UK Film Network

Social networking. The term is such commonplace these days and when we hear it, we all nod our head and say “Oh yeah, Facebook”.

Making Film

As a founder of social networks since 1999, I’ve been part of the evolution of connecting people online long before the term Social Networking was in common parlance and many years before Myspace, Facebook and Twitter had developed their platforms, to turn their services and websites into household names. Nowadays, their names are used in every day language; “I facebook’d him last night” or “she sent me a tweet”, as well as the many stories you hear in the media, like Jonathan Ross dropping in a Twitter keyword during the BAFTA Film Awards. On Facebook we’ve seen a variety of different viral games from films such as JUMPERS with Jamie Bell, which effectively setup an application to allow you to “jump your friends” to a different city and present them with an image of that city. Social Networking in the world of film, has had some early pioneers who are using it to good effect for publicity, marketing and getting the word out on their film.

Casting and Collaborating

Given that the film industry is effectively a people business, where finding the right person can be the difference between the film being a box office success or a production and investment failure, social networking comes into it’s own. I setup the Shooting People casting network in 1999, to enable filmmakers to post their requests to a pool of around 35,000 people, to resource their project quickly and effectively. In addition to Shooting People, there are others like PCR Newsletter, Mandy.com or even Gumtree for certain roles to fill. If you are looking for a bigger name, then the site whorepresents.com has all the facts and figures on how to find the agent representing Kevin Spacey, or Kate Hudson for example, to follow up and let “their people talk to your people” and see if a deal can be struck. Additionally, these are the places to find quality editors, directors, sound and lighting experts and resourceful people who are motivated to work on your film and help make it a great end product. Often collaborative agreements can be entered into, with many people getting involved without pay, but instead using the project to develop their career in unexpected ways.

Marketing and Advertising

When it comes to marketing and advertising, the effectiveness of social networking is still being tried out. I setup a Facebook group for my documentary Making It In Hollywood, which has around 700 people now, who have followed the progress of the film from idea phase, through to the location setting, film editing and finally making it’s way out into the festivals. The feedback I get is that it brings audiences closer to the action and the evolution of a film as it develops from a blank page to the big screen. By the time it hits the big screen, this audience have shared all the trials and tribulations and feel very much part of it’s development. In addition, those who are interested in filmmaking or performing, can see for themselves, that the challenge is not to be taken lightly but there are hints and tips that you can gather along the way to make the journey easier. The fact of the matter is that social networking, for the most part, is free. A little bit of effort in creating groups, setting up events, sharing links and updating status information, are all valuable channels to gain feedback on your production, as well as starting to spread the news. There are also many sites to contact journalists directly online in order to offer interviews to your cast and to submit trailers or screeners. PRWeb.com is one that I use often. If you submit your article and pay a small fee of around £80, the article will be distributed online to a wide variety of online news sites, who grab the latest stories to fit in with their online publication.

Now, the real power of the online networking comes in when you need to find the right person in an organisation of the various industry publications, magazines, newspapers and what will soon be known as “offline media”. Fortunately most of the offline media are also online, they are twittering, they are on facebook, they have myspace pages, and are generally contactable and approachable if you have an idea that’s relevant to them, and you are patient. For my documentary, I briefly met with the editor of Screen International in Hollywood, I kept in touch and contacted him again when I noticed he was in Cannes, and finally had a long interview with them in London which resulted in a nice little article on their back page. This was while I was still filming it. Peter Travers, another social networker, is the infamous editor of Rolling Stone magazine. He was given the trailer for the short version of the film that I took to Cannes. He said “Accent-tacular”, as a reference to my Glasgow accent which is rarely heard in the US and I now have a quote for the cover of the DVD ***** “Accent-Tacular” Rolling Stone Magazine *****.  I followed that up with an article on making film from you laptop which was featured in the .Net Magazine, creating another avenue to discuss the film. And then of course there is this article, which has planted the seed in your mind. It all helps to get the name of the film (Making It In Hollywood), in the public consciousness.

Another social networker that I met in LA, was film and theatre director Chris Dickerson, who was also a journalist and author. He wrote a full chapter in his latest book called “Poetry & Prose” of the weekend we filmed Clint Eastwood and Ennio Morricone at an exclusive party at the Italian arts centre in West Hollywood. Chris was very descriptive about the weekend and our adventures and as the book is now getting interest online at lulu.com, the self-publishing site, it has resulted in questions about the film and when it’s coming out.

Sales and Distribution

So, you’ve got your movie made, you’ve created a bit of online buzz about it. Next stop is the end game. The big players get the Sales and Distribution signed up prior to filming begins, that’s when there is clearly a lot of money at risk, but when it’s your first low budget film and you need to find someone who will be interested in your product, it’s a wide world. Fortunately, there’s online networking to come into play again. Apart from simply attending the market at Cannes, taking business cards, handing out screeners, there’s Cinando.com which I used to find out who was in town and to email them before going there to setup a meeting to discuss my projects.

As they say “everyone’s in town” so that’s the best target to meet, greet, connect and pitch. A lot of the time it’s a numbers game. The more people that see your film, through the festivals if you’re lucky enough to get it accepted, the more chance you have of getting a top distributor shaking your hand and offering you a small but handsome cheque. There are of course hundreds of festivals around the world and I’ve personally been looking at Melbourne, Hawaii and Hollywood Festivals. If only for the sunshine, sea and sand. Of course Withoutabox.com has become my best friend and I took out a promotional advert for £50 and I’ve had several festival programmers contacting me and giving me fee waivers to submit the film to their festival. It’s a great service and it is now moving into online distribution.

The main problem a producer has with online distribution, is once it’s online, it cannot be entered into any of the festivals. Well most have a rule which says it can’t have been shown online and only cast and crew screenings are acceptable. This therefore means that online distribution, for me at least, is a crossroads and perhaps something to try when the other avenues haven’t turned up any suitable opportunities. Though I have researched it, and at around £1/copy for a DVD print, a quick copy and paste of HTML from Paypal and it’s another avenue. It’s certainly a business proposition to consider for “no/lo budget” films. A little bit more cash on google and facebook advertising and it could well help the film sell in the low tens of thousands and make some sort of return.

Reviews and publicity

Of course, the free press that a film can get from journalists, reviewers and critics, all helps with the word-of-mouth. At UK Film Network (ukfilm.tv), I’ve pulled together a wide variety of film reviewers around the world in order to bring films to life online and support those who really deserve it. In the last few years, I’ve been to the Oscars, BAFTA, Sundance and Cannes to watch as many films as I can and write about them online, often way in advance of their cinematic release. Endgame and Five Minutes Of Heaven are two great examples of British films doing really well and then seeing a TV release, a mere 4 months from it’s premiere at a festival. BBC and Channel 4 were investors in these films, but I noticed that Endgame only had an audience of 80,000 and for such a great film, it must be a disappointment to the producers. The old adage of “nobody knows anything in film”, makes a lot more sense to me now. No-one can really tell what impact their film will have in the world at large. Any online reviews and publicity, can only help to increase the knowledge of the likely take up of the film, so I’m delighted to be able to be helping the community that is, in return, providing a lot of support, guidance and connections to help me make my own film.

Show business, there really is no business like it, none that I know but with the world at your social networking fingertips, it has really become an open market for filmmakers. What’s stopping you from Making It In Hollywood ?

  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

By: Davor Mamuzic

People everywhere could debate for hours if films they’ve seen are better than the actual books, and in most cases the literature would stand victorious in this battle.  Your mind is a highway to infinite imagination when a great book is in your hand taking you across worlds and fantasies, even adding different emotional stages to the reader. 

Since most of the films in today’s cinemas worldwide are, sad to say, remakes or comic book superheroes.  It seems that the only original storylines or even concepts are witnessed in today’s computer animated films distributed by Pixar, DreamWorks or Blue Sky Studios (to name a few). But, every once in awhile we come across something new, something original, something that keeps you quiet, or smiling as you are exiting the cinema.

 Eric Roth, who already won an Academy Award for his screenplay of Forrest Gump, brings us a coming of age story, literally, adapting it from the 1920s short story by F. Scott Fitzgerarld. The story is retold by Daisy (Cate Blanchett), hospitalized on her deathbed, with her daughter Caroline (Julia Osmond) by her side.  The diary in Caroline’s hands focuses on the life story of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who was born at the end of the World War One in the heart of New Orleans.  His disadvantage: he was born as an eighty-year old man, and as he ages, his body gets younger.

Benjamin was raised by Queenie (Taraji Henson) whose kind heart takes him in after she finds him on the doorsteps of the old age home where she lives and helps out. Benjamin as a young kid, but really an old man on the outside, blends in with all the residents off the old age home. This is the place where Benjamin also meets Daisy.

Directed by David Fincher, who already had a chance to explore Brad’s acting abilities and transformations in Se7en and Fight Club, now has a chance to add better makeup and special effects to Brad’s looks. At one point, as Benjamin and Daisy both enter their 60s, Brad, thanks to the digital re-touches, looks seventeen years old, somewhat close to how he looked in Thelma and Louise.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will stay with you for years to come. The film itself flows as if a great book just landed into your palms, packing great dialogue, as well as comedic, dramatic and suspenseful moments.  

5/5


Trailer - http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thecuriouscaseofbenjaminbutton/
IMDB - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/

Released in North American theatres December 25th, 2008

Calling the Northwest's brightest freelancers in the media and digital industries. As a freelancer, YOU are YOUR future!

Now recruiting for the 2nd run of the NORTHERN ADVANTAGE WEEKEND INCUBATOR WORKSHOPS

19th/20th September and 10th/11th October 2009.

· Don’t miss your chance to attend these unique business savvy incubator workshops delivered over two intensive residential weekends in the Lake District - offering experienced media freelancers the opportunity to take an idea and turn it into a business.

· Developed by media industry professionals for media industry professionals and with Leigh Wharton from the Manchester University Business School Business Incubator, the programme, which brings together individuals with different strengths and skill bases, is carefully designed to build confidence in idea sharing and encourage collaboration.

· Be prepared to bring along your own idea for development – or join a team working on new entrepreneurial ideas.

· Ideas going into further development from the last course include: a multi media concept for global markets; a not for profit internet medical campaign; a plan to take music making to the third world.

WHAT THEY SAID LAST TIME:

The best thing was the amount of skills and contacts gained in such a short period of time… Hopefully opened lots of doors and certainly helped my creative skills… A great, diverse team running the weekend whose words of wisdom I will carry forward for a long time… It lets you find out how much more you are capable of than you actually thought… Opens minds and opens opportunities… A fabulous opportunity that truly opened my eyes to an entrepreneurial life and changed my thinking from that of an unwilling freelancer to now being excited about trying my own thing – very liberating! ... Excellent weekend and I particularly liked the small group size and access to interesting professionals including Mike Ryan and Leigh Wharton… As for value for money, I'm already starting to see a much bigger return on the knowledge I gained than I expected… It lets you find out how much more you are capable of than you actually thought.

For further information go to: http://www.northernadvantage.co.uk/events.htm

This scheme, delivered by The MDP Training Consortium, is funded by Northwest Vision and Media in partnership with Skillset and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Imagine if you decided that your new year’s resolution was to say "yes" to everything. Think you could do it? I know I certainly couldn't!

But Jim Carrey can - and has done it his new film "Yes Man".

The plot consists of a Mr. Carl Allen (Carrey) going nowhere in his life. Continually saying "no" to everything, not only does he become a predictable average Joe, but he also gets nothing exciting from life. That is, until he signs up for a self-help program with a simple covenant: say ‘yes’ to everything. It soon changes his life, but his enthusiasm starts to work against him. In this particular new addition to Jim Carrey's CV, he has toned down the physical characteristics that once made him famous in such films as Bruce almighty and in the process of doing so, has indeed made it an impossible challenge for him to pull off this particular comedy adaptation of Danny Wallace’s bestselling book. Don't get me wrong, the idea that you say yes to everything is a great plot device, but in this bland and somewhat predictable comedy, the clever notion of the original book just gets buried.

I will admit at this point however, that there are some relatively good parts in the movie, but the film’s original promise disappears soon after Allen’s life changes, as he begins dating the stanchly, eccentric and ridiculously pretty Allison (a cute nosed, red-lipped Zooey Deschanel) and starts to connect with his boss, Norm - played by Flight Of The Conchords’ singer Rhys Darby (who pulls off a rather charismatic, even if inexperienced performance). Allen lives life to the full, taking everything in her stride and even courageously saving a suicide case at one point - but after one particularly appalling, clunking plot twist (which we must assume took three writers to conjure up) his life - and the movie for that matter - begins to unravel like an old jumper.

My conclusion? A alright comedy, with some witty jokes and funny moments, but overall, don’t be afraid to give the “Yes” movie a “No”.

The Unborn
By: Davor Mamuzic

World wide cinemas like to build the terror of the unknown by focusing more on the story and less on the visuals, while North American audiences anticipate extreme gore shots, fast close-ups and in-your-face "quick frights". The Unborn, set in Chicago, stays true to its North American roots and delivers just as expected.

The story jumps all over the place (from evil entity of the unborn child, to Holocaust, Nazi experiments, and a bit of recycling The Exorcist ideas), while "quick frights" quickly erase your short term memory of the bad dialogue which sounds as though it was written by a group of high school students.

The story focuses on Casey, played by Odette Yustman , as she is confronted by an evil spirit and it slowly tries to break her down and take possession of her. The spirit itself gets stronger as the story gets weaker. The spirit's growth in strength is the only growth in the character as it is the only character that actually has a purpose in the storyline, and we are more focused on cheering for the actual evil spirit rather than the protagonist itself.

Other than the creepy next door neighbour's kid (Atticus Shaffer), Odette and Gary Oldman are the only ones that keep the acting real.  Even though it is hard to connect Gary as a Rabbi, he still did a great job doing it.

If you are looking for gore, anticipated closes up and bad dialogue, then this might be up your alley.

2/5

Trailer
IMDB

Released Jan 9th in the North American theatres.

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button have each received 11 nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2009.

The Dark Knight has 9 nominations and Changeling has 8 nominations.

Frost/Nixon has 6 nominations, The Reader has 5 and In Bruges, Milk and Revolutionary Road all have 4 nominations each.

Slumdog Millionaire has been nominated in the categories Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Production Design, Sound and Outstanding British Film. Danny Boyle is nominated for Director, Dev Patel is nominated for Leading Actor and Freida Pinto receives a nomination as Supporting Actress.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has been nominated for Best Film, Director for David Fincher, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Music, Production Design and Special Visual Effects. Brad Pitt is a double nominee: he features in Leading Actor for his role as Benjamin Button and Supporting Actor for Burn After Reading. Tilda Swinton is nominated in the Supporting Actress category for Burn After Reading, and the film also receives an Original Screenplay nomination.

The late Heath Ledger is nominated for Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight. The film’s other nominations are: Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Music, Sound and Special Visual Effects.

Angelina Jolie has been nominated for her Leading Actress performance in Changeling. The film has also been nominated for Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Production Design and Sound, with Clint Eastwood receiving a Director nomination.

Ron Howard is nominated for Director for Frost/Nixon. The film is nominated for Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Make Up & Hair and the film’s Nixon, Frank Langella, receives a nomination for Leading Actor.

The Reader has been nominated for Best Film, Director for Stephen Daldry, Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography. Its star, Kate Winslet, is nominated for Leading Actress. Kate is nominated a second time for Leading Actress for her performance in Revolutionary Road, which is also nominated for Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design and Production Design.

Sean Penn’s performance as Harvey Milk has received a Leading Actor nomination. Milk has also been nominated for Best Film, Original Screenplay and Make Up & Hair.

In Bruges has been nominated for Original Screenplay, Editing, Supporting Actor for Brendan Gleeson and Outstanding British Film.

Also nominated for Outstanding British Film alongside Slumdog Millionaire and In Bruges are Man on Wire and Hunger and Mamma Mia!, which has also been nominated for Music. Judy Craymer, the producer of Mamma Mia!, Simon Chinn the producer of Man on Wire, Steve McQueen, director/writer of Hunger, Solon Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter who produced Of Time and the City and Garth Jennings, writer of Son of Rambow have all been nominated for The Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer for their First Feature Film.

Doubt received three performance nominations: Leading Actress for Meryl Streep, Supporting Actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Supporting Actress for Amy Adams. Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were nominated for Leading Actor and Supporting Actress for The Wrestler. Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for Supporting Actor for Tropic Thunder and Penélope Cruz is nominated for Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Wall•E has been nominated for Music, Sound and Animated Film. The other Animated Film nominees, Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir are both nominated for Film Not in the English Language alongside The Baader Meinhof Complex, Gomorrah and I’ve Loved You So Long.

I’ve Loved You So Long also receives nominations for Original Screenplay and for Kristin Scott Thomas for Leading Actress.

The Duchess received nominations for Costume Design and Make Up & Hair.

Nominated for Special Visual Effects alongside The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Dark Knight are: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron Man and Quantum of Solace, which also received a Sound nomination.

The nominees for the Orange Rising Star Award, announced earlier this month, are Michael Cera, Noel Clarke, Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Hall and Toby Kebbell. This audience award is voted for by the British public and presented to an actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 8 February at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

Orange has sponsored the Film Awards since 1998.