For more information visit http://bs2012-13.tumblr.com/post/23958642338/im-looking-for-a-filmmaker-to-direct-film-and-edit-a

Richard Griffiths accepted the invitation to become a Patron of Deaffest in
February this year.

He would like to have been with us at Deaffest but his  time is fully committed as he has just opened in The Sunshine Boys with  Danny DeVito at The Savoy Theatre, to rave reviews.

However, he has sent this message:
‘I am sorry that I cannot be with you for this year’s Deaffest.   I was very pleased to accept the invitation to become a patron as I believe that the idea of encouraging Deaf people to make films is excellent. To my mind,since film is essentially a visual mode of expression, a Deaf film maker faces exactly the same challenges as anyone else and I would expect a film made by a Deaf person to be at least as good as anyone else’s. I am sure this is true of the films that the organisers have accepted for Deaffest this year. Please accept my good wishes for a successful festival.’

Richard Griffiths in the National Theatre’s Habit of Art, 2010

During the Deaffest weekend Light House car park will NOT have any available spaces.  There is a council car park next to Light House and another one opposite, both of which are very expensive for a full day’s parking.

An alternative is to park at the multi-storey car park at the train station, a few minutes walk away.  From there you will receive a ticket which you can exchange at Light House reception for a voucher.  Take the voucher back to the car park at the end of the day and the fee will cost £2.50 instead of an extortionate charge. HOWEVER this system will only be valid between the times of 10.00am through to 3.00am

*REMEMBER* if you park there before 10.00am or leave after 3.00am you will have to pay full price

We hope this is of help for visitors.

Keep an eye out at Deaffest for Kelly-Ann Plummer, the photographer who will be capturing the events at Deaffest!

Kelly-Ann: Bio

Kelly-Ann’s interest in Photography developed from an Art and Design course at TVU Reading college over 4 years ago and A-level at Mary Hare Grammer School before she started at the University of Wolverhampton.  She grew up as an artist interested in drawing and painting. The time came when she developed a keen interest in photography. It is part of her everday life, and she takes her camera with her to everywhere she goes, strongly feeling that she must photograph on a daily basis to retain all of her memories. She likes doing Natural Portrait Photography. Her dream is to establish her own business in Studio Photography and undertake photography at events such as parties, fashion shows, travel photography, and possibly selling her travel photographs.

SignMedia Workshops 

Saturday 26 May

10 – 11am & 2 – 3pm

Join our Presenter’s Masterclass!

Learn from the best with Louis Neethling and Clive Mason as they share their experience of presenting from both sides of the camera.  Our experienced director and TV professional will also discuss the filming of the SignMedia project and give you the chance to try the learning resource yourself.

This workshop is aimed at Sign Language users who work, or want to work in the Media.

Places are limited. You can sign up at the Deaffest stand on Saturday or email geaperkins@wlv.ac.uk  by 3pm on Thursday 24th May.

SignMedia Presentation 

Saturday 26 May

4:30pm

SignMedia is an exciting collaboration between Deaf media professionals and teaching experts in the UK, Austria and Italy.  Meet members of our Austrian and UK team as they present the challenges and opportunities of the media world in their country and discuss the potential of the SignMedia learning resource.

*This project has been funded with the support of the European Union and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education Arts and Culture (BMUKK). This publication reflects the views only of the authors and the Commission as well as the BMUKK cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

When? Friday 25 – Sunday 27 May

Where? Light House, Wolverhampton

What’s happening at Deaffest this year?

Lots of things!

• Free film screenings with films from all over the world
• A 1950s theme to commemorate the Jubilee celebrations
• Deaffest Fair with stalls and activities for families
• A seminar for filmmakers
• Young Deaffest Awards
• Ben Steiner Bursary Evening with comedy acts from John Smith and dancing from Def Motion and the announcement of the Ben Steiner Bursary winner (tickets required)
• Keep Calm and Carry on Signing Party with more entertainment including Visual Vernacular, dancing and burlesque (tickets required)

Download the program http://ow.ly/aZJEn or browse the Deaffest website to find out more about what’ll be happening at Deaffest.

We’ve got flags and bunting, live rock and roll, stunning burlesque, even traditionally made jam and cakes!  So take a step back in time with us to that golden era and commemorate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

The course will be conducted by the acclaimed Deaf director, John  Maidens.  The course will provide an in-depth overview of the filmmaking process. To find out more about the Ben Steiner Bursary course and John Maidens, visit our page about the Ben Steiner Bursary weekend course.

After this weekend the Ben Steiner Bursary participants will begin filming their pitches for the Ben Steiner Bursary. The winning pitch will be chosen by a judge panel consisting of Philip Bloom, Samuel Dore, Louis Neethling and Nikki Stratton. The winner will be announced on Saturday 26 May at the Ben Steiner Bursary Evening at Deaffest.

We’re looking forward to meeting all the participants and having a look at what they’ve been working on!

The London Film School has an opportunity for 12 aspiring producers to participate in a series of workshops about producing.

The London Film School has launched a new Skillset-funded programme for producers.  Fast Forward: the Whole Story is a complete, modular course for twelve new creative feature film producers, running from June to December 2012.

In nine workshops, sequential but self-contained, twelve selected producer participants will learn from recognised industry experts the detailed reality of each stage of production, and how it connects to the stages before and after. Industry mentors will guide participants as they develop their portfolio to the point where their projects are fully researched and ready to seek development finance.   The twelve participants will also have an opportunity to produce an LFS Graduation Film, one of about 35 to 40 made each year at the school.    Uniquely, the course incorporates a module on Creative Identity, Self-Presentation and Career Management for Producers, developed for the LFS by creative career coach Shiona Llewellyn, author The Skillset Career Handbook .

Confirmed industry tutors so far include: Amy Hubbard (casting director The Hobbit ); Angus Finney (author The International Film Business );  Colin Vaines (producer Coriolanus );  Ian Hutchinson (Silver Reel Equity); Ian Neil (music supervisor Control , Kick Ass ); John Graydon (RSM Tenon Media);; Keith Northrop (Film Finance & Production, Goodman Derrick LLP); Louise Lawrence (LFS Head of Archive and Library); Luke Randolph (International Film Guarantors); Meg Clark (post-production supervisor 4,3,2,1 , Coriolanus ); Mia Bays (marketing consultant Tsotsi , creative executive, Microwave ); Paul Sarony (line producer Welcome to Sarajevo ); Rebecca O’Brien (producer The Wind That Shakes the Barley ); Steve Clark-Hall (co-producer Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows).

The deadline for applications is Monday 23 April. Please visit their website for more information. or email fastforward@lfs.org.uk

There are limited spaces in a free filmmaking course that will be held during the weekend of the 21 & 22nd of April at Light House in Wolverhampton.

The course will be conducted in BSL by John Maidens, an acclaimed Deaf director, and will include the topics of script writing, film production, budget management, scheduling, legal issues, marketing and pitching.

If you are interested in attending the course please email Mija at mija@zebra-uno.com

Note: The course is part of the Ben Steiner Bursary program. Attendance of the course does not include entry to the Bursary program this year, however if you wish to apply for the Ben Steiner Bursary in the future you will not need to complete the Ben Steiner Bursary filmmaking course again.