Tag Archives: Nottingham

FilmWorks development scheme for budding directors and producers calls for applications.

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FilmWorks development scheme for budding directors and producers calls for applications.

Emerging regional producers and directors can fast track their film careers with FilmWorks, a new networked professional development scheme managed by Watershed in Bristol and co-produced by Showroom Workstation in Sheffield and Broadway in Nottingham which will give the participants the skills, contacts and knowledge required to raise their profile to a national and international level.

FilmWorks, a Film Networks project supported by the National Lottery through the BFI and Creative England, is specifically targeted at filmmakers in the English regions: it will give 45 producers and directors in Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield and their surrounding areas a priceless opportunity to expand their creative and commercial potential, with the benefit of working with world class producers, such as Julia Lockhart (Aardman’s The Pirates), Colin Pons (Hush, The Acid House), and Alastair Clark (London to Brighton, Better Things).

FilmWorks launches in September with a live simulcast from Bristol-based Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival and runs until early December 2012. Candidates have until Mon 20 Aug to submit their application at http://filmworks.org.uk

It is a timely development scheme that responds to the current issues being faced in the film industry today: how to survive and prosper in the digital age, new models of distribution, the effect of digital technology on cinema production, new routes to market and much more.

Mark Cosgrove, Watershed’s Head of Programme, said:

“FilmWorks is a unique opportunity for emerging local talent to develop their skills and learn about the film industry from leading UK producers. Based at three creative hubs in the English regions this 360 degree fast tracked networked development programme will create that all important bridge between production and cinema exhibition. I’m looking forward to working with partners to share regional expertise, work with industry leaders, and most of all, to introducing 45 great filmmakers to the world.”

Liz Harkman, Managing Director at Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival, said:

“We’re delighted to be launching the FilmWorks programme in September at the 18th edition of the Festival. Encounters has always provided international new and emerging talent with opportunities to grow and a direct access to industry which makes it the ideal platform for the next generation of regional producers and directors to develop their projects, practice and networks.”

New Eugene McGuinness album released 3rd July | Music News

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London-based singer-songwriter Eugene McGuinness is to release his 2nd full length album on 2nd July . “The Invitation to the Voyage” is the follow up to 2008’s self-titled album and will be marked with an album launch show at the Lexington in Islington.

The album, which Eugene is calling this release the “most powerfully conceived and fully realised artistic statement to date”, was recorded with the dual assistance of  producers Clive Langer (Madness, Elvis Costello, Morrissey) and Dan Carey (MIA, Hot Chip, Santigold).

As well as a full tour throughout April as special guest to Miles Kane, Eugene McGuinness will also be performing at many festivals over the next few months including the Camden Crawl, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, and Blissfields. Full live dates are as follows:

 

20th April: Nottingham: Rock City *

21st April: Glasgow Barrowlands *

22nd April: Dundee Fat Sams *

23rd April: Inverness Iron Works *

25th April: Leeds Academy *

26th April: Manchester Academy 1 *

27th April: Bristol Academy *

28th April: London Forum *

5th May: London Camden Crawl, two shows, venues TBA

10th May: Brighton Pleasure Dome – The Great Escape, with Maximo Park

17th May: London Electric Ballroom, with Spector

18th May: Liverpool Sound City, Kazimier, with White Denim

30th June: Hampshire Blissfields Festival

3rd July: London: Lexington Headline – album launch show

(* = dates with Miles Kane)

The Invitation To The Voyage, released on 2nd July 2012 by Domino Records

Scout Niblett – The Calcination of Scout Niblett | Music Review

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Born in Nottingham and now residing in Portland, Emma Niblett adopted the moniker Scout after Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the protagonist from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Releasing under Scout Niblett, The Calcination of Scout Niblett is her 5th studio album. One thing that’s evident, having listened to her previous efforts, is that she doesn’t hold with musical evolution; not one to push the envelope with new layers and sounds, textures and structures of musical brilliance. Not Scouty, no. Everybody loves a big new idea but you know what, sometimes it’s just nice to have something brilliant, regardless. Tried and tested? So what. Brilliant’s brilliant, no?

The Scout Niblett trademark sound is a variation of quiet/loud guitar and drums, not necessarily concerned with hitting the right notes every time – a bit scratchy, if you will. Very much verse/chorus/verse and very openly Kurt Cobain-esque. Over the top she layers her PJ Harvey-esque vocals. It’s a tempting sound. I’ve covered the fact that “The Calcination of Scout Niblett” is more of the same formula. The fact is, it’s better. I imagine she looks at people expecting her to push the envelope in the same way that Toyota would look at somebody who expected them to make a toasted cheese sandwich maker; with one eyebrow raised and a big dollop of suspicion.

Sticking to the one sound has allowed Niblett, over the course of the last decade and with the help of producer Steve Albini, to hone and fine-tune her sound to the absolute basics and absolute best. A decade of playing incredible live shows but not ever quite capturing the live sound well on record, “The Calcination . . .” is Niblett at her most driven and intense and the sound comes over like In Utero-era Nirvana with the lyrical drive of Catpower’s Moonpix.

The record begins with”Just Do It!” a song with cuts from moments of buzzing feedback before cutting back to the sparsity of just a single string. The girl deals in beautiful contrasts and wants you to know it early on. “Cheeky Cherry Bomb” spends 3 minutes building between quiet/loud before launching into a menacing crunching, powerful doom-rock sound.

Ultimately nothing new. Just better at it. More honed and refined. Better guitars, better drums, better vocals than previous records. The album ends on the 9 minute wonder that is “Meet and Greet” – a song which uses every shade on the palette to sketch out the sound, just to remind us all what she’s capable of. Blood and guts, heart and soul come in spades though. Basically, it’s all you need.