Please be patient with us, we’ll have things back in order very soon!

The Ben Steiner Bursary is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring Deaf or hard of hearing film-maker. The winner will receive a budget of £5000 for a film project. It is targeted at people over 21 who already have some experience in media or film making and are hoping to further develop their skills.

Up to 12 applicants will be short listed. They will attend a film making workshop conducted in BSL by John Maidens, a Deaf film maker and BBC director. The workshop will cover a range of topics including script writing, film production, budget management, scheduling, legal issues, marketing and pitching. After the completion of the workshop applicants will have time to prepare and film a pitch for their entry for the bursary.

The winning pitch will be selected by a judge panel and announced on Saturday 26 May 2012 at Deaffest. The winner will then be able to use the Bursary to begin filming their project, with their finished production being screened at the 2013 Deaffest.

Examples of the films made by previous winners using the Ben Steiner Bursary can be viewed by following the below links:

Trailer for Dead Money, Bim Ajadi (2009 winner)

Trailer for Luke Starr, Stephen Collin (2010 winner)

Download the Ben Steiner Bursary application form and the eligibilty criteria here.

Please see http://deaffest.co.uk/ben-steiner-bursary/ for details about how to apply. More information will be coming soon.

Deaffest: In 4 mins, we are going to hear from the man himself, Stephen Collins. Again, if you’re thinking of applying or anything to ask, tweet him!

Deaffest: For those who don’t know Stephen – here is is blog. Nice picture of him too. thefootprintsofstephen.tumblr.com

Deaffest: Great! Firstly, how are you getting on with your Movember?!

Stephen: Movember is going great. Have raised £220 so far for The Prostate Cancer Charity. It’s all groovy and itching.

Deaffest: Excellent, let’s get down to business. What was your experience of filmmaking before you applied for the Ben Steiner Bursary?

Stephen: I would say that I had very little experience before the Ben Steiner. I learnt how filming work and the process. Did lot of assisting work for others. But never with the budget and bigger responsibility that I had with The Ben Steiner.

Deaffest: Honest response there. Could you tell us more about what you had to go through to get the jackpot, my moustachioed friend?

Stephen: Of course we all had to come up with an idea, apply then pitch the film to the panel. The difficult part was the idea… but gradually found a story. I had a discussion with Deirdre Maguire about the story and she helped to shape up the direction I wanted to go. So with the story in place. We had to pitch via a video and questions from the panel. I really sold my pitch –

Deaffest: Oh yes. How could I forget the video pitch! What a performance!

Stephen: – by playing 4 different parts including dressing up as a woman. I wanted everyone to see what I wanted to do. Thankfully the panel liked it and I was picked to do Ben Steiner 2010!

Deaffest: May I ask a question? Why have you got that yellow duck on your shoulder…?

Stephen: Random! The duck (I call him Ducky) is a joke that he can grow a moustache quicker than I can as I’m a slow grower and it’s very light so difficult to see. I get annoyed with Ducky at first but we become friends and now he is missing! I’m weird like that. Like the film Luke Starr.

Deaffest: I see. My condolences. Anyway, when you won the £5,000 – describe the feeling man, tell it all!

Stephen: I was sinking to the ground before we heard the winner announced. Using the word from a friend Simon Herdman, (or was it Brian Duffy?) I felt elevated. I was equally so nervous and really happy to be given a chance to prove myself.

It was an amazing opportunity Deaffest & Ben Steiner could give to Deaf filmmakers.

Deaffest: Yes indeed it was that genius Brian Duffy & his accomplice Simon Herdman. Tell me the highs/lows of the whole experience.

Stephen: Ooooh tricky one. There are so many highs and lows. The highs would be directing the film over the two days with crew and cast and experimenting with the editing with Ted Evans & absolutely excited having John Kelly singing the film’s song.

Deaffest: Cool! What are the next steps in your career?

Stephen: Next for me film wise is that I will be setting up a small film group which hopefully will expand & to encourage Deaf filmmakers.

Deaffest: Thank you for your honest responses, now finally, what would be your advice for would-be Ben Steiner applicants, O wise one?

Stephen: My advice to would-be Ben Steiner applicants is to love your idea. Experiment with ideas. Try filming with your friends to see what work and what does not. Importantly talk to people who can support you and help with the idea they say two minds is better than one but not too many!

Oh and lastly watch lot of films & short films and see how you can be creative and different.

Deaffest: Thank you Stephen for your time. It’s not too late to apply for Ben Steiner Bursary, click the link: deaffest.co.uk/ben-steiner-bu…

Stephen: One person said to me, in fact the previous Ben Steiner winner Bim Ajadi. He said do your research! Very important. Thank you Deaffest. Please everybody… do apply for the Ben Steiner. It’s a valuable experience and one I will treasure.

Interview ends

 Find out more about how to apply for this year’s Ben Steiner Bursary.

Hours of work: Part time (3 days a week)

Location: Wolverhampton

Salary: To be discussed based upon experience and skills

Job purpose: To assist in the coordination of Deaffest

Deaffest aims to enhance its status as the leading UK Deaf led Film & Arts Festival; a festival of national significance by aiming to increase the interaction between Deaf and hearing filmmakers/artists and audiences.

Zebra Uno, a Deaf led media company are in search of someone to carry out an important task for such a creative and dynamic organisation that has great importance to the Deaf community both in the UK and overseas. The post involves coordinating the infamous annual Deaf Film and Arts Festival known as Deaffest held in Wolverhampton. We need the post filled urgently as the forthcoming festival will take place on 25th – 27th May 2012.

Deaffest is a Deaf led organisation which encourages Deaf role models to lead this project.

Interviews will take place in Wolverhampton in January on the following dates:

Tuesday 17 th January 2012

Thursday 19 th January 2012

If you are interested please contact carol@zebra-uno.com for further details and an application form. DEADLINE for application submissions is 11th January 2012 4pm.

Last year, Deaffest 2011 achieved record attendances and was considered by many to be the “best ever”. Deaffest attracts people from all over the UK and overseas, and is a fantastic opportunity for you to promote your own business or the company you work for.

Deaffest 2012 will be held from Friday 25th – Sunday 27th May, with stalls on Saturday 26th. We welcome a range of stalls – anything from handmade products, art, crafts, photography etc. to information about your company/organisation, or even activities for visitors. Deaf stallholders very welcome!

If you would like to apply for an exhibition stall at Deaffest 2012, please email Jackie Law on jackie@zebra-uno.com for an application form. Stalls costs are £15, £25 or £40 depending on the type of stall. Apply before the deadline: 30th April 2012.

The Ability Media International award (AMI) was presented on Sunday 20 November at a glittering ceremony in London Studios, attended by some of the UK Arts industry’s most influential and well respected players – including Downton Abbey actor Dame Maggie Smith, children’s TV pioneer Anna Home and filmmaker Mike Leigh. The AMI awards, created by Leonard Cheshire Disability in 2009, identify outstanding creative projects that encourage a more inclusive world people.

Heralded by the international panel of judges as an ‘exciting and emerging directing talent’ by the judges, Mager won the Future Focus Award 2011. The BBC Producer and Director, who is deaf, has written and directed several short films including STILETTO, DEAF MUGGER, HANDS SOLO and MY SONG, shown at major international festivals around the world, winning several awards. Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Film London Manager and Creative Board member, Jenny Cooper, presented the award to Mager.

William comments:

“I’m honoured to receive this award – it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the BBC, Film London, the UK Film Council, 104 Films and the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust in making these short films and dramas alongside some talented writers and actors. This award will give me the inspiration and motivation to continue making more films in future!”

Jane Jutsum, Leonard Cheshire Disability Innovative Projects Director and co-organiser of the AMI awards, comments:

“With his talent, energy, and diversity, William Mager is making waves in the film industry. Now extending his reach beyond short filmmaking to longer dramatic work, Mager is actively contributing to making British arts and broadcasting industries of excellence and greater diversity.”

The AMIs support the Ability Media Centre. Set up by Leonard Cheshire Disability, the centre gives disabled and disadvantaged young people the training and skills they need to meet the demands of the media industries. www.abilitymedia.org

They work hard on creating content by, for and from the Deaf Community and this October you can catch their latest offering of Wicked,  on a tv set near you.

The team take the Wicked camper van around the country to an array of location and events. If you are based in the UK you can view the programme on during the week beginning Monday 3rd October:

Monday at 8.45am on Film4, (Freeview 15, Sky 315, Virgin 428)

Tuesday at 2pm on the Community Channel, (Sky 539, Virgin 233)

Thursday at 7.30pm on the Community Channel, (Sky 539, Virgin 233)

Saturday  at 7.30am on the Community Channel , (Freeview 87, Sky 539, Virgin 233)