Events and Opportunities (W.C. 8 May)
1.Film London Labs: The Vanguard Writers Sessions
Online; Mon 5 – Fri 9 Jun
The art of storytelling is constantly evolving as writers innovate with different kinds of narrative, unexpected tones and blends of genres, and fresh ways of telling stories. Staying true to the foundations of dramatic writing, how can you exercise your creativity, ensure your script stands out and fully express your voice on the page?
In this lab, we’ll be exploring ways in which to raise your game and elevate your work – whether through subverting expectations, experimenting with genre and tone, telling stories with a conscience to have an impact or simply getting your script into the best possible shape.
Whether you’re developing original projects or working on staff (or looking to get staffed) on a TV show; whether you’re early in your writing career or you’re a seasoned scribe; this Lab aims to offer insights that will inspire and enrich your writing process.
Speakers confirmed so far include:
- Jamie Carragher, Writer and Story Editor (Succession), on the room where it happens: navigating the world of writing TV
- Josh Cockcroft, Producer & Director at Climate Spring, on Writing to change the world: How stories can combat the climate crisis
- Rachel Pronger, Script Reader, on key issues that commonly arise in screenplays by new writers
More speakers to be announced.
2. ESF Creative Skills Academy
Are you either new to working behind the camera in Film/TV, or do you have a couple of professional trainee/assistant credits? Would you like to work in the creative industries? Are you currently not working, not in full-time education, not in training, and London based?
If you answered YES, to the above, then look no further, as our ESF Creative Skills Academy (CSA) mentoring scheme, could be just for you!
Here is a link to where you can register your interest to join the scheme, by Friday 19th of May 2023.
What this program offers:
– 1 virtual introductory group session, and 2 virtual 1:1 sessions (Goal setting, CV feedback, and a final review chat)
– An in-person course of 32 hours, led by industry figures between the 12th – 16th of June.
– Advice on anything you need support with, towards making yourself ready for work or training.
– Ad-hoc support on applying for jobs, helping you navigate your way into the industry, bursary applications, or leadership skills for example.
3. RTS CAMBRIDGE CONVENTION 2023
The biennial Cambridge Convention will take place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September 2023 at King’s College, Cambridge.
The agenda-setting programme, titled Too Much to Watch, will bring together influential thought leaders and prominent executives to debate the opportunities and impact of changing consumption habits reshaping global television. The Principal Sponsor for this year’s RTS Cambridge Convention is Channel 4.
Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4 and Convention Chair, said: “I’m delighted Channel 4 is this year’s RTS headline partner. The brilliant Advisory Committee and I look forward to welcoming an outstanding line-up of international speakers.”
Speakers
The initial line-up of industry leaders who will speak at the two-day convention includes:
- Mike Fries, CEO and Vice Chairman, Liberty Global
- Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN
- Bryan Lourd, Co-Chairman, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships, NBC Universal
- Debbie Weinstein, VP & MD, Google UK & Ireland
- Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer
- Ajaz Ahmed, CEO, AKQA
- Jordan Schwarzenberger, Co-Founder, Arcade Media, The Sidemen
Returning speakers include:
- Tim Davie, Director-General, BBC
- Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV
- Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky
- Maria Kyriacou, President, Broadcast & Studios, International Markets, Paramount Global
- Stephen Van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Ireland and Chief Commercial Officer, Sky Group
Further high-profile speakers will be announced in due course.
Events
1.PRODUCTION IN YOUR POCKET MASTERCLASS
Join RTS London for a practical masterclass on how to make broadcast-quality content when your only tool is your mobile phone.
Back by popular demand after her sold-out 2019 session, Deirdre Mulcahy, news camerawoman, freelance producer, and for twelve years, Senior Video & Mobile Journalism Trainer for the BBC Academy, puts down her trusty Sony FS5 to pass on her top tips for using your smartphone as a professional camera.
Deirdre will look at recent changes in mobile technology that are radically improving film making and will show you how to produce broadcast-quality content cheaply and quickly. This practical workshop will cover camera angles, lighting, the best app for video production, and, last but definitely not least, audio. She will also touch on editing on the go.
Please note that this will be a practical workshop so bring your fully charged smartphone and, if you have one, a selfie stick and earbuds.
Producer: David Thomas
About Deirdre:
Deirdre is a highly motivated and experienced trainer. Having left the BBC after 12 years as a Camera/Editor/Journalism trainer, she is now delivering bespoke training in the commercial market. She has developed a brilliant workshop to deliver 1st class smartphone shooting skills, which is always very well received.
She is now delivering vlogging skills to marketing/comms teams and lecturing at the Met Film School and the University of West London to continue connecting with young storytellers of the future. She has also acted as a digital storytelling trainer on projects in Ukraine, Somalia, Nigeria and Nairobi, focused on producing quality short-form video for social media.
Booking Details:
Tickets for RTS members are free but must be booked in advance (please input your membership number when booking). If you do not know your membership number, please email membership@rts.org.uk.
Tickets for non-members are £10. Tickets are non-refundable.
Venue Details:
Wood Lecture Theatre
University of Westminster, Marylebone Campus
35 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5LS
2. Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
Nina Menkes deconstructs the male gaze in this timely and provocative cine-essay.
In this compelling cine-essay, Menkes takes us through the history of the male gaze in film, unpicking the ‘powerful vortex of visual language’ that has defined popular cinema over the past century. Taking Laura Mulvey’s seminal essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ as her point of departure, Menkes draws on a rich pool of clips and interviewees, including Mulvey, Julie Dash, Eliza Hittman and Joey Soloway, to outline the many ways in which film reflects and reinforces patriarchal power structures.
By directly connecting gendered shot design and aesthetics to real world discrimination and violence, Menkes constructs a characteristically provocative polemic about the ways in which the culture we consume unconsciously shapes our off-screen lives.
3. Dario Argento in Conversation with Prano Bailey-Bond
For over five decades, Dario Argento has crafted some of horror’s most beautifully nightmarish imagery, pushing the boundaries of the genre with elaborate works that would feel equally at home in an art gallery as they would in a fleapit cinema. As part of our month-long retrospective, we are delighted to welcome the Master of Horror to BFI Southbank, talking with Prano Bailey-Bond, director of the acclaimed British horror film Censor, to discuss elements of his incredible career.
Ticket £19, concessions £15 (non-Members pay £2 more).
Joint ticket available with Suspiria + intro by Dario Argento on Friday 12 May £26, concessions £21 (non-Members pay £2 more). Book in person at the box office or by phone on 020 7928 3232.
See the Dario Argento season.
4. London Short Film Funding Summit
Are you looking to learn how to fund your next short film? Then the London Short Film Funding Summit is the event for you! This full day event will be packed with seminars, talks, panel discussions and networking. You can expect to leave the event with a huge amount of insight into how the short film industry works, what different paths you can take and which strategy might be best suited for your particular project.
Find more HERE
5. TV Preview: State of the Unions
Tuesday, 23 May 2023 – 7:00pm
BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EU
Due to the ongoing developments in the Union story, the BBC documentary team have continued filming for a longer period than envisaged. For this reason, the screening has been delayed until 23rd May.
An observational documentary series following the historic wave of strikes that engulfed the UK from late 2022 onwards.
With unique access to some of the key players including Mick Lynch of the RMT, Pat Cullen of the Royal College of Nurses and Sharon Graham of Unite, the films cover disputes from London bus garages to the UK’s first official Amazon strike in Coventry. The filmmakers were at the heart of the biggest wave of industrial disputes in decades, documenting the decisions made within the union headquarters and the lives of the workers on picket lines.
The preview will be followed by a Q&A with Mike Radford, Executive Producer, Victoria Musguin-Rowe, Head of Development, BBC Current Affairs and Series Director Leo Fawkes.
State of the Unions is a BBC Current Affairs two parter for BBC Two.