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JANUARY 2022 events
In conversation with Joanna Scanlan, After Love
Speakers:
Joanna Scanlan | Actress Briony Hanson | British Council’s Director of Film
After Love tells the story of Mary Hussain (Joanna Scanlan), who converted to Islam when she married and now is in her early 60s, living quietly in Dover with her husband Ahmed. Following his unexpected death, she discovers that Ahmed had a secret life just twenty-one miles away, across the Channel in Calais. The shocking discovery compels her to go there to find out more, and as she grapples with her shattered sense of identity, her search for understanding has surprising consequences.
Watch the film’s lead actress, Joanna Scanlan, to share her experiences working on the film. She discussed her research and preparation for the role of Mary Hussain, offering insight to her acting process. Joanna also spoke about her journey in the industry, from transitioning her career to acting at 35 to setting up her own production company, George & George.
I, Sniper: In conversation with the team behind the docuseries
Speakers:
Ursula Macfarlane | Series Director
Mary-Jane Mitchell | Series Producer
John Smithson | Co-founder and Creative Director, Arrow Pictures
Ruth Pitt | Producer
Get an insider's look into I, Sniper, the gripping, minute-by-minute account of the Washington DC sniper case, told by the surviving perpetrator, the victims’ families and those who survived.
In the autumn of 2002, Washington DC and surrounding suburbs were paralysed by a terrifying wave of random shootings from a sniper’s rifle, lasting over 23 days. Ten people were killed in this attack on the American capital, three others critically injured. The perpetrators were a Gulf War veteran, John Muhammad, and a teenage boy, Lee Malvo, picking off their victims one by one from inside the trunk of a blue Chevy Caprice.
Now, in a six-hour television event, alongside the investigators, survivors and victims’ families, Malvo recounts his story in a series of phone calls, conducted over two years from his Supermax prison cell in Virginia, where he is in solitary confinement.
We were joined by Series Director Ursula MacFarlane, Series Producer Mary-Jane Mitchell and Co-founder and Creative Director of Arrow Pictures John Smithson. The panel will discuss their roles in this remarkable docuseries, over four years in the making, and we'll hear about their journey from idea and commission to production.
Writers’ Group: Set Your Writing Intentions for 2022
Speakers:
Christina Pickworth | Agent, Imagine Talent
January’s Writers’ Group is an opportunity for you to think about your writing intentions for the year – what you want to achieve and what you can do to get there. It’s a chance to set your own writing goals for 2022.
Host Christina Pickworth provided inspiration on setting your goals for the year in your writing and sharing a range of tips. From putting together your own slate of work and the secrets to pitching successfully, to building your profile and approaching agents and production companies.
Finance: Understanding Investments & Pension with Emily Man
Speakers:
Emily Man | Associate Partner, St. James’s Place Wealth Management
“When I worked in production I felt like the world of finance was not relevant to me. There are so many areas that are confusing – pensions; investments; insurance – it seemed like I should know the answers but I never did. But nearly five years of training and working in personal finance has shown me that it isn’t hard or complicated, and more importantly, it is a vital area to engage with.”
In this session, Emily covered the basics of planning for your financial future, talking through pensions and tips on investing. She promises no selling and no jargon, just galvanising straight talk.
Behind the Glitterball: In conversation with BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing team
Speakers:
Sarah James | Executive Producer
Kate Jones | Production Executive
Motsi Mabuse | Judge, Strictly Come Dancing
Nikki Parsons | Series Director
Jo Wallace | Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Entertainment
Emma Bullimore | Journalist
Watch back a conversation with some of the team behind BBC One’s multi-award winning Strictly Come Dancing. We’ll find out what goes into producing the nation’s favourite dance show, shining a spotlight on some of the amazing women making the glitter, glamour and glorious dancing happen.
In this panel discussion Sarah James, Executive Producer, Motsi Mabuse, Judge, Nikki Parsons, Series Director, Jo Wallace, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Entertainment, and Kate Jones, Production Executive were in conversation with host, Emma Bullimore about their roles, producing such a complex live show during a pandemic, the journey of the 2021 series and the joys and challenges of creating one of the UK’s favourite TV shows.
Sophie and the Baron: Q&A with the team behind the short documentary
Speakers:
Alexandria Jackson | Director/ Producer
Watch this event for an insider’s look at the making of the new short documentary Sophie and the Baron.
This charming story of an unlikely friendship between iconic Rolling Stone Magazine photographer Baron Wolman at the end of his prolific career and up-and-coming artist Sophie Kipner at the beginning of hers, takes us on an uplifting journey into an artistic collaboration that transcends eras and mediums. Quirky, fun and full of life, Sophie and The Baron is a whimsical look at the magic of just saying “yes”.
In conversation with director/ producer Alexandria Jackson, producer Joanna Natasegara and the film’s subject, artist Sophie Kipner discussed their experiences making the film and it’s journey from idea to production.