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MAY 2021 events
WFTV PANEL: TACKLING HARASSMENT AND BULLYING IN FILM AND TV
Speakers:
Alex Pumfrey | CEO, The Film and TV Charity
Andrew Reid | Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen
Jackie Clune | Actor, Playwright and Comedian, and Vice President, Equity
Katie Bailiff | CEO, WFTV
Samantha Morton | Award-winning Actor and Director
Simone Pennant | Director, The TV Collective
The recent allegations against Noel Clarke have prompted fresh conversation around how bullying and harassment continues to be a reality for many in the Film and TV industry.
WFTV gathered together a panel of industry experts, leaders and voices to discuss how far the industry has come since #MeToo and to demand change for the future. We looked at what measures are in place to protect both ourselves and others from abuses of power, if these practices and policies are working and the action we can all take now.
Find key resources and support from our recent blog post here.
Q&A: Making Sex, Myths and the Menopause
Speakers:
Linda Sands | Producer/Director
Kate Muir | Co-Producer
Producer/Director Linda Sands and Co-Producer Kate Muir talk about the behind-the-scenes challenges of making the new Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause during lockdown, as well as busting the taboos around the menopause on screen and in the workplace.
Many women working in television find - like Davina did before speaking out - that they cannot be honest about symptoms of the menopause in case it affects their careers. The majority female team from Finestripe Productions confronted the issue head on. Linda and Kate will talk about the sensitive issues they tackled, from teenage menopause to rescuing dry vaginas, and revelatory research on the shocking lack of menopause health care in the UK.
Short Film Club: Finding Creativity in Adversity, in conversation with Filmmakers
Speakers:
Denise Harrison | Award-winning writer, blogger and filmmaker
Farah Nabulsi | Palestinian British filmmaker
Jaine Green | Head of Content, discover.film
Katie Bailiff | CEO, WFTV
Lisa Edelstein | Writer and Director
Laura Dockrill | Award-winning Author and Illustrator
Short Film Club is a new event series spotlighting some of the best short films for WFTV members. Showcasing the work of filmmakers based around a theme, you will have the opportunity to watch the films selected for the Short Film Club, hear from the creators behind them and join in the conversation.
In this first event, we will be bringing together four filmmakers for a discussion to explore the process of converting adversity into creativity, focusing on the form of short film. Creative expression can help us to understand, process and learn from adversity. Filmmaking that tackles difficult issues can be an opportunity to communicate a collective experience and inspire wider social change or be a cathartic creative exercise for the individual.
In partnership with Discover.film and hosted by WFTV, for this panel discussion we will be joined by writer/producer Laura Dockrill (Goldfish), writer/director Lisa Edelstein (Unzipping) and filmmakers Farah Nabulsi (The Present) and Denise Harrison (This Is Depression).
Q&A: Song Without a Name, in conversation with writer-director, Melina León and lead talent Pamela Mendoza
Speakers:
Melina León | Writer, Producer, Director and Editor
Karoline Pelikan | German-Peruvian documentary filmmaker
Join WFTV for a conversation with Melina León, writer, producer, director and editor of Song Without a Name (Canción sin Nombre), and lead talent Pamela Mendoza.
Based on a true story, Song Without a Name is set in Peru at the height of the political crisis of the 1980s. Georgina is a young woman from the Andes whose new-born daughter is stolen at a fake health clinic. Her desperate search for the child leads her to the headquarters of a major newspaper, where she meets Pedro Campos, a lonely journalist who takes on the investigation.
In conversation hosted by Karoline Pelikan, Melina and Pamela will share behind the scenes look at the making of the film. From the inspiration for the story, to an insight to Melina’s vision and creative references to achieve the look of the film and her experience of working with the creative team in production in her multi-hyphenate role. Pamela will be sharing how she prepared for the role to tell the intimate and painful story of the protagonist, Georgina.
In Factual Development – Getting Your Idea Over the Line
Speakers:
Emma Morgan | Creative Director, Lion TV
Avigail Cenci di Bello | Director of Development, Mentorn Media
Mel Bezalel | Director of Development, RDF
How do you take the seed of an idea through to a successful commission? Is it an exact science or luck of the draw? How do you decide what and when to pitch? And, just as importantly, what and when to ditch?
In this panel discussion, factual development producers at the top of their game share their successes, failures and insider tips on how to land that all important commission.
Chaired by Emma Morgan(Creative Director, Lion TV) Avigail Cenci di Bello (Director of Development, Mentorn) and Mel Bezalel (Director of Development, RDF) shared their tips to help you get your idea over the line.
How to Prepare for an Adventure Shoot
Speakers:
Megan Hine | Wilderness guide, Survivalist, Consultant and Producer.
Wilderness guide, survivalist and producer Megan Hine has been working with talent and crew on TV adventure shows for the past 15 years, filming in remote locations.
In this event, Megan shared practical advice on how best to prepare for an adventure shoot in different environments – from packing tips and kit lists to basic training techniques you can do at home.
Megan also gave an insight to scouting locations and what preparation is needed for different show formats in pre-production, to help ensure productions run safely and smoothly.
WFTV Writers’ Group: Pitching TV and Radio Ideas - A Practical Guide from Producer and Head of Development Justine Potter
Speakers:
Christina Pickworth | Imagine Talent, Agent
Justine Potter | Producer and Head of Development
For this month’s writers’ group, host Christina Pickworth will be in conversation with producer and head of development Justine Potter, offering a practical guide to pitching TV and radio ideas to production companies and broadcasters.
This session will cover what you need (and what you don’t need) in a paper pitch treatment, how to make initial introductions, what production companies and broadcasters will expect of a face-to-face meeting and how to make sure you're prepared. There will also be an opportunity for questions about the pitching requirements and processes.
Q&A: Unearthing the Documentary: Allen v. Farrow
Speakers:
Amy Ziering | Producer
Ruth Mayer | Documentary filmmaker
Join WFTV for an interview with Allen v. Farrow’s co-director and executive producer Amy Ziering as she discusses the documentary miniseries with host, Ruth Mayer, documentary director.
In February 2021, award-winning investigative filmmakers Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, the team behind On The Record and The Bleeding Edge, released their latest documentary television miniseries Allen v. Farrow, which explores an allegation of sexual abuse made against Woody Allen in 1992.
Amy and Ruth will discuss the new investigative work seen in the series, securing exclusive interviews on the subject and how public revelations about the personal lives of artists can lead to re-evaluations of their work.