BLACK LION VENUE http://www.wegottickets.com/event/157159

One Play, One Day II is the second edition of the successful event that puts together 6 writers, 6 directors and 24 actors.

In the space of 24 hours, each writer – paired with a director and 4 actors at random – must write a 15 minute play and submit this in the early hours of the morning. The actors and directors then arrive to commence work on staging their new play ahead of the performance that night.

This time, the actors will be performing twice in one night! They will move from one venue to the next during the interval while the audience is treated to 6 brand new plays without moving from their seats.

The Black Lion and The Kings Arms, both a short walk along Chapel Street away from each other, are hosting this epic event.

Doors open at 7.00pm
Performance at 7.30pm
The Black Lion (Theatre upstairs)
Tickets £5.00

There is no age limit, however, there is no censorship upon the writer and the scripts have not yet been written.

Sponsored by www.castingcallpro.com/uk

Web 3.0 Film and Transmedia Director/Producer  All day workshop.

For micro budget film-makers.

Future Artists and Naomi Smyth win Dynamo Doc Awards 2012

All Day workshop £35

Early Bird before 15th March only £25

Only 20 places

Future Artists @ Black Lion, Chapel Street, Salford, M35BZ, (Manchester)

Tickets here + Info + Directions

Read Mark Ashmore’s producer of distribution blog

Any issues e-mail mark.ashmore@futureartists.co.uk

Back by popular demand, for its first Manchester date, Future Artists present a workshop that will wake up the budding film-maker to the realization that once a new toolset and mindset is mastered in the way story’s are told, made and conceived, then the UK film industry will thrive once again.

Scarcity was the film-makers best friend, films where expensive to make, and only shown at cinemas, so in the old days web 1.0 film-making the routes where clear and defined as Script, Finance, Film, Distribute via Cinema or DVD.

But this all changed with the invention of broadband and digital Camera’s such as the Canon 5D MK11, films could be made and sold by the film-makers themselves, in essence you become your own movie studio for under £2000.

But with this new film landscape, come’s new rules, new ways of thinking and new business models, this workshop will begin to explore and answer these questions… using case studies created by Future Artists LTD, a new film studio for the new UK film and transmedia economy.

About the workshop, why should I come, should i care?

The UK Film Industry as it was known, is Dead. – the Industry is Dead (take a moment, breathe, think and move on) but stories need to be told, and audience’s still want them, its just how we begin reaching these audiences that has changed.

American studios and the rise of 3D has relegated the UK Film industry to selected cinema releases (a few screenings in London) and straight to DVD releases, and piracy has seen these DVD releases drop in sales, and those films made for this model, once subsidised by the UK Film Council, funding has been cut.

So what next?

Rethinking the UK film industry model.

‘Encyclopedias, newspapers, record labels and film studios have a lot in common. They are all in the business of producing content. They all own and manage capable producers who they recruit and compensate in various ways. Their products are composed from atoms – books, papers, CDs, DVDs, and performers on stage – and are costly to create and distribute. Their products are proprietary property. Because they are unique in value, their customers pay them and they have revenue. Their business is possible because of scarcity – quality news, information, knowledge, learning and art…. (but) today the business of encyclopedias, newspapers, records labels and film studios are in various stages of collapse. They have lost their monopolies on the creation and delivery of content. They were killed by the digital age that bought the abundance of mass participation, the democratization of production, the rise of new digital channels, the infeasibility of old notions of intellectual property, and completely new business models all enabled by the internet. The allegedly unassailable attributes of their age-old business were erased faster than you can tap ‘delete’ on your iPhone.

‘Extract from Macowikinomics’

Morning Session – Pre Production

Your story idea –  your story, your passion, why do you want to tell this?

is it a film, a web series, an audio podcast, a graphic novel? Or all 4? In this session we will look at taking your story idea, and how to make it happen in the web 3.0 film and transmedia world.

How to get it made, the do’s and don’ts in a digital world, a following of fans on a facebook fan page is not a community, social media allows you to build a community around your film or transmedia project, but can also obscure the real drivers of social glue… how do you create a digital tribe around your story, the do’s and don’ts of creating an active support network around you and your film, which can..

Help you raise finance via crowdfunding, or create sponsorship, or get that Angel investor.

Web 3.0 collaboration, using your peer to peer community to create with you, how do you work with a digital cast of thousands, from open source script writing to sourcing content from your project from across the globe, and managing these logistics.

Working from past Future Artists projects and case studies, participants will gain a full knowledge of how to get started in the digital world of peer to peer community collaboration.

Afternoon Session – Production and Distribution

Production

What technology can we use to make the project, a guide to the latest low budget kit, from DSLR cameras to 3D tech, and what platforms you can use for free to create your transmedia projects, from zero budget productions to ones with a budget,

Participants will be able to learn about the making of ‘The Lost Generation’ the micro budget feature film production and transmedia project, which has taken the ‘Dogma 95’ ethos and remixed it for the web 3.0 mindset.

Distribution

This session will look at the power of community screenings and working with your audience to seed grassroot support for your independent film and take on Hollywoods marketing millions, earn a revenue from theatrical, dvd and online sales, a practical how to guide of how to get your film into the hands of the correct audience who will rally and motivate others to see your film.

Create your product for theatrical, DVD, or Video on demand.

Working with Amazon, Lovefilm, iTunes, Dailymotion and your local cinema, and a look at the pop up cinema scene and the rise of the independent screenings networks across the UK.

Future Artists will be talking about the distribution model used on the award winning film ’Invisible circus : no dress rehearsal’ , which has so far had over 20 screenings, two limited edition DVD release’s and has had industry screenings at Channel 4, and most recently won the Dynamo doc award 2012 for best documentary.

Who is teaching…

The workshop leader is Mark Ashmore (Director, Producer, Writer, Editor and co founder of Future Artists/ Future Artists creative co-op) and a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts

Mark has directed 6 films to date and all have been picked up for distribution and broadcast.

Mark’s first film ‘The Cell’ was broadcast on BBC2 in 2003, this was followed by a series of behind the scenes films, distributed on DVD for the BAFTA award winning TV series Life on Mars.

Mark Ashmore was one of the first people in the UK to pioneer DIY distribution releasing his film ‘Your State of Emergency’ on a purpose built platform in 2006 attracting a quarter of a million people, his follow up ‘Broken Britain’ played out across international film festivals and was picked up for distribution by Shorts International for world-wide distribution.

Mark Ashmore is currently shooting and producing his debut feature film and transmedia project ‘The Lost Generation’ and is producer of distribution on Naomi Smyth’s ‘Invisible circus : no dress rehearsal’

Where?

The workshops will take place across the UK, would you like to book one, or should we visit your school, college, university or film club e-mail Mark.Ashmore@futureartists.co.uk ‘subject – Web 3.0 film talks’

Why?

Because you’re a storyteller, a film-maker and you want to express yourself.

The UK Film Industry as it was known, is Dead. – the Industry is Dead (take a moment, breathe, think and move on) but stories need to be told, and audience’s still want them, its just reaching these audiences that has changed.

About Future Artists…

Future Artists LTD was founded in July 2009 by Mark Ashmore and Jenny Inchbald in the middle of the global meltdown and financial crisis, out of a need for change in the traditional Film and Media Industries, they asked a lot of questions to established institutions, and couldn’t find any answers, with a firm belief and mantra ‘without deviation from the norm progress is not possible’ and a loan from the Prince’s Trust… the story began.

Two Years later, as established institutions crumble, Future Artists live creative co-op has been formed to enable collaboration and knowledge sharing based on the Co-operative ethos, and get the artists paid, supported by Co-Op’s UK, Creative Manchester and MMU.

Future Artists collectives can be found all around the world, from  L.A home of Hollywood in the United States of America, to Lagos in Nigeria, home of the Nollywood film industry, sharing an ethos of praxis via collaboration.

Future Artists LTD, in under 2 years have published several issues of M+,  a digital Magazine created by a peer to peer network, read by over 10,000 people world-wide and growing, Self distributed several film projects via Amazon and Dailymotion, and are teaching and lecturing on international forums, from Sheffield Docfest digital bootcamp to Darklight’s Transmedia Symposium, to ‘Cartoon’ the animation industries annual conference.

Future Artists also find time to work on 3rd party film projects, from distribution with Dogwoof and Soda Pictures, to helping their own Indy film community in Manchester/Salford in the UK.

And to round off year two, Future Artists LTD are now in production of their debut major feature film and transmedia story project ‘The Lost Generation’.

Directed By Mark Ashmore and Produced by Jenny Inchbald.

Future Artists, remixing the United Artists model, of an artist led film studio, made possible through shared networks of peer to peer and open source culture, Future Artists aim to be a digital studio, for the web 3.0 film economy, and be the forefront of UK and World Cinema, but only if we work together….

‘Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible’ (Frank Zappa)

Mark Ashmore (Feb 2012)

Future Artists move into music industry with

‘Live Space’ for musical talent

The ever versatile Black Lion has since its opening in September 2011, been the new creative home to emerging talent on the  film, theatre and arts scene, but now the lion is looking to the local and international musical communities to share in the Black Lion’s co-operative vision for allowing talent to have centre stage, thrive and survive.

The Black Lion has a rich history in counter culture and alternative music and has in it past, been home to Jazz clubs and northern soul nights, and of course alternative performers such as Salford’s John Cooper Clarke (who signed the wall of the pub bar, the week before it opened, while filming a retrospective documentary in the pub).

Since September the Black Lion has hosted a dozen successful music and band nights, and Future Artists the resident curators of the lion, are now wanting to expand the musical output.

On offer at the Black Lion – is the following.

Booking the space - 

Bands can either book the gig space which is acoustically built as a music hall in 1870 for £70, and take all the box office or do a 70/30 door split*

*Terms and conditions apply

A 300 Watt PA can be provided at a small extra cost – but microphone’s, spare XLR cables and sound enginner are not (this will change as the space develops)

The Capacity of the upstairs venue space is 120 with its own bar, box office and green room with showers and toilets

The venue will support each act with promotional support via websites, listings, social media, mailouts etc.

Bands will supply posters and flyers to promote the shows.

The space is ran as a co-operative, with each musical act working with the next to help build an audience, and future artists will re-invest any money made back into the space to make it a world class destination and a new edition on the manchester/salford music map.

We are looking for:

DJs to be part of ‘Class of 2012′ our new up and coming DJ talent night, all genres and styles required – at the moment this will take place downstairs in the bar every saturday night, with 3 to 4 DJs on the rosta, unpaid, as the night expands, paid gigs will become available and the upstairs 120 capacity venue space will be used – to be part of this please e-mail mark.ashmore@futureartists.co.uk ‘subject ‘ class of 2012′

We are looking for all types of bands, musical acts, solo and duo performers to host and promote their own nights, with full support from Future Artists and our co-operative networks, if interested please e-mail mark.ashmore@futureartists.co.uk

For more info on the BLACK LION, head to our dedicated website http://blacklionsalford.tumblr.com/

Oscar Nominated ‘If a tree falls’ Sun, 26th feb, 4pm Tickets & More Info

and

Bill Cunningham New York Tue, March 20th, 8pm Ticket & More info

Kino Film – Short Film Night, every 2nd wednesday of the month at the Black Lion 8pm / £4/£3. More info and Tickets here

Kino Film Website here

We are pleased to announce that every 1st Monday of the month – the black lion will be hosting shooters in the  pub Manchester, the shooting people film network regular meeting night, for more info head over to the dedicated facebook group and start networking now – besides shooting people members, we will also be inviting Creative England networks, BBC, ITV and indie production companies to meet cast, crew and creative, we want this to be the hottest networking night for new talent in Salford/Manchester – subscribe to the mailing list to keep informed.

Also on the first monday of every month is the Manchester fringe theatre networking group. This group is for actors, writers, directors, stage managers, technical staff and theatre goers in Manchester and its surrounding areas.

All are welcome to share their knowledge and experiences whether you are a Manchester fringe veteran or just have a passing interest. Spread the word – Invite your friends!! Start networking now via their facebook group

.

The documentary movie tells the underdog story of guerilla art performers – The Invisible Circus – and No Dress Rehearsal is set in Bristol, home to several major street artists (and reputedly once being the home of Banksy). Smyth takes us on a 4 year journey as the group takes over abandoned buildings, taken on huge property developers, battle city councils – and win them all over in order to host their once-in-a-lifetime shows.

Dynamo said that Smyth’s directing debut – which she also wrote and co-produced – will receive $500 USD, an associate membership in the International Documentary Association and membership to the Shooting People  – the world’s largest filmmakers’ network.

“To be sure she always remembers this moment of greatness, Naomi will also receive an engraved trophy and a very sharp Dynamo baseball hat,” they said.

Naomi said of the win: “I’m really thrilled to win the Dynamo Doc award. The Dynamo team has been a pleasure to work with and I’m proud to have them host my film.

“It means a lot to get this recognition and the quote on their winners webpage was pure poetry- it showed me that they really got what my film is for- to ‘inspire the artist and surprise the skeptical pragmatist’.”

Established just this year in celebration of the video-on-demand format, the Dynamo award is given annually to a movie director whose work ‘best encourages excellence in documentary filmmaking’, while introducing the online audiences to alternative, high-quality independent films that are available online.

No Dress Rehearsal is being distributed by Future Artists –the only UK film sales agent outside of London that focuses on VOD platforms and the future of film.

Mark Ashmore, MD of Future Artists, said: “We’re extremely proud of Naomi and her film – this is just another perk of being part of a project that went beyond to deliver a real insight into community art and social activism at its finest.

“If you own your own market place and you’re the only supplier of your content then that makes it easier to sustain and support your own art.

“Dynamo allows you to be author and distributor of your own work without gatekeepers who take a cut, and all the online audience can be directed to one place.  It’s allowed Naomi as an independent director to get to a global audience of millions, shared via Facebook, Twitter, blogs and Dynamo itself.”

The award is honoured by Dynamo, the International Documentary Association and Shooting People – the world’s biggest film and TV industry network.

What to book the film or more info http://www.invisiblecircusfilm.com

We would like to invite you to join us for a unique fundraising idea this Valentines day.

‘LOVE YOUR ARTS SPACE’

Get Tickets here

So How does it work?

1) Book a table – it costs between £2-£4 to book a table – choose your ticket above

2) The night starts at 7.30pm with a 3 course meal, suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

3) You buy your drinks from the bar, we supply the food.

4) When the bill arrives, you pay what you think for the food.

5) After the night, we do some maths and let you all know how much we have raised for our project.

6) You will be the first sponsors of ‘Love your art space’ and get your name on the board -

this will mean alot to us!

Our Restaurant area and building access where this event takes place is suitable for all, and has access for all.

Any Questions please call the team 0161 839 9882

Love your local arts space this Valentine’s Day!

Raise cash for future artists with disabilities

The Black Lion is proud to announce the one-off, Pop Up & Pay What You Think Restaurant! We’ll be cooking up all of the favourites on the menu – you can choose how much you would like to donate. All funds will help fund disabled access for the new cinema and theatre arts space in the heart of Manchester.

Future Artists, a creative co-op from Salford, who 4 months ago took over the Black Lion pub, located on Chapel Street, M3, in the heart of the city, are launching an innovative fundraising campaign to help fund a stair lift. This is so disabled artists can enjoy the array of new artistic programming across cinema and theatre in their new 120 capacity venue at the Black Lion.

Mark Ashmore FRSA, who set up the campaign said : “The closure of the Green Room in Manchester was the catalyst for the creation of our venue. What we’ve come to realize, is that all the government closures of arts venues and youth clubs have also cut the venues, which had disabled access. The Conservatives are blocking access to the arts – and we want to change this.”

Jenny Inchbald owner of the Black Lion, added: “We have a beautiful 130 year old venue, but the Victorians didn’t think about universal access for all.

“Well, we do! You can keep things simple and easygoing this Valentines Day by coming for a meal with us, paying what you think the meal’s worth, and going home happy with few a quid to spare – and having done something chartiable. All the donations go towards our project to enable us to make upstairs a universal space for all artists.”

You can book online from just two pounds (£1 per person) at http://futureartistsdofood.eventbrite.com/. The event is on 14^th feb 2012 from 7.30pm.

The Black Lion is now serving food daily, and the in-house chefs are developing a special valentines menu with a twist for the event, more details on the pop up restaurant, the fund raising campaign and the co-op can be found at http://www.futureartists.co.uk

The Menu

Starters

Mini Mushroom stroganoff served on homemade soda bread (V)

or

tender strips of beef served with a rocket and balsmic salad

Mains

Stuffed chicken breast

 we’ve stuffed this lovely bird with mushroom, sage and cheddar, wrapped in bacon and pan fried, served with sauteed potatoes, seasonal veg and rich onion gravey

Elvis Burger (V)

Beef or Falafel this is the homemade burger delight fit for the King

served on a crusty bap, with beer battered onion rings and sides of red cabbage coleslaw and homemade chips.

Sweet potato and goats cheese pie (V)

Desserts

Lime and Mascarpone Cheesecake (V)

Tiramisu (V)

Welcome to our open day! – Future Artists at the Black Lion!
7pm Thursday, 19th Jan 2012.

we have a new website for the Black Lion here http://blacklionsalford.tumblr.com/

We took over this Iconic Pub and Hotel in September 2011 – 5 months on, we invite you to our first open day, come and see what we have been up to!

See our 120 standing (70 seating) capacity studio space useful for theatre, cinema, launches, training, meetings and occasions with its own bar!
we will have it set up Cinema style on the day so you can see the space and the HD projector and surround sound.
We also have onsite catering for onsite and offsite events,
and locally sourced home cooked food is available daily at the bar!

We have flexible space on the top floor, 4 pods for office hire, meetings or rehearsal from £10 per day and from £50 per week.

And the Black Lion is also the HQ for the Future Artists Live Creative Co-op , a creative co-op with over 50 members and growing, all working together with a common ethos to get idea’s made and seen.
more info the FA creative Co-op here http://www.futureartists.coop/

Full rate cards for members via http://www.futureartists.coop/

http://futureartistsopenday.eventbrite.com/

WRINKLES is a gorgeous, traditional 2D animation from Spain. It’s based on Paco Rosa’s multi-award winning graphic novel, Arrugas (Wrinkles); and is brought to life by director Ignacio Ferreras (The Illusionist) and producer Manuel Cristóbal (The Living Forest).

SYNOPSIS:

Emilio (Alavro Cervantes) is a retired bank manager. Taciturn, brave and observant – but suffering from the first stages of Alzheimer’s, he is placed into a care home. It’s not long before he discovers who his new family is – the mischievous, fast-talking roommate Miguel (Tacho Gonzalez) and the kind-hearted Antonia (Mabel Rivera, The Orphange). Together, they strive to protect their dignity and prove their freedom.

This independent movie from animation house Perro Verde is currently up against the likes of major players – Rango, Arthur Christmas and Puss In Boots. If you’re a part of Future Artists, a fellow indie or someone who just appreciates thoughtful, gorgeous, tender film (…and you are and do all these things because, hey, you’re reading this page) – then become a part of this great campaign! All you have to do is get liking and sharing the Facebook campaign page – and if you want to review it, contact Jane.

Have a look at the trailer here:

Creatively ambitious and unflinchingly honest, WRINKLES is Europe’s finest current example of how the power of animation displays that classic battle: the one against our own fears – and how it’s the one which helps us grow the most.

Best Animated Feature is always a fiercely-contested category between the arthouses, major production companies and independent collaborations. It’s almost impossible to predict year from year – the Academy is particularly renowned for suprising everyone at surprise intervals – which, we believe,  is always a good thing.

Future Artists is proud to be supporting Spain’s most significant offering. WRINKLES, or Arrugas in its native Spanish is currently longlisted for best Animated Feature.

WRINKLES is already the subject of excellent review by Screen Daily, world-famous The Hollywood Reporter, the gloriously geeky Ropes of Silicon, Spain’s premier broadsheet El Pais, and a personal hero of ours, Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian.

Here’s a particularly moving scene from the film.

‘Orient Express’ from WRINKLES (2012)

by Jane McConnell, publicist

janemcconn [at] g mail [dot] com