To encourage Animated Exeter audiences to get creative themselves, the Centre For Contemporary Art And The Natural World (or CCANW, as ‘ver kids’ are calling it),  is offering an opportunity to explore the environment of Haldon Forest in an animation workshop.

Award-winning filmmakers Kayla Parker and Stuart Moore will be creating an animated visual poem (oh yes!) evoking a sense of place, using digital and physical image-making techniques to explore the natural world and the organic forms of the forest.

All of which sounds a bit FernGully but should be top fun nonetheless. The workshop takes place on February 24 and admission is £30 (£25 conc.), which includes a DVD of the day’s work to be sent to participants. That’s better than being poked in the eye with a blunt stick, ain’t it? But then, in our experience, most things are, so there you go.

Where were we? Oh yeah, booking is essential on info@ccanw.co.uk and here’s a clip from FernGully to put you in a ‘visual poem’ kinda mood.

Posted by Thin White Duke

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Follow the main cinema links for dates, times and matinee screenings.
Follow the title links for movie details, friendship and maybe more.

PLYMOUTH ARTS CENTRE 

London To Brighton (18) Click here to watch trailer 
Romanzo Criminale (15) Click here to watch trailer

TAVISTOCK WHARF

The History Boys (15) Click here to watch trailer

DARTINGTON ARTS/THE BARN

The Prestige (12A) Click here to watch trailer
Monster House (PG) Click here to watch trailer
Red Road (18) Click here to watch trailer

EXETER PICTUREHOUSE

Miss Potter (PG) Click here to watch trailer
Keane (PG) Click here to watch trailer
Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer (15) Click here to watch trailer
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man (PG) Click here to watch trailer
Meditainment (U)  Click here for details 
Gabrielle (15) Click here to watch trailer
Future Shorts January (15) Click here for details 

FALMOUTH ARTS CENTRE

Stranger Than Fiction (12A) Click here to watch trailer
The Host (15) Click here to watch trailer

If you want your local arthouse or cinema club featured in the Arthouse Roundup, send some details to info@dandcfilm.co.uk

Weather, weather, weather - if you’re after something more interesting to offer up as small talk, then turn up to the Creative Collective tonight at the Exeter Phoenix Media Centre for a collection of stunning shorts. It’s free, but you need a ticket from the box office. Always varied, always exciting. You’ll be blown away. Ho ho.

Posted by Cptn

Remember we were telling you about that First Light Movies scheme? Of course you do (click here if you don’t - and try to pay attention in future).

Well, it turns out a star-studded judging panel is getting ready to cast its eye (just the one, mind) over a film made by students from Teignbridge after their mini-movie was nominated for the best screenplay category at the swanky First Light Movies Awards.

And when we say ’star-studded’ we’re not talking Ian Calvert and Moses Barrington (don’t get us started). We’re talking Kate Winslet of Titanic ‘fame’ and movie director Sir Alan Parker. Yup, bona fide Britflick royalty.

They’re among the judges who will look at First Light Movies-funded films, including local nominee Street Rat, which was made by a group of 15 students, aged between six and 18, from Ipplepen Primary School and Coombehead College, Newton Abbot.

Made using about £7,700 of National Lottery funding, the flick will compete against other mini-movies from across the UK and will be rated by the First Light Movies Awards judging panel.

Other members of this year’s judging team include Hollywood actress Minnie Driver, Stormbreaker poser Alex Pettyfer, Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry and (oh, christ!) ‘comedienne’ Catherine Tate.

Winners will be announced at a red-carpet event at the Odeon West End, London, on February 27.

Stay tuned to D+CFilm to find out how the Street Rat filmmakers get on.

Posted by Thin White Duke

Vue Cinemas has announced a major fundraising initiative to benefit schools across the UK. The scheme’s a little confusing though, so pay attention at
the back.

Here’s how it works. Vue puts on a free screening at one of its local cinemas (like the one in Exeter or Plymouth). Teachers and pupils decide how many seats they would like, set their own ticket price and sell tickets accordingly. Because Vue is not charging anything for the screenings, all proceeds will go to the participating schools for new equipment purchases, redevelopment and dinnerladies and stuff. Okay, so it’s not that complicated.

But don’t get too excited cos the first screening won’t be an exclusive preview of Tarantino and Rodriguez’s Grindhouse but will be a preview of the dull pig flick Charlotte’s Web. Still, it’s for a good cause, etc.

If your school is interested in participating, visit the myvue site and register your vital statistics. And for all of yous expecting to sit through two hours of Charlotte’s Web, here’s the Grindhouse teaser as consolation.

Posted by Thin White Duke

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Da-da-da-daaah! Tickets have finally gone on sale for next month’s Animated Exeter thingy.

The festival runs from February 12-24, and is BIGGER! and MORE EXCITING!! than ever, boasting over 160 films, 47 workshops and 10 talks by guest animators.

There’s also six exhibitions, two multimedia events and careers, industry and games days to keep D+Cineastes happy over the February half-term.

One of this year’s highlights is the screening of the acclaimed new adaption of Prokofiev’s classic wheeze, Peter & the Wolf – The Film, in Exeter Cathedral with live accompaniment by Devon Concert Orchestra.

The film programme offers the chance to see some of the best new animation from around the globe in a series of International Festival Hits. For youngsters, Komenko shows a series of short films about a Japanese cat making an animation film. We know what you’re thinking but we’ve been promised it won’t give your kids nightmares.

The festival also showcases the best of the next generation of filmmakers with the ExAnimation, Best Of The West and Screen Out Loud films made by schools and youth groups in Exeter and around Devon; as well as students and professionals from across the region. This year, 64 films have been selected and could win prizes for best new talent sponsored by AT Computers and South West Screen.

Um, what else? Well, guest appearances include Suzie Templeton, the BAFTA award-winning director of Peter & the Wolf – The Film, and Darren Walsh, creator of the Angry Kid series, who will be in conversation with Kieran Argo from Aardman Animation. Project leaders, tutors and filmmakers from Israel, India and London will lead workshops and discussions on the UNESCO project Big Small People.

In short, there’s a hellovalot happening. Free brochures with full information and booking details are available from libraries, tourist information centres and loadsa other outlets across Devon. To join the free mailing list call 01392 265885 or visit the website http://www.exeter.gov.uk/animatedexeter/ and sign up for e-bulletins.

Click below to see one of the better episodes of Darren Walsh’s Angry Kid series. It should whet your proverbial appetite for the festival’s, erm, festivities.

Posted by Thin White Duke

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Could all those who wanna help out at this year’s Animated Exeter raise their crayons in the air, please?

As a volunteer you are GUARANTEED (terms and conditions apply) a fab time, an opportunity to get experience of festival organisation, to learn something about animation, to meet other like minded enthusiasts and a buncha other benefits, like T-shirts, lunch money and free screenings. Sounds ace, don’t it?

If you’re available any time between February 12 to 27 why not help out with box office information, stewarding, workshop support, technical support and guide responsibilities (is that like looking after Brownies?).

So, look animated (har-not-very-har) and contact Liz Harkman, pronto, on 01392 265208 or elizabeth.harkman@exeter.gov.uk

Oh and stay tuned to D+CFilm next week for loadsa Animated Exeter shenanigans, including a sneak peek at what’s being screened and how yous lot can get your mitts on tickets.

Posted by Thin White Duke

More exciting news from the Bethemoviestar website, which claims to be the world’s biggest open casting call. If you missed the original stories on D+CFilm, click here and here to have a look.

Apparently, the movie in question has been saddled with the title ‘Street Voodoo’ and the filmmakers will be writing the script as they go along. Sounds like a winner to us!

According to director Steve Nesbit, the lack of script is ‘innovative’. No Steve, it’s just plain bonkers.

Still, the audition tapes will be online (at last) in the third week of January, which should be good for a larf - specially as there’s sposed to be more than 400 clips. How thrilling/tedious.

Stay tuned to D+CFilm for more exciting developments in the bethemoviestar saga (or possibly not).

Posted by Thin White Duke

This year’s Bafta nominees were announced today, bringing fantastic news for a Teignmouth filmmaker.

Paul Andrew Williams, writer and director of the zero-budget thriller London To Brighton, is up for The Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film.

This recognition is particularly noteworthy as Williams offers a trailblazing example to other young filmmakers (he’s still in his twenties) to bypass the bureaucracy of film-funding bodies in favour of a ‘guerrilla’ esthetic,
ie, blagging some cash and shooting what you bally-well like.

Although initially released on just 15 screens around the country, London to Brighton was quickly acclaimed by critics as one of the best British films in years and has already won prizes at the Edinburgh and Dinard film festivals and been named Best UK Feature at London’s Raindance Festival.

Described by Sight and Sound magazine as a ‘throat grabbing debut’ and by Empire magazine as ‘an urban noir with a heart of gold and balls of steel’, it follows the story of a 12 year-old runaway and a battered whore fleeing the capital while pursued by a shotgun-toting pimp.

Also up for the Carl Foreman award (which, incidentally, has nothing to do with grills invented by aging boxers) is Red Road director Andrea Arnold, who made a guest appearance at the Cornwall Film Festival last year.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards will be held on Sunday, February 11 at the Royal Opera House in London.

Stay tuned to D+CFilm for more news on Paul Andrew Williams. Oh, and see below for the London to Brighton trailer. If you like the look, why not catch the movie at the Exeter Picturehouse on Thursday? See this week’s Arthouse Roundup for booking details.

Posted by Thin White Duke

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Genius or bobbins? Decide for yourself as Moses Barrington (oh, puh-lease!) shows you the sights, the sounds and the smells of the town everyone’s calling Torquay. We think somebody’s seen Borat one too many times - but hey, enough of our my yackin’. Waddaya say? Let’s boogie.

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Posted by Thin White Duke

Follow the main cinema links for dates, times and matinee screenings.
Follow the title links for movie details, friendship and maybe more.

PLYMOUTH ARTS CENTRE 

Breaking And Entering (15) Click here to watch trailer
The Page Turner (15) Click here to watch trailer

TAVISTOCK WHARF

Marie Antoinette (12A) Click here to watch trailer

DARTINGTON ARTS/THE BARN

Little Children (15) Click here to watch trailer
Howl’s Moving Castle (U) Click here to watch trailer
Pan’s Labyrinth (15) Click here to watch trailer

EXETER PICTUREHOUSE

Miss Potter (PG) Click here to watch trailer
Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer (15) Click here to watch trailer
Notes On A Scandal (15) Click here to watch trailer
The US Vs John Lennon (12A)  Click here to watch trailer 
Unconscious (15) Click here to watch trailer 
London To Brighton (18) Click here to watch trailer 

FALMOUTH ARTS CENTRE

Pan’s Labyrinth (15) Click here to watch trailer

If you want your local arthouse or cinema club featured in the Arthouse Roundup, send some details to info@dandcfilm.co.uk

Appledore Arts wants filmmakers from D+C to submit shorts to be shown at their 10th annual Visual Arts Festival in Devon.

Films can be submitted for various categories, including, bizarrely, ’Wide River’ (which is apparently the theme of this year’s fest); films produced by young people aged 11-21; films produced by local filmmakers; films based on local subject matter; and films on the theme of Ceramics and Ceramic Artists.

So, you can make it about anything basically - though perhaps aware of D+CFilm’s penchant for the racy, Appledore is keen to emphasise that films must be appropriate for audiences of all ages.

Full application and contact details can be found here, and the deadline for entries is February 26. But never mind all that - we wanna know what the wizard from Harry Potter is doing running a film festival in the first place! Snort!

Posted by Thin White Duke

Forget all those Daily Mail headlines about tomatoes/immigrants/Princess Diana causing cancer, cos starting tomorrow, BBC2 will finally reveal The Truth About Food. Well, thank heavens for that, eh?

Using original tests on volunteers, the six-part series apparently reveals the ‘real science’ behind the food we eat and what it does to our bodies.

But what’s all this got to do with D+CFilm? Well, in the first programme, foxy Fiona Bruce finds out how you can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure without using drugs.

She does this by locking nine willing volunteers in an enclosure in Paignton Zoo (well, obviously!). The volunteers all had high blood pressure and cholesterol and most had a family history of heart disease.

However, after living beside the apes and eating their diet their cholesterol and blood pressure was dramatically reduced. Gosh.

Unfortunately, the volunteers also started to spend their days masturbating furiously into their hands and throwing the mess at passers-by. Well, that’s not actually true, but it would’ve been a lot more interesting than watching a buncha flabby coffin-dodgers bothering some bemused looking apes. We ask you, is this progress?! Evolution is proper overrated, ain’t it?

Posted by Thin White Duke

As part of their commitment to nurture new and existing talent, Touch Films has established a rather beezer Writer Development Programme, in partnership with those lovely folk at South West Screen.

The scheme aims to help scribblers in D+C by supporting the ‘growth of joint ventures’, whatever the hell that means. 

Either way, Touch Films wants to get its mitts on single and series drama ideas with potential for both the UK and international market.

So-called applicants should have a minimum of two years experience working within the meedja industry and should live in the South West.

Click here for more information if you want. The deadliine for entries is March 1. Perhaps we’ll pitch them our IRA zombies mini-series. Hmmm.

Posted by Thin White Duke