Editor’s Intro 26th January 2007

Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen,

This week we have mostly been get excited about some big news from North West Vision to be announced shortly. Filmmakers with their sights set on feature film production should keep their eyes peeled, and we’ll bring you the news as soon as it’s officially unleashed. Meanwhile we’re packing our bags and heading out to a couple of festivals – the wicked Flatpack fest in Birmingham and then Berlin – if any other NFNers attending fancy meeting up, let us know. Oh and the rest of the time is spent counting the days ‘til the remastered print of Belle De Jour arrives in town.

‘Til next time

All hail the Martian’s return

Kate Taylor, Editor

Will culture in the Northwest miss out?

Potential lack of EU funding for the Northwest’s cultural sector – your voice needs to be heard! As someone who works in the Northwest’s cultural sector, I thought you might appreciate some important information regarding the sector’s future EU funding and how your support is urgently needed.

Cool Film Events at Dukes, Lancaster

The Home Front in the North West

Monday 5 February 8.30pm. Films from the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University. This evening’s films will feature life in and around the North West during World War Two. A mixture of Government and local propaganda and information films, along with gems from home movies, bring the wartime period to life. >From the air raid precautions of Salford in the phony war, to the VE day celebrations of Piccadilly, through the blitz and rationing, many areas of wartime life are shown. Colourful scenes of school children digging for victory contrast with the grim task of clearing rubble from bomb damaged streets and burned out buildings. Gracie Fields returns home to Rochdale to raise funds and morale, Churchill visits Preston and troops send home their messages from the Far East at Christmas. Films: £4.50 (conc £3.50)

Historical Film Talk

Social historian Dr Sharon Lambert who worked on the Dukes’ Moving Image Memory Project in September 2005, gathering memories of cinema and cinema going in the city during WWII, will talk on the history of cinemas in Lancaster and Morecambe in the war years. Come along and find out more about the golden age of cinema in this unique and unforgettable time for movie lovers. This talk will appeal to anyone interested in local history as well as the history of cinema. Monday 19 February at 8.00pm tickets: £3.00/£2.00. Tuesday 20 February at 12.30pm tickets £3.00/£2.00.

Guided Cinema Walks of Lancaster

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February. To accompany its production of Home Fires, the Dukes has arranged two guided outdoor cinema walks around Lancaster with Blue Badge Guide Janet Nelson. Join Janet on a tour of the city’s old cinema buildings from the days of the magic lantern to the present day and learn their individual histories and the development of cinema in Lancaster. Walks start at the Dukes, Moor Lane 2pm and take approximately one hour fifteen minutes, finishing back at the Dukes. Tickets cost £3/£2 and must be booked in advance.

Box Office: The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE. Telephone: 01524 598500. Textphone: 01524 380062. Email: tickets@dukes-lancaster.org.

Lets Go Expo – 9th Feb 7 – 10pm, Trafford

This year’s Expo will see an evening of shortfilm and art screenings made by filmmakers and artists who orbit Lets Go Global. Promising to be an eclectic night, please join us for snacks, chats and screenings at Lets Go Global 3-5 Malvern Row, Off City Road, Old Trafford, Greater Manchester M15 4FD. Visit www.letsgoglobal.tv on the 9th to watch the event live or view individual films.

Head of Creative Industries and Head of Communications – The Showroom & Workstation, Sheffield

The Showroom & Workstation, located in the heart of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter, is one of the UK’s largest media centres. We currently have vacancies for two senior positions. This is a rare opportunity to join the senior management team of a creative and dynamic organisation.

Assistant Producer and Assistant Director wanted

Assistant Producer and Assistant Director required for the preproduction and potential production of a short film being tendered to NorthWestVision for possible funding. The film is an action war short based upon a tragic and extraordinary true event.

Though knowledge of the aspects of film pre-production is necessary, experience is not the most important factor. It is more important that these roles are filled by motivated people with a will to work on this film and who can give positive contribution to its development. However experience would be nice and knowledge regarding the making of war movies would be even nicer. Please contact Rob on 0161 610 3918 or 07745 131516. www.creativeartistsforum.org

Casting Call, Manchester

For ten-minute drama based on true stories. Martin, recently divorced, is unable to tell his teenage daughter that he is living as a transvestite. When she unexpectedly turns up at his house, he is forced to reprise an uncomfortable masculinity. But how long can it last? Shooting in Manchester 26th February- 2nd March Student film so expenses only, but copies of the film provided and a good chance of exposure through various national and regional festivals. Email details to helen.f.shanahan@student.mmu.ac.uk.

MARTIN: 45-62, naturally gentle and a loving parent, driven to stress through finding himself in such a difficult position. Much more comfortable as a woman than as a man. The part requires some driving.

ROSIE: 16-18, intelligent and mildly rebellious, alternately sharp and vulnerable. Her mother is trying to get her to diet and wear pretty clothes, but Rosie insists upon being herself.

CHRISTIAN: 16-18, wild, fun- loving, with a cocky, vain persona. Drags Rosie out on various excursions, in search of thrills and Manchester’s nightlife.

Lime Art seeks actors, Manchester

Lime Art require the following actors for ‘Losing It’, a short film project about young people and alcohol misuse for the Juice Project: White Male, 40+ to play father. Female 50+ to play passer-by. White Female 60+ to play grandmother.

Rehearsals will take place on Saturdays from 27th January for 10 weeks, 3-6pm. The shoot will take place over the Easter holidays. Sadly we cannot pay a fee for these roles, but expenses will be paid and full credit given. If you would like more information about the project, please email kim@limeart.org If you are interested please send a CV and photo to: Kim Wiltshire, Project Manager, Lime, St Marys Hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0JH

Manchester International Festival and filmmaker Rachel Davies are seeking members of Manchester Girls’ Choir for a new commission.

Filmmaker Rachel Davies is seeking members, past and present of Manchester Girls’ Choir to assist her in her latest project, which will be part of the Manchester Firsts strand of the inaugural Manchester International Festival. Davies makes film, video and animation which employs themes of personal experience and travel to attempt to find truths in how we all navigate and recall our life experiences.

Rachel’s project for the Manchester Firsts strand of the Festival, The Assembly, will be a film and music installation at Cornerhouse Gallery about Mancunian teenage experiences from the early 1980s to now – as told by members of the Manchester Girls’ Choir. To get in touch with Rachel about this project email: grandsing@hotmail.co.uk

The Sheffield Docfest Tour & Sheffield Hallam University want your MINI GREEN DOCS

Fancy yourself as a film director? Do you dream about seeing your work on the big screen? Then grab your mobile and get filming. Make a 2-minute short documentary about the environment and upload it to myspace.com/sheffdocfest

It could be about an obsession with recycling the smallest scrap of paper; always taking the bus instead of the car; maybe your mad neighbour has plans to build a kooky contraption for powering their house? Or, maybe you know someone who refuses to do anything to help save the planet. Tell us your story.