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The Deaf Film and TV Festival | Contacts | Links

VEE-TV turned the spotlight on careers in film and television, talking to South African director Louis Neethling and two Pulse film-makers, Sam Dore and Bim Ajadi.

Louis, aged 29, is one of the latest students on the National Short Course Training Programme, which operates as a unit within the National Film and Television School. It is the leading training provider of high-quality, cost-effective short courses to professional standards for people who work in the film and television industry. Most courses are aimed at people who have been in the industry for at least two years, although there are foundation courses aimed at those new to film and television.

As part of the course, Louis is filming a 10-minute fictional piece about deafness. Most of the crew are hearing members of the NFTS but Louis has also recruited some deaf actors. He communicates with the crew via his friend Johnny, who has volunteered to come over here for the duration of the course to help interpret. Louis uses South African Sign Language, which is very similar to BSL, so communication with the deaf actors isn't too difficult.

Louis has five years of television experience behind him and has directed a South African deaf soap opera called Young and Speechless for the last four years. He began his TV career as a presenter.

'I noticed there were only hearing directors on deaf programmes,' he says. 'I told them I wanted to become a director but it was laughed off. I persevered, though, and I was lucky to meet a leading producer who was interested in learning sign language. He realised that I had a passion to be a director, so together we decided to establish a new drama series. Young and Speechless is the first deaf TV drama series in the world.'

Sam Dore has a film about clubbing under his belt and has two other projects planned: a five-minute short which he has submitted to a short film competition and a 15-minute short with a bigger budget involving hearing actors.

As for Bim, having his film Queen's New English shown on VEE-TV has provided a lot of positive feedback and he is confident that he can do even better next time.

THE DEAF FILM AND TV FESTIVAL

The sixth Deaf Film and TV Festival is to be held on 16, 17 and 18 November at the Light House in Wolverhampton (see Contacts/links for contact details). Organised by the British Deaf Association, Channel Four and the Light House, the festival offers a host of events, all of them free of charge, including entry to the Light Bar night club. For those needing accommodation the festival has arranged a special deal with the Britannia Hotel just a few minutes' walk from the Light House. The main focus of the festival will be to celebrate all the deaf people working within film, video and television, but hearing people will be welcome to join in the activities. All live events in the main cinema will have on-stage interpretation by BSL interpreters.

FilmFour, the BDA, Working Title and the post-production company VET have collaborated to provide a bursary for deaf people to make short films with BSL and subtitles. Successful applicants will gain funding to help them in the production and post-production process, and the films will be shown at the festival. The final date for applications is now past, but if you have already made a film or video it's not too late to get it shown at the festival. Contact Michael Quinlan or Lucy Franklin at the BDA (details below).

If you've got an idea for a short film, or a film you've already made, you can also suggest it for VEE-TV's Pulse slot. See Pitch for Pulse.

CONTACTS

British Deaf Association (BDA)
1–3 Worship Street
London EC2A 2AB
Voice/Text: 020 7588 3520
Fax: 020 7588 3527
E-mail: michaelq@bda.org.uk
Website: www.bda.org.uk
Contact Michael Quinlan or Lucy Franklin if you have a film you would like to be shown at the Deaf Film and TV Festival.

The Light House
The Chubb Buildings
Fryer Street
Wolverhampton WV1 1HT
Voice: 01902 716055
E-mail: lighthouse@light-house.co.uk
The venue for the Deaf Film and TV Festival.

Film and TV careers

The FilmFour site is a good first stop for aspiring film-makers, with an extensive directory of resources and contacts for training and funding, plus tips on how to make a DV Short Film and the opportunity to submit your short film for possible broadcast on Channel 4's The Shooting Gallery. In addition to the resources included on the FilmFour site, you might like to check out:

European Screenwriter Database
www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/5698
Comprehensive database offering writers the opportunity to post their CVs, contact agents and check out an impressive directory of workshops, bursaries and contests. Plus links to helpful sites and a treasure-chest of interviews with writers and directors.

Four All
www.fourall.org
Channel 4's disability database is a resource designed to help Channel 4, Film Four and media companies working with the channel. Post your CV for potential employment as a member of crew, cast or audience.

Hear My Hands
www.hearmyhands.org
US organisation dedicated to producing film and video projects in American Sign Language. Offers showcases for the talents of deaf performers, writers, editors, directors, dancers, and other production crew members.

learndirect
www.learndirect.co.uk
Search engine for adult and higher education courses throughout the UK. Offers the facility to search for courses on film and film-making by area and postcode.

Projector Films
www.projector.demon.co.uk
UK-based coalition of film and video makers working in a variety of genres. Offers information on production, including a guide to getting started in film. Also includes a variety of resource links and articles.

Reel Mind
www.reelmind.com
Offers sizeable directories of film festivals, film schools and every conceivable type of film personnel, plus articles by industry professionals. Also offers the opportunity to post your scripts and have them assessed by a professional, as well as information on raising money for films.

Film festivals

Brief Encounters
www.brief-encounters.org.uk
Offers information on Bristol’s Short Film Festival from 14 to 18 November 2001. Includes details on how to submit your own short film.

6th Deaf Film & TV Festival
www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk/filmfestivalp2.html
Offers information on the 6th Deaf Film & TV Festival to be held at the Light House in Wolverhampton from 16 to 18 November 2001. See main feature above.

Lifting the Lid!
www.dail.dircon.co.uk/ldaf/textonly/tohome.htm
The London Disability Arts Forum's Third Disability Film Festival will take place between 7 and 9 June 2001 at the Lux Cinema in Hoxton, north London. This site provides contact details if you wish to get involved.

The London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
www.queercompany.com/llgff/index.htm
Site for the recent festival offers information on the movies and events, plus details of an extensive tour throughout the UK until September 2001.

Sundance Film Festival
www.sundancechannel.com
Offers full details of this US showcase for independent film-making from today's most innovative international film-makers.

Cinema

Classic Hollywood
http://geocities.com/Hollywood/9766/index.html
A reference guide to favourite Hollywood movies between 1939 and 1969. Offers a search facility by film, director or year. Includes an array of images, plus a booklist in association with Amazon.com.

The Guardian
http://film.guardian.co.uk
Great film resource offering listings, news, reviews and features on the latest movies. Plus an extensive links page for serious film buffs.

History in Film
www.historyinfilm.com
In-depth historical analyses of several famous movies looking at how the facts differ from the fiction.

Hollywood
www.hollywood.com
US site offering in-depth movie information, including reviews, entertainment news and an extensive multimedia library of downloadable movie trailers.

Images
www.imagesjournal.com
Online magazine offering intelligent and challenging features along with recent film and video reviews.

Warner Village
www.warnervillage.co.uk
Offers listings for Warner cinemas across the UK, plus maps, recommendations and an easy-to-use booking service.

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