birmingham, where each film will be 9.58 seconds long
The screening at the MAC was recorded so you can watch the films all together here.
A couple of nice vids from Craig Bush. First up, here’s one from the launch of Papergirl Birmingham.
Antonio Roberts has blogged about how the distribution ride went.
And this one’s from the 48 Sheet screenprinting workshop with Jim O’Raw.
As part of Yto Barrada’s exhibition at Ikon and in collaboration with Birmingham’s independent Flatpack Festival, Slow Boat opens as a cinematheque for three weekends during May and June.
Full listings are coming soon but keep on eye on the Ikon website for info.
A short film produced as part of the on-going series To Be Home exploring the varied districts and communities of Birmingham, UK. This film looks at Stirchley, and invites participants to reflect upon how they make sense of the place they live in in terms of its past, present and future, and how important their community is to them
For more info on this, head to Geoff Broadway’s website, intentional.co.uk.
(Via Pete Ashton)
BYOB Birmingham is a one-night exhibition where artists are invited to bring their own digital projectors (the beamer of the title) and explore the medium of projection by creating a collaborative happening of moving light, sound and performance.
Antonio Roberts and Pete Ashton are organising things and it’ll be presented by VIVID as part of the Flatpack Festival on Friday 16 March 2012.
If you’d like to get involved then details are on the website.
Pretty sure this is the first .gif on CiB too.
Valentine’s Date: Lady Mail Man was written and directed by Dice Productions and filmed by 144. Second Home Studios provided some lights and that cafe is 6/8 Kafe.
The highlights for this year’s Flatpack Festival are being released bit by bit on their website. As ever, the few things I’ve heard of are very good and I’m fully prepared to believe that things I’ve never heard of will be just as wonderful.
What’s more, for the first time since I’ve been aware of the film festival (now in its 6th year), I’m probably going to be in Birmingham the weekend it’s happening. That means I should play slightly more attention than I usually do to the programme. Recommendations gratefully received.
I was at BAFTA this evening (yeah, I know, get me) and, as I took my seat in their cinema, what should I see a couple of seats to my right?
It was a bit dark in there, so in case you can’t read it, it says:
Endowed by DANIEL DAY-LEWIS in memory of SIR MICHAEL BALCON
If you’re not sure of who Sir Michael was, then here’s his Wikipedia entry and here’s a good profile in the Birmingham Post by Roger Shannon.
A moving image exhibition project, an art gallery and a South Asian arts organisation make for quite a nice banding together, I think.
Tonight’s event celebrates Chinese New Year and Fake Magazine inform us that highlights will include:
On the Way to the Sea, directed by Tao Gu which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and Rotterdam Film Festival in 2011. They’ll also be work by China’s most famous director, Wong Kar-Wai as well as animation by Royal College of Art alumni, Sharon Liu and Setaka Mizuno. They’ll also be plum wine and a live traditional Chinese musical performance in the interval.
First Light, based in Digbeth, commissioned Nice Monster to produce a series of ‘How To’ short films.
Each 90 second film will provide top tips for budding filmmakers looking at areas such as film structure, storyboarding, direction, camera techniques, editing and sound and lighting.
Stephen Spencer runs the Nice Monster studio and, although he’s moved down to London now, he roped in Louis Hudson, Ian Ravenscroft, Marc Silk, The Audio Suite and possibly others from around here.
Only the first one is up so far. To make sure you don’t miss the rest, subscribe to First Light’s YouTube channel.
Here are a few trailers that have made it onto my ‘to blog’ list recently.
First up, a trailer for the upcoming performance of the Mozart Requiem by Notorious:
Clare Edwards has blogged some info about this.
Next is the trailer for The Last Projectionist:
I’d heard of The Last Projectionist before but somehow hadn’t twigged what it was about:
The story centres on The Electric in Birmingham, the oldest working cinema in Britian. From its silent beginnings in 1909; to a news and cartoon cinema during WWII; a porn cinema in the 70s & 80s; then saved from demolition and restored to its art deco glory in 2004.
And finally, the trailer for a soon-to-be-released documentary about King Adora:
I met Ben Lewis (who was also involved in The Last Projectionist) from Siwel Productions last week and he emailed me some more info about this one.
I’d wanted to make a documentary for a while and although my close friend was in the band I’d never really explored what that experience was like for him. We got talking and I’d decided that I’d like to produce a film about not only King Adora but what its like being in a band, any band, the music business at that time ( pre social media boom) , and nature of creativity etc
Self funded and calling in favours from friends in the industry the project grew and various characters that had featured in the bands timeline began to show interest. Steve Lamacq gave a great interview as did John Cornfield, the producer of their first album.
We managed to get into the jug of ale pub in Moseley ( now being converted ) as it very much was a part of the band and many other bands history.
The band reformed in 2010 for two shows at the Hare and Hounds and the Garage in Islington. It was great to interview the fans, some from way back and new fans that had found the band via you tube and facebook etc
I was always conscious that I didn’t want to adhere to a narrative in which band get signed, band break up, band reform etc
The film runs parallel narratives that explore the relationships witihin the band, what there up to now and how the “ride” effected them.
I thought I’d post my response to an email I received from someone the other day. The emailer said (and these are a couple of extracts):
I am currently looking for creative projects to get involved with in the Birmingham area, specifically film or media based projects. I have lots of transferable skills through studying film on my course and I am looking for possible work experience (unpaid) in TV, film or any kind of production, as a runner, film grip and/or any position where the skills I have may come in useful.
My biggest focus is finding opportunities, getting out there and getting involved in anything I can, from possible collaborations to arts events, workshops, anything to keep me busy and anything that allows me to be creative and continues the type of work I was doing on my course.
I couldn’t think of anything specific but gave a few starting places. I operate on the assumption that CiB readers know much more than I do, so if anyone can add anything then please do in the comments. My reply:
Hey
I can’t think of any specific opportunities at the moment. It’s a bit of a funny time for that kind of thing at the moment, what with Screen WM (who used to put on events and so on) closing down a few months back and Creative England (the body taking their place) only just getting up and running. In the meantime it might be worth looking at http://www.bsin.co.uk/ and seeing what they’re up to.
Also, have a look at these events, get yourself along and see who you meet:
Maybe see what courses are happening at http://www.macarts.co.uk/ or http://light-house.co.uk/
Cheers
Chris
The old IMAX Cinema at Millenium Point isn’t the IMAX any more, it’s gone independent and is now called The Giant Screen. I went along on Tuesday and can confirm they’re not kidding – it’s massive.
Here’s a fantastic picture of the screen itself (I’m available for photography commissions). It’s that big I couldn’t fit it all in. You can’t even see the sides.
Sparrow + Castice are:
a Birmingham (UK) based arts duo working collaboratively and hilariously. Mostly collaboratively.
They’ve got a Tumblr with some vids and slogan-y posters. Of their films, I’d seen The Abridged Antiques Roadshow before but not twigged it was by anyone from around here.
FlixFixer launched at the Custard Factory last night. It’s been on my radar for a while but I’ve not had much chance to check it out. I’ve just had a look and I suspect it might be a genius idea.
Tickets for the screening then go on general sale, and if at least 20 random punters come along then you’ll break even. Any more and you could even earn a bit extra for some popcorn.
Most people would be surprised just how easy and affordable it is to hire a cinema. What FlixFixer does is simplify the whole process and, on top of that, it gives you a hand promoting the screening and helping you earn your money back.
It’ll be interesting to see if they can sign up some other venues, making it a kind of Newspaper Club for cinema.
For now though, there’s already a programme of interesting events coming together and people are being encouraged to get involved putting on their own screenings.
One to watch.
