Life magazine has compiled a diverse selection of wartime caricatures of Adolf Hitler, and points out that “in the right hands a pen, a paint brush, or a crude puppet can be an effective weapon.” You can see the slideshow here.
A new film has turned to animation to tell the story of the Green Revolution in Iran in 2009. Ali Samadi Ahadi's The Green Wave animates written accounts that were posted on blogs and Twitter, to to tell the story of the uprising, along with mobile-phone footage posted online. The animation by Ali Reza Darvish provides a unique way of reconstructing a story that emerged via the web, as the regime blocked all media and brutally crushed the protests. For more on this, see: The Green Wave film website.
The Phoenix, a new weekly children’s comic due to launch in January, will feature a strip by The Dandy’s Etherington Brothers called Long Gone Don, as well as The Lost Boy by Kate Brown. The Phoenix is being launched by the former editor of short-lived comic The DFC, David Fickling, and has already announced new strips by Jamie Smart and by Daniel Hartwell and Neill Cameron.
Finally, a competition is offering a fan of The Beano a chance to star in a Dennis the Menace or Minnie the Minx strip, and to visit the comic’s Dundee office. See The Beano’s DC Thomson stablemate, The Courier, for more details.
The Bloghorn is made on behalf of the UK’s Professional Cartoonists' Organisation
If you're looking for work in film and television, you don't need me to tell you that opportunities for newcomers can be few and far between, not to mention long hours for little or no money, all for that crucial bit of experience.
But if you've got the drive and ambition to stick it through the tough starting stages, here's a few things you might want to take a look at.
- BBC Trainee schemes – The beeb have got various trainee schemes in their Production, Design and Journalism departments which open throughout the year. To keep updated on when deadlines are approaching, follow them on Twitter.
- The Producers Forum is a membership based, sector-led professional organisation providing training, networking, and a cohesive lobbying voice for independent filmmakers.
- Ideas Tap are a creative network and funding body for emerging talent. They also provide information on jobs and opportunities in the creative industry.
- Royal Television Society (RTS) is the leading forum for discussion and debate on all aspects of the television community, they often hold events which are aimed at people trying to get into broadcasting.
- BECTU is the independent trade union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas. They also provide plenty of useful advice and resources including recommended rates, a tax gudie and legal FAQs.
- Community Channel broadcast original programmes that showcase the work of new directors and community filmmakers.
- Step2CollaboTV enables people from all aspects of film to forge relationships, share ideas, locate crews and promote their work.
- First Light offers funding opportunities for young filmmakers, along with industry news and updates on competitions.
- Birds Eye View celebrates and supports international women filmmakers, providing training, events, promotion and an annual festival.
- UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad.
- British Film Institute (BFI) promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture. Established in 1933, the bfi runs a range of activities and services.
- Skillset provides resources and information on training, courses, industry knowledge and offers funding opportunities.
There are also a number of organisations in Birmingham who provide resources along with events and meetups for filmmakers and those interested in the film and broadcasting industry;
- Screen WM provide funding for films and documentaries and are also a great source of information for news on competitions, festivals , workshops and opportunities in the film industry.
- Film Forum WM hold meet ups for filmmakers around the region, held monthly at The Victoria. They also tend to post up a lot of handy information on events and opportunities in the area.
- Film Rats is a bi-monthly social event held in Birmingham, showcasing film and music, amateur or professional.
- Animation Forum – if animation is your thing you might want to register yourself here, they also organise events and meetups for animators in the West Midlands.
- Digital Brum is useful for keeping up with one off events, which may not be listed elsewhere.
- Film Birmingham is another great source for film related news and projects happening in Birmingham. They can also help with filming locations and permits around the city.
- Locations is a collaboration between Screen WM and Film Birmingham, and is a database of locations, crews, facilities and film enquires in the West Midlands.
There are also lots of competitions and festivals which pop up all the time, and are a great way of getting your name into the industry if you have a short film, documentary or animation already completed. We’ll try to update on some of these when we spot them, but for more reliable sources, make sure you check some of the sites listed above.
Next week we'll be offering some resources for the art & design industry.
(Image by fredcamino)
(Image by roland)
Freelancers, small businesses, photographers, designers, craftyworkers etc, here’s a list of some studios and work spaces for hire and rent around the West Midlands. It would be great if we could make this a comprehensive list of studio and work spaces. The list is still growing, so if you know of anything we've missed please let us know so we can add it in.
- Fazeley Studios - Digbeth. Small to large businesses, office and studio space.
- Custard Factory - Digbeth. Office and retail space, plus artist studios from £30 a week.
- VIVID - Digbeth. Providing space for artists, film-makers and organisations to develop media based projects. Their services include professional technical advice and consultancy, equipment hire and exhibition installation.
- Studio 202 - Digbeth. Professional photographic studio hire.
- Boxxed - Digbeth. Provides space to hold exhibitions and music events, along with services, space and support for local artists, musicians, creatively minded individuals and collectives.
- Jubilee Works - Pershore Street. Studio hire and work space, also home to The Works Gallery, with exhibition space. Call 0121 233 2232 for info.
- mac - Cannon Hill. A limited number of artist passes are available at the mac from £25 a month.
- Make it Zone - The Old Print Works, Moseley Road. Artisan workshop spaces
- Moseley Exchange - Moseley. Office, conference rooms and workspace available as part of a monthly membership for unlimited or hourly use, or as a one-off hire.
- The Zoo - Jewellery Quarter. Meeting rooms available at hourly and day rates, plus office space, including shared spaces.
- The Big Peg - Jewellery Quarter. Open plan office and studio spaces.
- Tiptop Photography - Jewellery Quarter. Offer two photographic studios, one main studio, plus a lounge setting studio.
- Design Space - Jewellery Quarter. Funded by Birmingham City Council, incubation space for jewellery designers/ makers who will commit to self emloyment.
- Gem Photo Studio - Jewellery Quarter. Photographic studio for hire.
- Aurora Studio - Jewellery Quarter. Photographic studio for hire.
- Cherry Pop - Jewellery Quarter. Photographic studio for hire.
- B15 Studios - University of Birmingham, Edgebaston. HD television and audio studios.
- The Silver Artist - Kings Norton. Studio space and exhibition space.
- Bilston Craft Gallery - Wolverhampton. First floor gallery is a hireable community space for individuals and groups.
- ICE - Office space at Coventry University
- Coventry Artspace - Coventry. Artist studio spaces with shared facilities, plus kiln firing.
Film Birmingham have produced this PDF with full information and facilities at Legal TV Studios, Top Banana - The Studio and B15 Studios.
Any more?
Let us know what we've missed in the comments.
On Saturday I had the pleasure of sitting in a darkened dilapidated warehouse in Digbeth watching old Len Lye films accompanied by live Jazz.
A Colour Box
