UK Film Network

After an already impressive career as a film producer of pictures such as  Children of Men , Dawn of the Dead  and The Family Man,  Marc Abraham makes his directing debut with a classic  ‘David versus Goliath’ tale.

Flash of Genius is the story of Bob Kearns, and engineering professor in Detroit who invents things for the love of engineering, and also to strike it lucky one day for his ever-growing family.

 Kearns hits on an idea to make a windscreen wiper work like an eye. He teams up with a long time friend, and produces a patent which they take to Ford.
Up until this time Ford’s engineers have failed to breakthrough with the invention.
After initial talks with Ford and an agreement reached, production commences on the intermittent windshield wiper. However shortly after this, Ford pulls out of the deal saying they are no longer interested.

Unfortunately for Kearns, he discovers those nasty car moguls pinched his idea and installed the intermittent wiper on all their new models.

 Then begins the fight to get back his invention and to prove that Ford copied the prototypes and force the company to admit that it stole the idea.

This fight has its price. Kearns happy marriage and his relationships with his children are changed irrevocably.

Greg Kinnear as Bob Kearns gives a largely sympathetic portrayal of a man who was widely known as one of the most suspicious and litigious inventors.

In life Bob Kearns was an irascible character sometimes very difficult to deal with.

He got through four lawyers over the period of time he conducted his case against Ford, and at times required his children to help him with paralegal work.

Though his family life suffered, Kearns determination to win against the big guys became an urban legend in inventor circles, in particular for those that  had been stolen from and failed to win their case.

Abraham has been faithful to the story, consulting with Kearn’s himself before his death in 2005 and then with his family.
 
 His poetic licence has been to tell the story over 12 years rather than over 25, the actual time it took to get Ford to court.

It’s an entertaining piece of film making which shows an insight into the lengths to which big car corporations in the 1960s through to the 1980s went to silence their detractors.

The triumph of Kearns win  gives heart to anyone who has had their work stolen, but it also tells the tale of the human cost, especially  when companies do wrong and people must make right.


http://www.flashofgenius.net/

I'm now working with BAFTA on their online activity and the first thing they are keen to let everyone know all about, is their new ACCESS ALL AREAS. It's a new public area of their website and it's not just for professional filmmakers and performers, it's for EVERYONE. 

Join today and start to get more inside news throughout the year. All their fantastic events are held throughout the UK and are open to the public. 

Read more below.

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Access All Areas

BAFTA is the UK’s foremost charity working with the leading lights in film, TV and videogames. Access All Areas is our way of making their expertise available to everyone. 

We work with learners of all ages – from young children who want to find out more about how their TV show, film or game is made; to students wanting to know about working in the industry; to industry professionals who want to learn from the successes of their peers. 

What is learning for BAFTA?

All of BAFTA’s events are part of our learning strategy. 

Our events help to develop an accomplished, vibrant and diverse workforce for the UK’s film, TV and video games industries by sharing expertise and developing relationships within the industries. 

BAFTA is lucky enough to count some of the most successful and talented practitioners as our members and friends. Our events allow them to share the secrets of their success with their peers, the public and with those who are pursuing careers in the industry. 

Examples of BAFTA’s sharing expertise

• A BAFTA Interview – Julie Walters – The acclaimed TV and film actress spoke to an audience of BAFTA members and the public about her career experiences, sharing stories of how she got into the industry, how she approaches her work and her relationship with directors. 
• Short Sighted – BAFTA’s event for short film-makers, demonstrating how they should plan for exhibition and distribution. A day long event including case studies from recent successful short film-makers
• Games Speed Surgeries – over 2 days BAFTA members working in the games industry took part in 15 minute surgeries for young people wanting to get into the industry. 
• BAFTA Families Storyboarding Workshop – an interactive workshop at Leeds Young People’s Film Festival with storyboard artist Temple Clark. Temple showed the audience what his job entails and explained the role of a storyboard artist in the production process. 
• BAFTA Schools Sessions at National Schools Film Week – BAFTA-winner Stephen Frears spoke to an audience of school children about his work before a screening of Dirty Pretty Things. 

What we do

BAFTA is not a training provider but offers expertise-sharing as a complement to training and other forms of learning.

BAFTA’s focus is on production skills – we help the public to deepen their understanding of the production process and also help the industry to define best practice.

Our events encourage creativity, but focus is on professional skills, encouraging people to make the business choices which will help them turn their creativity into a successful career. 

Learning takes place across regional partner venues, at 195 Piccadilly, and online. Online environments will become increasingly important in the 21st century so BAFTA will continue to develop on-line resources from our events. 


To sign up to the BAFTA newsletter visit:-
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http://www.bafta.org/

Hello UK FILM NETWORKERS

Hope you are well. My wrist injury is recovering slowly but surely so I’m just about back to writing again. There’s been a lot going on as you can imagine. 

Not least of which I'm pleased to say that my first documentary feature, Making It In Hollywood, is now on it's way to festivals, distributors and broadcasters. It was completed exactly 2 years after it started at the Oscars in 2007 and it was spooky to see my Kate Winslet clip where I wished her "Good luck for tonight Kate", as she walked down the red carpet. It was only two more years for her to really make it in Hollywood.

If you didn't read the "Top Ten Sundance Films You Must See", it's featured in the latest Film And Festivals magazine. It's now in high resolution digital format at their website and provides all the details of film festivals around the world. 

I’ve also been receiving invites to film festivals, getting offered discounts on renting film and training courses. All of which of course I can pass on to members of the UK FILM NETWORK. I hope you’ll be able to make use of these offers, discounts and invitations.


Douglas McFarlane
editor@ukfilm.tv 

Performers, filmmakers, writers can join our new social networking site @
http://www.ukfilm.tv 


>>>>>

FILM AND FESTIVALS MAGAZINE

Check the page “Top Ten Sundance Films You Must See “

http://www.filmandfestivals.com/

>>>>>


RAINDANCE FILM COURSES
Our filmmaking courses aim to give individuals the tools to get out there and start shooting.
We combine the best filmmaking traditions with new digital technology – a policy that works. In the last twelve months, over 3,000 filmmakers - writers, directors, producers, actors, agents, film and media students - attended our courses in London, Europe and Canada.

http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/

UK FILM NETWORK is partnering with Raindance to offer a special discount. Contact editor@ukfilm.tv or reply to this message.

>>>>>

DO YOU LOVE FILM ?

Love Film contacted me today and said they had come across the UK FILM NETWORK group and wondered if members would be interested in a special offer on LOVEFiLM? I’ve used their service a few times to download films to watch or use their postal service. I’d recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already. The code below gives new members a 2 month free trial. Enter it at http://www.lovefilm.com


CODE: FCMBHAAG7

>>>>>


MARBELLA


I am looking for film submissions for this years Marbella International Film Festival - submissions deadline is 30th June. Submissions in on DVD - can be shorts, documentaries, features or animation.

If you can ask your contacts or film makers please they can email me for T&C's, details etc to: liz@marbellafilmfestivalsl.com. 

>>>>>


Birds Eye View Film Festival 2009
March 5th -13th 2009
BFI Southbank, ICA
Celebrating the best women filmmakers from around the globe with 70 events over 9 days at the BFI Southbank, The Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Gate (Notting Hill), and Picturehouse Cinemas across the UK.

http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk/


>>>>>


LIDF08 Programme

8 DAYS | 8 VENUES | 80 FILMS | LIDF08 | A CONVERSATION IN FILM

http://www.pocketvisions.co.uk/lidf/


>>>>>


END OF PIER FESTIVAL (WORTHING)

Friday 24 April to Saturday 2 May 2009
Various venues in Worthing
Worthing Theatres Box Office 01903 206206

Sat 25 April in the Ritz (daytime) - Short drama films.

Sun 26 April at the Pavilion - Young filmmakers event (PG).

Monday 27 April in Ritz - Made in Worthing Day – films either made by local people, filmed locally or about local events. Including recent and vintage footage.

Wednesday 29 April in Ritz - European day.