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news digest
Douglas Henshaw and josephine Butler in Lawless Heart
Anew initiative aimed at developing UK businesses in film, television and inter- active media production has been set up by Olsberg/SPI in association with the Film Council, PACT and IPTF (Independent Production Training Fund).
Enterprise/UK: Business Strategies for the Independent Producer is an advanced work- shop for film, television and inter- active media producers, which starts in November 2002.
The purpose of the pro- gramme is to arm participants with a strategic approach to planning and running their busi- nesses in the context of the inter- national marketplace and the digital economy.
It also trains them in business skills so that they may develop their companies with medium and long- term plans, to assist in generating growth and improving stability.
The course is open to own- ers/managers of film, television and interactive media produc- tion businesses who are already successful in creating projects and now wish to develop skills in strategic aspects of building and managing companies.
The programme has been designed and will be run by screen consultancy Olsberg|SPI. Headed by Jonathan Olsberg and Richard Miller, the course will give the participating companies access to the expertise of a range
of established professionals in the media industry, the highest level of practical information, training, planning tools and advice.
The first part of the programme starts on November 20 and will be located in the South West of England. Enterprise/UK is also co- sponsored by South West Screen.
The deadline for applications is October 18, and application forms and a PDF brochure can be downloaded from www.enterpriseuk.org
Disabled sponsorship
On the eve of European Year of Disabled People (2003), The Broadcasters’ Disability Network is offering to sponsor disabled people who have some experience of work- ing in broadcasting.
Thanks to funding from the Disability Rights Commission, BSkyB and Carlton Television, the BDN is now able to sponsor 100 disabled people on production- base.co.uk
This means that employers who are looking for disabled peo- ple will easily be able to search this online database specifically for disabled talent. It also means that disabled people who are sponsored on the database will have a much better chance of being considered for work.
If you are interested in being considered for a BDN sponsored place on the database (thus sav- ing an annual fee of £141 (includ- ing VAT), please send a cv via e- mail attachment (containing details of training and/or experi- ence) to:
bdndatabase@ employers-forum.co.uk
There should also be a cover- ing letter indicating:
•the job category/ies for which you are applying eg makeup artist, researcher, director, camera- person, (maximum of four)
(The database includes cate- gories for presenter, reporter and actor but not musicians except for Music Consultant. Please check out the list of job cate- gories on the productionbase website before you decide where you best fit.)
• the nature of your disability and what adjustments (if any) you require
• Your email address (access to the web is a prerequisite for this scheme)
Indie Awards Night
The fifth annual British Independent Film Awards – with a new sponsor, financial services group Park Caledonia – are to be held at Pacha London on October 30. Morvern Callar (seven nominations), Bloody Sunday (five) and Lawless Heart (five) are the leading contenders.
Park Caledonia is also a spon- sor of the Raindance Film Festival, and together with the board of Raindance and others, is in the process of creating a new film fund to support British indepen- dent filmmakers.
Categories include: Best British Independent Film (sponsored by Park Caledonia); Best Foreign Independent Film - Foreign Language (supported by Amnesty International); Best Foreign Independent Film - English Language (supported by UGC Cinemas); and The Douglas Hickox Award, for a British director on their debut feature (supported by BBC Films)
This year’s Jury, a cross section of film talent either side of cam- era is: Kate Ashfield, Richard Gladstein, Robert Jones, Asif Kapadia, Trudie Styler, Jenne Cassarotto, Hamish McAlpine and Stuart Craig.
For more info, check out the BIFA website on: www.bifa.org.uk
CTBF Christmas Draw
The Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund’s Christmas Grand Draw takes place at the CEA’s London branch dinner dance at the Landmark Hotel on December 10.
First prize will be a luxury cruise for two and there will be a host of other prizes too donated from all corners of the British film and tele- vision industries.
Tickets at £1 each go on sale in mid-October. All details at draw@ctbf.co.uk
all-media production boost
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