Russia Film Freeze

An article on Yahoo today reports that Russia's film industry has gone into a deep freeze.

About 100 Russian film projects have been canceled or suspended since the fall, when the film industry experienced the impact of the economic crisis, according to the Russian film industry's trade journal, Byulleten kinoprokatchuika. Earlier this year, Mosfilm, the country's largest studio complex, said it had no films being shot in its studios.

"It is true that (Russian buyers) are renegotiating deals and even canceling them. It is very difficult indeed to get money out of that territory," a spokesperson for London-based sales and finance house Hanway Films said recently.

News is even worse on the local production front. As the global financial downturn has worsened, Russian distributors increasingly have turned their focus toward Hollywood blockbusters, leaving homegrown films and even foreign independent features on the outside looking in.

Storyland Online

A reminder that RTÉ's online drama competition Storyland kicks off at 5pm, Monday the 16th of March 2009.

Pilots of nine dramas will be made available for viewing online. Viewers have until 5pm, Monday the 30th March to vote for their favourites.

Only eight projects will proceed onto the next round.

2009 Brian Way Award

The shortlisted playwrights for the 2009 Brian Way Award have been announced in London.

The Award is made to the writer whose play, in the judges' opinion, most satisfies the following description:

• a play in which the writing is of special quality
• a play that stimulates the imagination
• a play that demonstrates innovation in the language or form

The Shortlisted plays for 2009 are:

• A Sheep called Skye by Nicola McCartney (NTS)
• Duck! by Philip Osment (Unicorn Theatre)
• I’m A Minger by Alex Jones (Operating Theatre Company)
• Romeo In The City by Amber Lone (Theatre Centre)
• Space Circus by writers from Chol Theatre (Chol Theatre)
• The Mothership by Douglas Maxwell (Birmingham Rep)
• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Kevin Dyer (Action Transport)

Canadian Fund Highlights New Media

It's worth noting an article on Canada's Globe and Mail about the change in direction of its federal government's funding for film.

Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore unveiled a new super-fund, called the Canada Media Fund (CMF), which is amalgamating three previous schemes into one, for a combined $134.7 million in government financing.

It doesn't mean more cash, at least for now – but Moore was adamant that money can be spent more efficiently and will be focused on Canadian drama and comedy across the country. The government will give preference to projects developed in high definition and on more than one platform, such as television shows that incorporate interactive games, webisodes, podcasting or online streaming. That adds up to an added burden when designing projects for CMF support, but Moore said new media needs to be drawn out of its silo and into the production mainstream.

"New media isn't frankly new media any more. I watch more television on my iPod than I do on my actual conventional television set," said Moore.

Irish 3D Cinema

Yesterday the news was announced that Irish Multiplex Cinemas (IMC) will add RealD 3D capabilities to each of its multiplex locations for a total of fourteen RealD 3D-enabled screens. The roll-out will be completed by April in time for the release of the children's animated feature Monsters vs. Aliens (DreamWorks Animation).

Paul Ward, director of IMC said, "The RealD 3D technology being installed in all IMC Cinemas shows IMC's commitment to providing not only the best in customer service, but also the best customer enjoyment of the cinema going experience by the early introduction of the newest technological advances available."

Bob Mayson, managing director of RealD Europe Ltd. said, "Ireland is an important market for us in Europe and we're extremely pleased to be working with IMC to outfit all of their multiplex locations. Paul Ward and his team understand the potential of RealD 3D and are grasping the opportunity with both hands."

RealD’s next-generation technology is deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform in more than 34 countries with over 8,000 screens under contract and nearly 2,600 RealD 3D screens today.

TV Drama Forum

The TV Drama Forum conference is take place on the 12th of March in the Barbican Centre, in London.

The TV Drama Forum enables you to hear from the heavyweight commissioners, network with the leading lights in drama production and learn who else is funding content in this highly competitive field.

Drama has always been competitive, and with commissioning budgets squeezed across the broadcasting spectrum, now more than ever you need to know who is funding content, what they are looking for, and how to make compelling content that fulfils commissioners' – and audiences' – requirements.

At the Drama TV Forum you will:

• Hear the top TV commissioners outlining what they will be looking for in future
• Learn how to tap into other sources of funding, both public and private
• Debate the way drama needs to evolve in order to remain relevant in the multiplatform environment
• Discover ways to create opportunities in foreign markets, including the US
• Meet new contacts from across the field to develop meaningful business relationships

You can register for the conference via the web site.

Human Rights Short Films

The ICCL Human Rights Film School is organising an original short film competition with a focus on human rights-related issues relevant to Ireland.

The aim of the Human Rights Film School is to provide film students, filmmakers and those working in human rights with an opportunity to contribute to human rights discourse in Ireland, grappling with issues which affect some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society through the medium of film.

Through the Human Rights Film School Competition, the ICCL hopes to raise public awareness about human rights in an Irish context, bringing attention to inequalities which exist today and inspiring others to work towards solutions, creating in a more equitable society.

The deadline for receipt of entries is Friday 17 April 2009, and further details on how to apply are available on the web site.

Short Shorts 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board has announced its call for submissions for the next round of the Short Shorts scheme. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 8th 2009.

Short Shorts funds up to seven, 3-5 minute films and aims to encourage the making of ultra short films which are innovative, provocative or in some way risky and rule-breaking. The scheme was modified last year so that the films have to conform to a particular genre each year.

The theme for this years short films, whether live action or animated is ‘Films with No Dialogue'. This does not mean silent films, but rather films where the soundtrack can contain anything except audible dialogue. The Mr Bean television series is a good example of this type of genre. It is hoped that having the shorts packaged together under this specific genre will allow the IFB to market the Short Shorts more effectively internationally.

The Short Shorts scheme has been funding short films for a number of years. Some of the more recent successes include Declan Cassidy's Whatever Turns You On which picked up the Best Film awards at the Florence Film Festival in Italy and Filmstock Film Festival in Britain last November. Atlantic, directed by Conor Ferguson, starring Liam Cunningham which was released in cinemas nationwide in front of the feature film 32A last year while the short horror film Shapes directed by Alan Brennan, starring Mark Huberman was officially selected for the renowned Palm Springs International Film Festival 2008.

The successful short films will premiere at the Cork Film Festival in October.

Further information on how to apply is available on the web site.

Lyric Build Begins

Today The Stage mentions that contractors are now in possession of the Langan-side site for the new Lyric theatre in South Belfast. It will have two performance spaces, and is due to reopen in early 2010.

Finance minister Nigel Dodds said: "The Lyric is one of Northern Ireland's most important cultural assets and I believe that the new theatre will provide a much-valued facility for audiences and artists alike. The Lyric is also recognised for the important role it has played and will continue to play in the development of drama in Northern Ireland."

New Abbey Will Go Ahead

The Stage reports that Martin Cullen, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, has pledged that the new Abbey Theatre will be completed despite the Irish government's difficult economic situation.

The information came out of an exchange between Cullen and opposition party spokeswoman on the arts, Olivia Mitchell of Fine Gael, during a recent Dáil session.

"It's incredible it could take so long," she said. "It is not as if the minister is designing the building - he's merely presiding over the drawing up of competition guidelines for someone else to design it. If that process can take years, as it has, how long will it take to build the theatre? The project has turned into a dramatic saga to rival anything the Abbey might stage."

But the minister insisted progress was being made. "The project is complex," he said. "There is a myriad of technical, procedural and legal factors to address, but the final work is being done at the moment."

A free site has been provided for the theatre in the Dublin docklands and the project is to be developed on a 'build, finance and maintain basis' through a public-private partnership arrangement.

Mitchell questioned whether it was realistic to depend on public-private partnerships in the current uncertain economic conditions. "Was the project really being put on the long finger?", she asked.

In reply, the minister said that delivering the new theatre was a top government priority. The design competition would get under way shortly, he promised, and added: "I am confident that when the competition is complete, we will have a world class design for a new iconic building for the city."

2009 Olivier Awards

The winners of the 2009
Laurence Olivier Awards were announced in a ceremony in London at the weekend:

Best Lighting Design: The Chalk Garden designed by Paule Constable at the Donmar Warehouse

Best Sound Design: Black Watch designed by Gareth Fry at the Barbican

Best Costume Design: The Histories designed by Tom Piper and Emma Williams at the Roundhouse

Best New Dance Production: Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal's Café Muller/ The Rite Of Spring at Sadler's Wells

Outstanding Achievement in Dance: The company of the Royal Ballet of Flanders for their performances in Impressing The Czar at Sadler's Wells

Best New Comedy: God Of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton) at the Gielgud theatre

Best Set Design: August: Osage County designed by Todd Rosenthal at the National Theatre, Lyttelton

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Lesli Margherita for Zorro at the Garrick theatre

Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre: The Royal Court theatre's production of The Pride, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Patrick Stewart for Hamlet at the Novello theatre

Best Actress: Margaret Tyzack for The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse

Best Actor: Derek Jacobi for Twelfth Night, Donmar West End at the Wyndham’s theatre

Best Company Performance: The Histories directed by Michael Boyd at the Roundhouse

Best Theatre Choreographer: Steven Hoggett for Black Watch at the Barbican

Best Revival: The Histories directed by Michael Boyd at the Roundhouse

Best New Opera Production: English National Opera's Partenope at the London Coliseum

Outstanding Achievement in Opera: Edward Gardner for conducting English National Opera's Boris Goduinov, Cavalliera Rusticana, Der Rosenkavalier, I Pagliacci, Riders To The Sea at the London Coliseum and Punch And Judy at the Young Vic

Best Actress in a Musical: Elena Roger for Piaf at the Donmar Warehouse and Vaudeville theatre

Best Actor in a Musical: Douglas Hodge for La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse theatre

Best Entertainment: La Clique at the Hippodrome

Best Musical Revival: La Cage Aux Folles, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play La Cage Aux Folles by Jean Poiret, at the Playhouse theatre

Best New Play: National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch by Gregory Burke at the Barbican

Best Director: John Tiffany for Black Watch at the Barbican

Best New Musical: Jersey Boys The Story Of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe at the Prince Edward theatre 

The Society's Special Award: Sir Alan Ayckbourn

More Book Events

Today is World Book Day, an annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading. There are events and talks going on in libraries all over the country today.

Tomorrow sees the start of the Ennis Book Festival (March 6-8 2009).

The three-day programme of events, in association with Clare County Library includes John Boyne, author of "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas"; Salley Vickers, best selling British novelist and author of "Miss Garnet’s Angel"; John Breen, author of "Alone It Stands"; Jennifer Johnston, Booker Prize nominated writer; Allan Guthrie, Scottish crime novelist; Mark O'Halloran, award winning writer and actor; journalist and broadcaster Kevin Myers and many more. The festival will be launched on Friday the 6th of March by novelist John Connolly and there will be a GIANT BOOK CLUB meeting to discuss his novel "The Book of Lost Things".

Writing Horror

British journalist and writer Kim Newman will be speaking on the subject of Writing Horror for IPSG members, and their friends, in Room 3 on the second floor of Filmbase, in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, on Thursday the 26th of March at 7pm.

Kim Newman is a contributing editor at Empire Magazine, and one of the UK's best-known critics, especially of horror cinema. He has served on international film juries, and is a regular contributor on British radio and television programmes about the history and tradition of genre work in the media. He has written and edited a number of non-fiction guides to the field, including the BFI 's Companion to Horror, Nightmare Movies (a new edition is forthcoming), and Millennium Movies: End of the World Cinema. Kim has also written award-winning horror novels, short stories, and plays, and his new science fiction radio play "Cry Babies" will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 9 March 2009.

Kim will explore the tradition of horror in relation to filmmaking, and will discuss the advantages and difficulties of writing successfully within this genre. The format will be a question and answer conversation with Guild webmaster Maura McHugh, and questions will be opened to attendees for the final part of the meeting.

If you wish to attend please RSVP the Guild, and inform us if you are bringing along a friend, at: info@script.ie.

Irish Theatre Awards 2009

The winners of the 12 Annual Irish Times Theatre Awards were announced on Monday night:

• Special tribute award: Lynne Parker
• Best actress: Derbhle Crotty (Three Sisters, Abbey Theatre)
• Best actor : Tom Vaughan Lawlor (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht, Abbey Theatre)
• Best supporting actor: Mikel Murfi (The New Electric Ballroom, Druid)
• Best supporting actress: Dearbhla Molloy (The Cripple of Inishmaan, Druid and Atlantic Theatre)
• Best director: Rupert Goold (No Man's Land, Gate Theatre)
• Best production: Loose Canon (Phaedra’s Love)
• Best new play: The New Electric Ballroom, written by Enda Walsh (Druid Theatre Company)
• Best opera: Mines of Sulphur, Wexford Opera.
• Best costume design: Rae Smith (An Ideal Husband, Abbey Theatre)
• Best set designer: Owen MacCárthaigh (Juno and the Paycock; Cork Opera House/ Association of Regional Theatres, NI)
• Best lighting designer: Kevin Treacy (The Nose, The Performance Corporation)
• Special award: Wexford Opera House.

UK Writers' Studio

The Stage reports that the former head of drama at Channel 4, Gub Neal, has formed a US-style writers' studio called Artists Studio.

"Artists Studio is the UK's first writers-driven studio. It aims to nurture and empower established talents in a supportive environment and develop their potential producing skills. We hope this innovative approach will bridge the gap between the writer's vision and what eventually appears on screen," Neal said.

He added: "We are starting with a dozen or so established writers on a non-exclusive contract, so they are free to work with their other contacts too. In time we hope to encourage a new generation of showrunners into the industry."

If a writer's project is commissioned, Artists Studio will work with the writer to produce the show, or help find a suitable production company to do so.

Dublin Book Festival 09

Organised by CLÉ - Irish Book Publishers' Association - the Dublin Book Festival will take place from Friday 6th - Sunday 8th March 2009 in Dublin's City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2.

There will be a variety of readings, forums, discussions, workshops, and seminars (in English and Irish) taking place during the weekend.

Library Week 2009

Library Ireland Week is running from 2-8 March 2009 in libraries throughout the country.

Check out your local library for a list of events that are taking place.

RTE Seeks Story Editor

RTÉ is looking for a new Story Editor for its popular soap opera Fair City.

RTÉ's flagship drama series, Fair City, is the cornerstone of RTÉ One's schedule and the primary series in the channel's drama output. Now in its 19th Season, Fair City is a primetime serial drama broadcasting 208 episodes throughout the year and receiving in the region of a 40% audience share on RTÉ One.

The Story Editor is a key member of the production team, responsible for implementing the story generated by the Executive Producer and Series Consultant. The main responsibilities of the postholder include:

• Leading the development of stories across a number of story strands
• Working closely with the writers, researchers and story associates, to ensure continuity and accuracy
• Ensuring that the story fits episode units and meets contractual and logistical obligations to cast; ensuring effective use of sets, facilities and locations
• Managing long arcs across each season
• Compiling weekly story documents for the Executive Producer and Series Consultant and editing to reflect their input

The successful candidate will have experience of story writing and/or editing on a television drama series, or significant equivalent experience. S/he will be able to write clear, concise and unambiguous prose. In addition, s/he will have a strong sense of story and an enthusiasm for and interest in popular entertainment, especially Fair City. S/he must also have the ability to lead a team and work on his/her own initiative. Candidates will possess a third level qualification, preferably in a related discipline.

This position is graded at Script Editor with a salary range of €45,228 to €68,343 gross p.a.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term employment contract for a period of two years.

Applicants are invited to submit a Curriculum Vitae together with cover letter (attach as one document, preferably in Word 2003 or earlier version)

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 6th March 2009.

Further information on how to apply for the position is available on the web site.

Rent Movies Via Consoles

Yesterday The Guardian reported that Microsoft brokered a content deal with NBC Universal that will offer a selection of the studio's movie portfolio for rental via the Internet to its Xbox 360 customers.

The deal, which is specific to UK and Ireland, adds considerable value to the Xbox 360's burgeoning video-on-demand service. Currently around 300 movies are available to UK users, with Paramount, Warner Bros and MGM already supplying content.

Customers pay around £2.50 to download a movie, which remains on their console's hard drive for 14 days – but once you start playback, you have 24 hours to watch the film before it expires. Many of the titles are available to rent in either standard or high definition formats.

Microsoft sees the provision of a movie service as a key element in expanding its market beyond the traditional gamer demographic.

"We're looking at how we can grow Xbox as a core entertainment hub," said Thompson "There's a phenomenon at the minute where more and more people are staying at home to consume their entertainment – we're really offering a convenient one-stop shop for them."

Consoles like the X-box and the Nintendo Wii are increasingly marketed as "entertainment hubs", which allow their customers to download content, and to interact with other players around the globe using broadband connectivity.

Film Offaly Award

Filmbase reports that Film Offaly has announced a new funding initiative to foster creative, resourceful filmmaking in Offaly.

One original story will be funded, as long as the subsequent filming takes place in Offaly.

The winning applicant will receive:

• €8,000 towards the cost of their production
• A premier in Tullamore Omniplex Cinema
• One year's Filmbase membership to the Writer, Producer and Director of the winning film
• A 50% discount on production equipment and/or editing facilities from Filmbase for the project
• Filmbase's production insurance to cover the shoot

To apply for the the award, applicants must submit a script, and a 500 word synopsis of the film project.

Screenplays/treatments from any genre, style, topic or perspective will be considered and judged on its merits regarding the quality of the material along with interviews and re-writes with/by the applicant/s

The closing date for submission is: Friday April 3rd at 3pm.

Information on how to apply is on the website.

Moss 2009 Blackburn Winner

The Stage reports that playwright Chloe Moss has won this year's Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, which recognises women from around the world who have written works of "outstanding quality" for the English-speaking theatre.

Moss was presented with a prize of $20,000 for her play This Wide Night, which focuses on two women trying to start their lives again after being released from prison.

It was commissioned by Clean Break and first performed at the Soho Theatre in London.

Moss beat competition from nine other finalists - comprising one Indian writer, four US writers and a further four British playwrights - to win the award, which was presented by Sigourney Weaver at a ceremony in London last night.

Lucinda Coxon, who penned Happy Now?, which premiered at the National Theatre, received a special commendation award of $5,000 for her work.

Writing Contemporary Ireland

Filmbase, in partnership with Create - the national development agency for collaborative arts - are hosting the Continuing Professional Development Workshop: Writing Contemporary Ireland, on Wednesday 11th March 2009, from 10am-3pm, in Filmbase.

The workshop is aimed at emerging and established writers, theatre makers and filmmakers who are interested in exploring approaches to representing culturally diverse communities and creating new work that reflects the diversity of contemporary Ireland.

The workshop is co-hosted by actor, writer and filmmaker Mark O'Halloran, and writer/director for theatre and film Madani Younis.

Please note places are limited. Please ensure booking is made by Friday March 6th to ensure a place. The cost for the workshop is €40. To reserve a place please contact events[AT]filmbase.ie at Filmbase. Please put 'Writing Contemporary Ireland' in the subject line of the email.

Virtual Cinema 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board has announced the recipients of this year's Virtual Cinema short film scheme.

Over 150 applications were received, and from them the following filmmakers have been awarded €2,000 for their project:

• Satellite of Love / Director - Bill Tyson
• Paranoid Fat Chick goes swimming / Director - Cecilia McAllister
• Alley Cat / Director - Niamh Kennedy
• Someone Not like You / Director - Traolach O Murchu
• One Hundred Happy Faces / Director - Robin Murray
• Action Evader / Director - Padriag Mannion
• The True Story of Bono and my Ex / Director - Ross Whitaker
• Club Foot 2020 / Director - Claire Roche
• Solo Duet / Director - Sophie Merry
• Smugglers / Director - Liam Nolan and Agnieszka Reczkin

There is no information available that indicates who wrote these projects.

The finished films will screen at the Darklight Film Festival in October and will be available online immediately.

Frameworks 2009

The deadline for submission to the short animation scheme Frameworks, co-funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and RTÉ, is Friday, April 24th.

Frameworks is an established scheme for the making of animated short films which BSÉ/IFB considers to be so successful in stimulating ground-breaking new work from Irish animators that it intends to continue the scheme in its present form.

Projects selected for funding will combine creative exploration with an ability to appeal to a broad audience.

Further information on the scheme, as well as guidelines and application form, are available from the web site.

New IFB Board

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) had announced the new IFB Board members, as appointed by Martin Cullen, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.

The Minister has re-appointed current Chairman of the Board, James Morris, to this position for a twelve month period. Current board members Lesley McKimm, Kevin Moriarty, Tristan Orpen Lynch and Kirsten Sheridan have been reappointed to the Board for the next four years.

In addition Minister Cullen has appointed two new Board members, composer Barry Grace who has worked on a range of TV commercials and TV programming including DEAR DAUGHTER for RTE and film director/producer Johnny Gogan, whose credits include THE LAST BUS HOME and MAPMAKER.

Welcoming new board member appointments Simon Perry IFB Chief Executive said "In these uncertain times, it is tremendously reassuring that our Chairman James Morris is remaining with us for another year. We are also delighted to welcome two new Board members and to welcome back the majority of a Board which has always been nothing but supportive of the IFB's work to date."