Created in Birmingham

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:

• http://www.producersforum.org.uk/
• http://www.creativenetworksonline.com/
• http://www.birminghamsmc.com/
• http://www.helloculture.net/ (this is on tomorrow)

Maybe see what courses are happening at http://www.macarts.co.uk/ or http://light-house.co.uk/

Cheers

Chris

This month The Producers’ Forum is partnering with Screenwriters Forum and Writing West Midlands to run a speed dating session between writers and producers.

25 May. More info and registration here.

Regional organisations getting together to introduce their members to each other is a VERY SENSIBLE THING. It’s actually kinda baffling that this doesn’t happen more often. More please.

• We Could Be Heroes Clothing
  “This is We Could Be Heroes Clothing, an independant clothing company set up in the UK.” And this is their blog
• IdeasTap | Forums: CASTING – Actors needed for UK Film Council funded short film.
  “We are currently looking to fill a number of primary roles for a new project, ‘Fifty’, a short film to be made in association with Screen West Midlands as part of the UK Film Council’s Digishorts scheme.” I happen to know they’re after a bus too – can anyone help?
• The Birmingham Press
  I’d not spotted that they have a website
• Birminghamsalon’s Blog
  Audio from Birmingham Salon’s ‘What are libraries for?’ debate is up online
• Twitter / Deluka: On stage at #newtwitter launch party
  Nice…
• Twitter / Mostly Jazz Festival: News News. Mark Ronson AND …
  “News News. Mark Ronson AND Duran Duran in Swordfish Records on Tuesday 28th from 4pm. Head down to meet them!” Sorry for the late notice on this one
• Media Archive for Central England to release The Black Country 1969 DVD on 1st November – Switchboard
  “Media Archive for Central England are preparing to release the first of a number of retail DVDs that will be released in the coming months and years, and our first DVD release is The Black Country 1969″
• Son Of The Public Meeting | We Are Birmingham – The Shop
  Details of the shop emerge – a new logo, potential premises, company directors…
• Popular Music History – So What? – Discussing the political economy of popular music history
  Rob Horrock’s “PhD research scrapbook”. He’s the manager of Einstellung too
• Opportunity for filmmakers to screen their films as part of Hello Digital 2010
  Producers’ Forum have “a space at The Custard Factory Theatre, which seats 100 people on 21st and 22nd October from noon -18:30″. Give them a shout if you want to submit a film or two
• Digbeth is Good » Getgood Link: Art Stalking: 48 Sheet
  Nice vid about the 48 Sheets project with a link to Ana Milgram’s take on it/response
• Sister Tree
  “Established in 1997 by Sharon Jones and Margaret Polack, Sister Tree is a Theatre Production Company which concentrates on leading workshops in all branches of the art”
• Midland Actors Theatre
  “MAT is a leading touring theatre company. We are dedicated to telling stories. Our aim is to take stories, myths and legends from different cultures and traditions, and retell them in new ways”
• Mind Your Language – jon bounds
  Worth bearing in mind – “I’ve worked out over a few years that “private view” means two things: if a show is big and important it means “no entry unless you’re invited”, if a show is small or not that well known it means “please come, there’ll be free wine and nibbles”. It’s developed as art-jargon for some reason, and people who know know and those that don’t don’t. But it does put off people who might otherwise have liked to have attended—and the smaller shows could do with that, in fact they want it.” Now to decide if your show is big and important or if it’s smaller
• Black Country Creative Advantage
  “Black Country Creative Advantage is a 2-year project of the Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation at the University of Wolverhampton and Longhouse/Multistory in West Bromwich”. They have a conference coming up on 9 Oct
• 2011 submissions call : Flatpack Festival
  “Lengthening nights and falling leaves mean it’s time to start cranking up for Flatpack”. Click the link for details on how to send your stuff in
• Birmingham Post – Galaxy radio puts Capital into Birmingham
  “A spokesman for the firm said no jobs would be lost in Birmingham as a result of the rebrand and that breakfast and drive-time shows would be locally made”

• Producers’ Forum, 21 July at the MAC
  WIth Suzie Norton, Screen WM CEO, and her Senior Management team delivering a presentation on Screen WM’s 2010-11 strategy and the next phase of support for the West Midlands Film community
• Animation Forum West Midlands
  “Submissions for 2010′s Great Animation Challenge are now open”. Use one of the bits of audio provided to make an animation
• My five tips for bands online | Mind over Matter
  Useful stuff from Ian
• The Perfect Balti
  “One man’s search for Birmingham’s best Balti (and naan bread)”
• BBC – Have Your Say: Which UK city would be most worthy of culture award?
  A nice amount of support for Birmingham’s bid from the Have Your Say commenters. Given the general level of debate on that forum I’m not sure whether that’s a good endorsement or not…
• Birmingham Post – CBSO celebrates a record season as audience numbers grow
  “The CBSO has seen average attendances increase by 3.5 per cent in the past 12 months”
• A year in the life of a touring Company « Birmingham Royal Ballet’s touring blog
  Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chief Executive Christopher Barron writes about the past 12 months for the Company
• Switchboard – World-class connections for the West Midlands
  “Switchboard is a network of organisations from the screen, digital, media and music industries in the West Mildands”. One to watch. (Disclosure – I’ve been invited on this)
• The New Optimists
  “We asked scientists “what are you optimistic about?” This site and the book record their amazing answers”
• Exclusive extract from local author John Dalton’s new book, Urban Nature Notebook « In Birmingham
  “His new book is a collection of short accounts of the author’s encounters with urban nature as he travels around the city”

• Moving on Up – The Future of Film in the West Midlands
  “This event is a must for anyone who wants to find out about the strategy of the forum or who wants to feedback on ScreenWMs role within the future of film” With Natasha Carlish (Producers’ Forum) and Suzie Norton (Screen WM)
• Just Film for a Fairer World
  Monthly film night at the Midlands Co-operative Member Relations Centre at the Birmingham & Midland Institute organised by the Birmingham Co-operative Film Society. Next film is tonight, no info on the programme after that but keep an eye out for more
• Scene Not Heard Birmingham – The Saturday Matinées – CANCELLATION, 15 MAY
  Tomorrow afternoon’s gig has been cancelled due to noise restrictions that have apparently been placed on Island Bar
• Digbeth is Good » A Friday evening full of art
  Nicky went to hobbypopMUSEUM at Eastside Projects and then on to The Bordesley Centre of Contemporary Art

• Producers’ Forum Monthly Networking
  “The Producers’ Forum next monthly networking meeting will be on Monday 14th December 17:00 at The Victoria Pub”
• Business Development Grants – Birmingham City Council
  “The Business Development Grant Programme is funded by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and runs until March 2011. It is aimed specifically at helping new and existing small to medium sized businesses citywide to develop and grow”. Maybe worth a look
• Carbon Clothing
  Carbon Clothing are based in Birmingham, have been going since 2007 and have created “a huge range of custom funny, DJ, Music and video game based clothing”
• Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Christmas card
  I liked this – nicely pitched and friendly
• Birmingham Hippodrome Blog
  The Hippodrome have a blog away from their main site with ‘news and backstage gossip’ promised

• Voting for the Weblog awards now over.
  Yes, the polls are closed and thanks to huge support CiB received the most votes in the Best UK Blog category. The winners are not officially announced until tomorrow, but whilst waiting you can go explore some of the nearly 500 finalist blogs in the 48 categories.
• The Rage Ensemble Production » Open casting.
  Amateur arts organisation Rage Ensemble are putting on a production of ‘Our Country’s Good’ and are holding an open casting and workshops in Birmingham on 31st January. They are also looking for backstage support.
  
• Birmingham Eastside Blog.
  A blog for an area of Brum with rich history and an exciting future – are looking for someone to write for, or take on this blog.
• Emerging Producer Training Programme.
  Producers Forum have funding from Skillset to offer a heavily subsidised course for emerging producers.
• D’log » Art cuts in 2010?
  D’log rounds up some worthwhile articles that discuss the possibility of money for the arts next year.
• Live in Digbeth, Deritend or Highgate? Tell your story.
  Over the next three years or so Friction Arts be working on ‘Echoes From The Edge’. A collaboration with ‘Touchable Stories’ of Boston, USA to work with the communities surrounding their HQ on creating interactive living history exhibitions and a living archive for the histories and stories of the people of Digbeth, Deritend and Highgate.
• Birmingham Music Archive.
  “The Birmingham Music Archive has been established to recognise and celebrate Birmingham’s rich musical heritage. We are interested in hearing and sharing the stories about the bands, the musicians, the venues and the great gigs that have taken place, the managers and promoters, the records shops, all those personal experiences and memories that surround and inform this vibrant city and its music.”
• Remade Fashion Fair.
  Freedom Clothing are organising a fair for remade and recycled clothes etc. on the 21st Feb at the Custard factory.