The next big project that I am running is the next Action On The Side 48-hour film competition. This one is run in conjunction with the Aravali International Film Festival in New Delhi.
This is the third 48-hour film competition I’ve run with Action On The Side. This has been a passion project of mine for years, and it’s something I hope can grow and become an annual fixture.
There’s definitely more I can say about the competition, but considering it starts today, I’ll need to post more at a future date.
In 2024, we ran a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The initial 30-day campaign extended to the full duration of 60-days. It’s been many years since I’ve run a crowdfunding campaign, and there are definitely things I would have liked to have done. It’s tough asking people to pledge money when there is a cost of living crisis and our industry has been struggling.
But we did manage to raise £5k. £2.5k was pledged by three private investors, £115 from a short film screening we ran, and the rest from the crowdfunding campaign.
The Script
Now that we have the budget confirmed, we are further developing the script to make sure it can be filmed for that amount. We want to make the best film possible, and it will be tight and will require negotiation and creativity.
Casting
The next big step is to confirm some recognisable cast for the project. We are blessed to have Donna McKernan on our team, who is known in the Northern Irish acting scene. She is contacting potential cast to draw interest.
Locations
At the same time, we are currently scouting potential locations where we can film. 75% of the team are based in London, whereas 25% are based in Northern Ireland, so we are scouting potential locations in either area. It’s all dependent on key cast and where we can get access to.
Crew
Once we have locations and key cast, then it’s setting the shoot date and hiring crew. We have developed a list of crew to approach when we have more details. I have joined some Facebook groups for Irish / Northern Irish filmmakers to start to meet people. But crew are dependent on the other things falling into place.
The Website
The project’s goal is to raise awareness about muscle dysmorphia, disordered eating, and the mental health issues men face. We are doing that with the narrative short film, a documentary short, and a website. The website (ken-shortfilm.com) has resources to support those suffering and those who want to help those suffering. Please visit the site.
On Thursday 7th November, I travelled to Oxford to speak to the Oxford Writer’s Group about Podcasting. It was in the beautiful Mansfield House.
I was bringing my experience as a narrative content producer; my background in sound (recording, writing music, sound design); my knowledge from teaching (creative writing, media, and podcasting / radio plays); and my current industry role in public broadcast.
I spoke to the attendees about identifying their target audience (market segmentation, four quadrants), understanding the market, loglines and synopses.
The other speakers – Gaby Sambuccetti and Judith Bunting spoke of their experience in podcasting and public broadcast radio.
When working with the groups, I asked each attendee about their favourite podcasts. That led us to talks about elevator pitches and comparables (comps). We discussed episode durations (14’, 28’, 42’, 57’) and distribution avenues.
Thank you to the Oxford Writers Group for having me.
The Oxford Writers’ House – a student-led initiative working between students at the University and authors living in the city of Oxford – has put together an educational and entertaining podcast (here is the link). The project is a labour of love, and it is free to listen to on their website.
There is too much to update and I don’t have time to turn these all into individual posts — although I know I should. But more important matters are afoot.
Pearls has been accepted into two Film Festivals: W XOOL Festival in Paris (5th October) and the Iris LBGTQ+ Film Award in Cardiff (8th October)
The next Action On The Side one-month weekend filmmaking project starts this weekend.
I’m running the first Action On The Side one-month weekend filmmaking project in Sheffield in October — if I get enough sign-ups. (Breaking into a new market is hard).
There’s probably more but that’s all my brain can handle right now.
Other recent updates (because I haven’t had the time to update here.
In June, Pearls screened at the Détours en Cinécourt Festival 2024
In July, I ran the AOTS 48-Hour Film Competition. The competition ran 5-7 July, and the submitted films screened on 4th August.
In July, I hosted a short film screening as a fundraiser for the Ken short film project. We screened Pearls, Lycanthropy, and Woman In Blue, and raised £115 for Ken.
After a period of low employment, I now have a full-time role. (It’s been a tough couple of years).
I recently attended five BBC Proms with assorted guests.
I’ve started attending dance workshops again.
I’m trying to write some scripts for the next AOTS film projects, but fitting that in with all the other stuff is tough.
The mental health is still taking a beating, but I’m surviving. Woo.
Those who know me know that I am obsessed with Film, and I love the app & website Letterboxd.
I use Letterboxd as a teaching tool. I have a series of Lists to help students understand Genre and National Cinema. Now I have a new series: History on Film.
I built these lists to help me to understand the different periods of history, particularly in England.
The Dark Ages / Middle Ages / Mediaeval Periods required additional research.
I used the Notes function to include additional research, so I could identify when each of the stories were (roughly) set. So they should be in order from earliest to latest.
I’ve created a Facebook Group for Kiwis that are based in the UK and who work in the creative industries.
This came from: 1) some of my Kiwi friends have moved to London from Welly, and we arranged a brunch with other Kiwi creatives, and 2) a Career Development training that I did at work, talking about building your brand, and, to a lesser extent, 3) meeting more Kiwis through my work, and 4) seeing Kiwis post in film groups saying they’re based in or moving to the UK, and introducing myself as a Kiwi.
I know about building a brand – I teach building yourself as a brand – but the workshop facilitator raised creating a community oneself. I do that, I have Action On The Side. But the training was around the same time of thinking about how to bring Creative Kiwis in London together (and it’s open to the rest of the UK).
Here’s the link to the group. If this sounds like you, do join. It’s all about networking and supporting each other.
The Action On The Side 48-hour film competition is back!
Last year, we ran the Ealing 48 (November 3-5, 2023). 11 teams competed, with over 100 people credited. Most of the teams were from London, with one based in Japan.
This year we’re running the competition from 8pm (UK Time) Friday 5th to 8pm Sunday 7th July 2024
Make a film in just 48 hours – Friday 5th to Sunday 7th July
Teams will have just 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and submit a 5-7 minute short film. That isn’t the only challenge, of course — the film must be in an allocated genre, and must include the three random elements: a prop, a line of dialogue, and a shot or filmmaking technique. (Last year the genres were: Shakespearean, Superhero, War, Dystopian, Supernatural horror, Espionage / Spy Thriller; the prop was a photo frame; the line of dialogue was “the most important thing to remember is…”; the shot / filmmaking technique was a freeze frame).
This year’s competition is less than two weeks away!
Get your team together – or, if you don’t have a team and are based in London (so can attend the Kick-Off Event), individual filmmakers can register to join a team on the day.
The Kick-Off
The Kick-Off takes place 7pm-8pm Friday 5th July at House of Transformation in Haggerston. The Kick-Off is where we give tips for the competition, allocate the genres, and announce the three random elements.
The Kick-Off Event will be livestreamed and the submission is online, so teams can take part from anywhere in the world!
The Screening & Awards Event
Last year Screening and Awards were held at ActOne Cinema on 26th November 2023.
This year we return to ActOne Cinema in Acton for the Screening and Awards, on Sunday 4th August.
The Awards
The best films will screen at the cinema and will be up for awards, including BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST PERFORMANCE, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING, BEST SOUNDTRACK, and … BEST FILM
Films are up for laurels, trophies, mentorship, and the cinema screening.
We have now officially finished the March 2024 Action On The Side one-month filmmaking project: the crime horror thriller Coming Clean
Coming Clean
This is the first time I have run the Action On The Side one-month filmmaking project since March 2020 – right as the first lockdown started.
Each time we run the project, I always try to improve something – in the project, in our filmmaking technique. The improvements I implemented this time were:
The legal paperwork was all signed digitally using Adobe Sign, in advance of the project;
The legal paperwork now has a GDPR section;
I provided the full budget to participants so we could all work together to deliver the project in under budget;
Instead of the film only going online, we have a festival strategy and have already submitted to some festivals;
We sold tickets to the screening for koha (donation), with funds raised going to the film festival submission fund;
We have additional meetings during the post production process to look at sound delivery and process;
we have a deliverables document, focusing on how to deliver to SVOD and what graphics are needed;
we have used Wix groups instead of Facebook groups;
It’s Reading Week this week – meaning no lessons. I’ve been focusing on a few different things this week: grading research, my business accounts, promoting the upcoming AOTS project, prep for the project (including writing scripts to pitch), selling things on eBay, and meetings with potential collaborators. I’ve been writing proposals for longer projects. Early days, so no public news yet.
I’ve produced two videos for the AOTS project: one on the legal stuff and one on the pitch process. I’m not anticipating many views: they’re mainly for the people taking part in the project. But they are public for anyone who is interested in what the project is.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining a virtual Shut Up and Write session for the first time. These are sessions whereby writers turn up, sit and write together for a set amount of time, and can chat afterwards if they want. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m more productive if I think people will judge me if they see me slacking off on my screen. This is a way to focus, set aside time for your writing goals, and have some sense of community — because, let’s face it, writing is a lonely task.
The session was run by my friend Candace Little (give her a follow on Instagram). Candace is a writer, a kiwi, a mum based in Australia – she’s a friend and I’ve known her for years!. The session is 11pm on a Sunday for me, so I’m a bit shattered today, but, y’know what? I got some writing done (well, marking student work, but it all counts!)
On Sunday mornings (9am-11am), I join a free virtual writing group. The group was set up by attendees at the London Screenwriters Festival. Anyone can join. The group is predominantly from the UK, but there are some international writers. We chat about various things, including getting ahead in the industry, networking, and productivity tips, but one can also share work with the group for feedback. As it is on Zoom, there are also breakout rooms – so you can log on, write for a bit, then re-join the chat when ready. There’s a Whatsapp group for communication, and we even met up in person for a Christmas lunch last month!
I’m not sure if/how to promote the group, so if it’s something you’re interested in, message me and I can provide details.
Finally there are the script development workshops that I run with Action On The Side. I gave a fortnightly in-person script development workshop that I run at the Curzon Soho (in the bar or café area), on Wednesday evenings. I also have a virtual script development session once a month.
We used to run the sessions that people turn up with (printed) scripts, we read each others’ scripts, write our feedback using a pro forma I developed, then give each other feedback. Currently there is more of a focus on workshopping structure, dialogue, character, logline — it’s a bespoke workshop, so it depends what people bring to the session.
I’ve also got a Wix group for writers. I’m sharing writing resources and posting reminders of upcoming workshops. Ideally each person who regularly attends the workshops will join the group and join the discussion. A safe space to share loglines and scripts for feedback, and build a sense of community. It’s early days, but I’m working on it.
Busy Times 