Fast Forward Producing 2014
31 March – 18 April 2014
Fast Forward Producing 2014
Introduction
‘A film producer needs to be a film critic, a film historian, a talent scout, an X Factor judge, a
lawyer, an accountant, a factory foreman, a marketer, a publisher, and an excellent judge
of what a worldwide audience is going to want to see in two or three years’ time. You also
need to be a psychotherapist and counsellor, and a career adviser. You should be highly
articulate and entrepreneurial, and also a thoughtful analyst and strategist. In military terms,
you’re a general. But most of the time, you don’t have an army – it’s just you.’ - Archie Tait,
Head of LFS Projects.
Fast Forward Producing 2014 is an intensive three week course that will take twelve new
producers through the entire process of developing, packaging, financing, shooting, postproducing and selling their films. The course leader of FFP 2014 is Emma Hayter, a highly
experienced producer, financier and trainer.
FFP 2014 is developed from Fast Forward Producing: The Whole Story, a six-month course in
2012. Five months later, Farhana Bhula, one of the producers, had shot BONOBO, her first
feature. She says: “As a direct result of this course, I feel extremely comfortable talking about
EIS and legal frameworks, I am confident about building a team, and more importantly
carving out a personal identity as a producer. Since completing the course, I have raised my
entire budget on an EIS - with the help of lawyers who also mentored us on the course - and
gone into production. There is no way I would have had the courage or knowledge to do this
so swiftly and convincingly without the training I received at LFS.”
Aspiring producers come from many areas of the film business and beyond. From exhibition,
distribution, legal, financial and accountancy, as well as from filmmaking. Some come from a
career in television, from documentaries, from advertising, gaming and corporates. Each will
have a privileged insight into one or more aspects of the kaleidoscope of skills and
knowledge vital to producing a feature film. But none will have had access to all stages of
producing, from the initial idea through to revenue collection. And beyond that first feature,
none will have the road map to their second and subsequent feature. FFP 2014 is the course
that pulls all the necessary information and insights together.
Fast Forward Producing 2014
Participant Biographies
JENNY ALLENBY has been involved in the film and television industry since
1990 and a key member of Stone City Film’s team since 1995. A law
graduate with many years production accountancy experience, her film
and TV credits include KATIE MORAG for Struay Pictures 2013; RANDOM for
Hillbilly Films 2012; CAST OFFS for Eleven Film 2009; ID – IDENTITY OF THE SOUL for Terje Vigen UK
2008; THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES for Koninck Studios 2005; TEN MINUTES OLDER for
Matador Pictures 2002; THE PHANTOM MUSEUM for Koninck Studios 2003; THE CAR MAN TV
Movie for AMP Films 2001. More recently, Stone City Films have imparted feature credits of
Co-Producer for ELECTRICITY in 2014 and Associate Producer Credit for UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE in 2012.
LINDA BINEY – Since graduating from The London Film School with an MA
Filmmaking, Linda has focused mainly on producing shorts and gained
experience in factual television at Fremantle Media, with Boundless
Productions and the Chinese-owned IPCN. Linda is currently developing a
feature film script with Onyinye Egenti, which will shoot in both Nigeria and England. This year
she will be producing a Creative England iShort by emerging writer/director Anna Blandford,
and assisting Congolese director Djo Tunga Wa Munga in his latest documentary feature.
FIONA BLACK went to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
then gained a Masters from the University of Georgia in the States on a
Fulbright Hays scholarship. After working in the theatre she moved into
drama production working throughout the UK on films such as LEAVING,
written by Anthony Sher, to popular dramas like THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY and JONATHAN
CREEK. She made a short, based on Strindberg’s THE STRONGER, while studying at the Script
Factory’s script development course. She continued producing, being nominated for Scottish
BAFTA in the Television Drama Award category for the production of EILBHEAS (ELVIS), an
hour long drama set on the Isle of Lewis. She also produced the popular series WATERLOO
ROAD. She was in Bangladesh for BBC MediaAction where she mentored a new drama, and
has just returned from a fact finding tour in the United Arab Emirates; she has also worked in
South America, China and Tibet. She hopes to use this knowledge when making future films.
MIA BORRETT would like to make films that resonate with her previous
career as a criminal defence and human rights barrister. She has recently
worked with David S. Goyer (THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY) and Ileen Maisel
(ONEGIN).
CHEE-LAN CHAN. Having worked at companies such as HanWay Films and
Capitol Films, Chee-Lan then spent three and a half years as Head of
Development at one of the UK’s most prolific production companies,
Vertigo Films. Running their busy slate, she developed films such as
STREETDANCE, UK independent cinema’s biggest box office hit in 2010, and sci-fi road movie
MONSTERS with writer/director Gareth Edwards whose latest film, Warner Brothers’ GODZILLA,
is soon to be released. She then went on to freelance for Big Talk Pictures, producers of writer
director Edgar Wright’s trilogy – SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ and THE WORLD’S END, as well
as films such as PAUL and SCOTT PILGRIM VERSUS THE WORLD. Her most recent project, short
film ORBIT EVER AFTER is BAFTA and European Film Award nominated and can currently be
seen in UK cinemas.
HELEN GREARSON has spent the last five years working with Mike Leigh,
culminating in a role as Assistant Producer on his forthcoming film, MR.
TURNER. She is also currently co-producer on a separate behind-thescenes documentary – the very first to document Mike’s elusive process –
being made by Leo Leigh. Before working solely with Mike, Helen worked simultaneously for
his production company, Thin Man Films, and Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood’s Potboiler
Productions, gaining a variety of experience in all aspects of film development, production
and post-production. Her first role in the industry was with BBC Films.
ANNA JANCSÓ was born in Hungary into a family of internationally
renowned filmmakers and joined the film industry in 2000, after a career as
a journalist. With her company Librecine based in Hungary and Uruguay,
Anna has produced a number of documentary films for the international
market. Her credits include DOMINGUEANDO premiered on Mezzo and Arts Channel
Australia; STALIN CITY CANTATA developed at the Discovery Campus Masterschool and the
2008 FIPA D Or Grand Prix winner A DIFFERENT WAY for ZDF and ARTE. Her cinema feature
documentary EL DESTELLO, produced with the support of IDFA’s Jan Vrijman Fund
in coproduction with Chello Multicanal, was in official competition at Visions du Réel; BAFICI;
É Tudo Verdade and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Anna also has extensive
experience working in different production roles in feature films and commercials, and line
produced a number of multi-camera live concert broadcasts for television.
SAM MILDNER has worked in almost every department of film and video
production. He has directed and produced short films, video-art
installations, expanded-cinema pieces, corporate promos, music videos,
and more. Coming from a formal education in film theory, Sam attended
the London Film School to put his knowledge into practice. His pair of graduation films MUM’S ROOM [writer/director] and ROOM FOR TWO [producer] earned him a distinction
grade MA, but most importantly he met his creative partner, Jan Hillman, whilst studying. In
2013 Sam and Jan founded the production company, Dog Button. Their work has been
featured at international film festivals, and the debut Dog Button feature film, BITTER SUITE is
now in pre-production.
MERIEL PAISLEY is currently a TV comedy development producer, working
with a range of new writers, directors and writer-performers. She recently
graduated from the NFTS post graduate diploma in script development,
and has read scripts for Channel 4, BBC Writersroom and BAFTA Rocliffe.
She has received mentoring from film producer Mia Bays (ILL MANORS, LILTING). Meriel
began her career in studio comedy entertainment, working as a Researcher and Assistant
Producer on shows such as 8 OUT OF 10 CATS, ROOM 101 and COMIC RELIEF. She has worked
in comedy and entertainment development at various independent production companies
including So Television and Predictable Media, and the BBC. Meriel continues to seek out
new talent to work with and to expand her comedy TV slate, as well as beginning a film slate
for development. Meriel is very passionate about comedy film and TV and loves bringing
new talent to a wider audience.
USAYD YOUNIS is a creative film-maker with a wealth of experience in
multimedia and journalism. As a technology enthusiast from a young age,
his passion is combining different digital mediums to tell visual narratives. In
2010, Usayd produced and directed his first investigative documentaryfilm, THE TWO WORLDS. He scripted and directed a professional voice-over and produced a
dynamic, interactive website for the launch of the film. In addition to working as the
technical director for Back Door Productions, a production company at Pinewood Studios,
Usayd has produced a variety of short films for charities like Turn2Us; exploring issues ranging
from fuel poverty to the stigmas surrounding welfare benefits. As associate editor for
Ceasefire Magazine, he manages a digital team which produces films and interviews
published online that have amassed over 100,000 views.
ZEENA ZAKARIA read Economics and Politics at Goldsmiths College. Prior
to pursuing an MA in Filmmaking, Zeena worked as a photographer’s
assistant to London based photographer Willie Nash and made Video-art
installations exhibited in galleries as part of the visual arts collective
DOOM. She has made several music videos for the band Maria and the Mirrors. Since being
at the London Film School, she has produced several shorts including a graduation film by
Christina Prgomet, SEAMS. Zeena is focused on bold and authentic storytelling across varying
genres but has a particular penchant for thrillers and dark comedies.
FRANCESCO ZIBELLINI. After a long career as a manager, Francesco
entered the film industry in 2010 and is now a screenwriter and script
editor. In Italy he collaborated with renowned screenwriter, Elvio Porta, on
several projects for RAI and other producers. In Spain he performed script
editing and product placement consultancy for the feature film LIMITE 15-M (Beniwood
Group Film Production) and for Riesgo Capital (Tornasol Group). Francesco is currently
working on the funding for the documentary ONEGIRL produced by Webra Multimedia in the
UK.
Fast Forward Producing 2014
Tutor Biographies
BILL ALLAN has been Executive Producer of twelve independent features
in recent years, ranging from Emily Young’s BAFTA award-winning KISS OF
LIFE and ONE LOVE, through more recent releases such as ON A CLEAR
DAY, LADIES IN LAVENDER and GREEN STREET, to the thriller IRRESITIBLE and
the horror film WILDERNESS. His extensive media background has been primarily in the field of
international TV and film sales and co-production, including being a founding director of
Central Television Enterprises (latterly Carlton International), Director of International Coproductions at Granada Television International, and Chairman of the Portman Film and TV
Group. As an independent consultant, his clients have included the BBC, the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, and National Geographic Films. He was a founding Director of
the London-based film finance company Baker Street Media, which specialised in taxefficient UK film finance, and was involved in the funding and production of some thirty
feature films and numerous television projects. He is a past Chairman of the British Television
Distributors’ Association and of the UK Screen Financiers’ Association. He is now a director of
both Starbank Films and the newly formed Runnymede Films, both based in London.
SEAN BARTON is a feature film editor, whose credits include RETURN OF THE
JEDI, QUADROPHENIA and JAGGED EDGE, amongst the 40 odd Cinema
films he has cut. He has also worked on TV drama, for example SWEENEY
TODD with Ray Winston, and TV Mini series, including MOBY DICK, with
Patrick Stewart, and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. He has worked as a second unit director
on several films and has written and directed a low budget horror movie. He sometimes
tutors at the London Film School and the National Film School.
LUDI BOEKEN was born in Amsterdam, and studied film at the London Film
School and history at the Universities of Utrecht and Tel Aviv. In 1973 Boeken
started out as a war correspondent for BBC and Dutch TV in the Middle
East and covered South and Central America and Africa. He subsequently
directed over 25 award-winning investigative documentaries. He then produced many
feature films such as VINCENT AND THEO by Robert Altman (starring Tim Roth), SILENT TONGUE
by Sam Shepard (starring Richard Harris, Alan Bates and River Phoenix), LA FRACTURE DU
MYOCARDE by Jacques Fansten, and TRAIN OF LIFE by Radu Milhaelianu, before directing his
first feature film, BRITNEY BABY ONE MORE TIME (Sundance 2002). His second feature film was
award-winning DEADLINES, co-directed with Michael Lerner. His latest feature film as director
is SAVIOURS IN THE NIGHT (UNTER BAUERN), the award-winning tale of a group of German
farmers who, throughout the Nazi period, save a Jewish family on their farm. In 2012 Boeken
produced Christian Duguay’s JAPPELOUP, the horse jumping saga starring Guillaume Canet
and Daniel Auteuil – and acted with Brad Pitt in Marc Forster’s WORLD WAR Z. Boeken is now
preparing to produce Marc Forster’s next film as well as Leon de Winter’s musical comedy
THE GREAT WALTZ with André Rieu. Boeken’s next film as director will be NELSON.
NICK BROWN joined the BBC in 2006 as Director, Drama Production. In 2012
this expanded to become Director, UK Drama Production, responsible for
the delivery of all BBC network drama produced throughout the UK. Prior to
joining the BBC Nick was a successful producer from 1995-2006, working
with a wide range of writing, directing, acting and technical talent, producing drama for all
the major UK channels and a feature film for worldwide release. He also produced two films
for BBC One written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff – GIDEON’S DAUGHTER (Bill Nighy,
Miranda Richardson and Emily Blunt) and FRIENDS AND CROCODILES (Damian Lewis and
Jodhi May). In 2003-4 he produced a feature film, LADIES IN LAVENDER (Judi Dench, Maggie
Smith, Daniel Bruehl). In his last role at the BBC he also served from time to time as Executive
Producer, most recently, for two short films directed by Danny Boyle for the London 2012
Olympic Opening Ceremony – ISLES OF WONDER and HAPPY AND GLORIOUS featuring
Daniel Craig as James Bond and Her Majesty The Queen. Nick joined Neal Street Productions
in February 2013 as a director of the company and heads up Film and TV there with Pippa
Harris. Current projects include PENNY DREADFUL, for Showtime/Sky Atlantic and THE HOLLOW
CROWN II for the BBC/WNET.
LINDA BRUCE is an Independent Producer and Director of Greenpoint Films
Ltd, and is on the board of a new production company, Films of London.
She has worked as Producer/Line Producer on such films as ORLANDO,
PARIS BY NIGHT, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, TALK OF ANGELS, BEAUMARCHAIS,
THE MAN WHO CRIED, and most recently FROM TIME TO TIME with Julian Fellowes. She is
currently in script development on several British films, THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF EDWARD
THOMAS, SERPENTINE CAVE, DANGEROUS THOUGHTS and a New Zealand project, THE HAKA.
NEIL CALDER works as Senior Production Executive at Film Finances in the
UK, the market leader in the provision of Completion Guarantees for the
Film and Television Industry. He and has worked on approximately 20 films a
year for the past 13 years, overseeing feature films with budgets from $1m
to $50m. Projects include SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008), RUSH (2013) and TINKER TAILOR
SOLDIER SPY (2011). Prior to that he worked as an Assistant Director.
RUDY CAPILDEO Rudy advises art galleries, private collectors and artists on
a variety of matters including contracts, dispute resolution, intellectual
property and taxation on behalf of Goodman Derrick LLP. He also works on
similar matters in the historic car field. He has experience in conventional
company and corporate instructions: mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder
agreements, demergers, LLP agreements and general company law advice.
CHRIS CURLING started telling stories through drama and film while at
Cambridge University and at the London Film School. He went on to direct
award-winning documentaries and a South African-set feature, DARK CITY,
before moving across to concentrate on producing. Chris has produced
over 20 feature films and is particularly proud of his work on MY SON THE FANATIC, HANNIBAL
RISING, PENELOPE, DEATH DEFYING ACTS, THE LAST STATION and GOD HELP THE GIRL.
CARLO DUSI Former film production and finance lawyer Carlo Dusi joined
the London office of Ridley Scott’s outfit Scott Free in March 2012 as its
Head of Business and Commercial Affairs, and has since executive
produced Rowan Joffe’s thriller BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP starring Nicole
Kidman and Colin Firth, as well as Chris Smith’s GET SANTA starring Jim Broadbent and Rafe
Spall. Both films are due for release this autumn, and the company is currently about to start
pre-production on a major TV series for BBC One starring Tom Hardy. Prior to joining Scott
Free, Dusi ran his own outfit Aria Films as an integrated film production, financing and
consultancy outfit from 2012 onwards, through which he executive produced and
coproduced numerous features, while consulting for industry players ranging from leading
commercial production company Stink to UK boutique distributor Axiom Films International to
Met Film Post in Ealing Studios.
SHAUN EMERY joined Aon in 2006 providing freelance professionals with
their insurance needs, his clients ranging from camera operators, lighting
and sound through to working on the BECTU account. Shaun took
ownership of the account, building it into a book of business well over £1m.
Prior to moving to London Shaun enhanced his knowledge of the film industry by becoming
a runner, attending creative sessions and visiting sets. Now having been based in London for
5 years Shaun's clients are 80% USA based. Clients include BBC, Sony, Universal, Disney,
Marvel, Lucas Films and 20th Century Fox. His passion is still UK independent films, dialogue
driven and Shaun himself is a keen script writer. Films and TV Shaun has been involved in are TOP GEAR, THOR 2, STAR WARS, AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA, LONDON OLYMPICS to name
but a few.
JOANNA FARR worked as a Line Producer in the film and television industry
for 12 years, during which she also spent periods of time developing feature
film scripts and producing her own projects. Her credits include feature films
such as CALENDAR GIRLS and high end television dramas such as BRITZ. She
has worked widely with film producers and directors generating and managing a broad
range of production schedules and budgets using Movie Magic scheduling and budgeting
software. She has taught Movie Magic scheduling and budgeting at the National Film and
Television school to students and professionals for the last ten years.
STEVE HAYNES is an audio engineer with 40 years’ experience in film and TV
post-production sound, mixing and ADR. His most recent credits include
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, HUNGER, ATONEMENT and Channel Four’s RED
RIDING trilogy. Over the years his repertoire has included mixing feature
films, feature film trailers, adverts for film and TV, high end TV drama and documentary, HD
laybacks and conforms, and ADR recording for feature films and TV. Whilst at Yorkshire TV,
Steve was responsible for updating the sound department during the changeover to Digital
Audio Workstations, and installed the first AMS-Neve Logic 2 digital fully automated mixing
desk. He also introduced both Stereo and Dolby Pro-logic surround to the ITV network.
EMMA HAYTER has produced many internationally successful independent
films, including Robert Altman’s VINCENT AND THEO. She founded
BROOKSIDE with Phil Redmond in 1982, and went on to develop Channel
Four’s sports programming with Cheerleader Productions. She has also
written and produced award-winning documentaries. She produced Aisling Walsh’s first
feature film JOYRIDERS, and Roger Graef’s controversial CLOSING RANKS. Emma was director
of Production at Central Films, and she then produced twenty-eight episodes of the highly
successful worldwide television comedy drama LOVEYOY, and eight feature length episodes
of the Scottish detective series TAGGART. For four years she was Executive Producer and
Head of Production at Baker Street Media Finance, making more than fifteen cinema feature
films including the award-winning AN ANGEL FOR MAY, DEADLINES, ONE LOVE, ON A CLEAR
DAY and LADIES IN LAVENDER, starring Dame Judi Dench and Maggi Smith. She was
Executive Producer on Pawel Pawlikowski’s BAFTA-winning MY SUMMER OF LOVE, the best
British film of 2004. Emma has extensive experience of working on French co-productions,
including LES OISEAUX DU CIEL, Official Selection at the Berlin, Paris, San Sebastian and
Edinburgh film festivals. Emma lectures for the LFS, NFTS, Media Business School Madrid,
International Film Business School of Copenhagen and the BBC.
SAMANTHA HORLEY worked with PolyGram Film International and Summit
Entertainment in international film sales before starting Salt (fka Lumina)
with two partners in 2004. Still actively selling, with a focus on North America
and the studios, she additionally oversees all Salt’s marketing and PR.
Samantha is also producing and developing projects with writers including Morwenna Banks
(ABSOLUTELY) and Ayub Kan Din (East is East), the latter, SILVER FOXES, is a British comedy
feature based on an original idea by Samantha. In 2010 Samantha created The Vipers Nest,
a creative collective for commercial first-time filmmakers. She was also a founder member of
Film Export UK, the trade association for British sales companies, and is a regular speaker for
the likes of the BFI, NFTS, London Film Festival and Inside Pictures.
IAN HUTCHINSON is a founding partner of Silver Reel Partners, created in
2009 with 25 films financed to date. The slate of films includes British films
such as IRONCLAD, HYSTERIA, RAILWAY MAN and UNDER THE SKIN,
European productions such as GRACE OF MONACO (the opening film at
Cannes this year) and American films such as THE HOST, SOLACE, BULLET TO THE HEAD and
the STEVE JOBS biopic. Silver Reel is a provider of debt to independent films in the English
language, lending against tax credits, presales and sales estimates from leading sales
companies. Prior to joining Silver Reel, he ran the London office of Bank of Ireland from 2003
to 2009, financing over 80 films including CRASH, MATCHPOINT, MICHAEL CLAYTON,
FANTASTIC MR FOX and many others. A qualified accountant with more than 15 years
experience in film finance, he is a regular speaker at conferences and workshops
GARETH JONES has been involved in the financing, sales and distribution of
feature films for over twenty years. He has financed and/or sold
international rights in over eighty independent feature films including
WITHNAIL AND I, MONA LISA, NUNS ON THE RUN, THE MAN WITH RAIN IN HIS
SHOES and LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. Gareth executive-produced
Australian box office success THE HARD WORD and pre-bought foreign sales rights in
Sundance winner SECRETARY. He also financed, co-executive produced and sold
international rights in the Irish comedy MYSTICS. He worked closely on the acquisition and UK
theatrical releases of several films including OPEN RANGE and MY SUMMER OF LOVE. Recent
films Gareth has been involved in financing and selling include Noel Clarke’s 4321, teenage
comedy WE ARE THE FREAKS (which will be released by Metrodome in summer 2014) and
American football comedy GRIDIRON UK. Principal photography has just completed on
psychological horror THE HOARDER starring Mischa Barton. Gareth has his own film
consultancy business and is acting as Executive Producer and/or International Sales
Consultant on several feature films set in the UK, US and Europe including science fiction
thriller ALONE starring Damien Lewis and UK comedy PARTY PIECES starring John Hannah and
Burt Reynolds.
SIMON KOSSOFF is a freelance Director of Photography (DOP). His
documentary experience included the conflict zones in the Middle East for
The LONGEST WAR (1983); Ulster for THE TROUBLES (1981); and for ‘This
Week’, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Guatemala. He also filmed in China in 1980 for THE
WOMEN OF CHINA. From 1988 he increasingly found himself photographing film series for ITV
and the BBC including DEMOB, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, INVASION EARTH, and episodes of
FRIENDS IN THE NORTH (BAFTA nomination), POIROT, & TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION. He has also
enjoyed photographing many single films including ANCHOR ME, COMING HOME, TRIAL BY
FIRE, and THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA. Particularly memorable for him have been six films
he photographed for the director Aisling Walsh including, FINGERSMITH, DAMAGE, and
SINNERS (Irish Academy Award and RTS nomination for Best Photography). His Feature Film
photography includes THE DAISY CHAIN (for Aisling) and STAGGERED (for Martin Clunes)
ROB KRAITT. Agent at Casarotto Ramsay Associates Limited in London, Rob
Kraitt has wide ranging experience representing writing and directing
talent; and selling books for film & television adaptation. He is also on the
board of the Film Agency for Wales. Rob started his career as a script editor
and consultant for many top film production companies in the UK including Working Title,
Focus, Pathé Productions, Miramax and Ruby Films as well as the European Media
Development Agency. Prior to joining Casarotto in February 2010, he was Head of Media
and Associate Director of A P Watt Literary Film & Television Agency.
KAREN LINDSAY-STEWART is a casting director who has worked on a mixture
of independent and international films, including HARRY POTTER AND THE
PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, THE
WOMAN IN BLACK, SUBMARINE, THE DOUBLE, MARIE ANTOINETTE, THE OTHER
BOLEYN GIRL. She has recently finished the Showtime TV series PENNY DREADFUL with
showrunner John Logan, starring Timothy Dalton and Eva Green.
SHIONA LLEWELLYN is a highly-regarded independent career development
consultant, with many years experience of working effectively with
individuals across the TV and film industries. Her approach is to ‘help people
to help themselves’ to achieve their potential within a highly competitive
international marketplace. Uniquely, she has an understanding of both the creative and the
business aspects of production, and has considerable insight into how decisions which affect
careersare made. After an academic training in psychology, Shiona had a successful
management career in television and weekly magazine publishing before deciding to
specialise in career development. Her clients include major broadcasters, independent
production companies, universities, and individuals....and the LFS, where she also contributes
to the MA Screenwriting course. She has recently been commissioned by Directors UK to
design and deliver a workshop programme for women drama directors. Shiona researched
and wrote all the early careers information on behalf of Skillset, and authored both editions
of their career handbook for TV, Radio, Film, Video and Interactive Media, which gave her
unrivalled access to cross-industry experts.
ANNA MANSI As Head of Certification, Anna works closely with key
stakeholders in government and industry to provide advice and guidance
on the application processes for all of the cultural tests, co-production
treaties and policies relating to all of the creative sector tax reliefs. She has
an extensive knowledge of the cultural test and co-production treaties and has been
instrumental in assisting government with the structure of the cultural tests for the new
creative sector reliefs as well as leading the BFI’s responses to the Government consultations
on the new reliefs and HMT’s VFX consultation. Anna has been part of the Certification Unit
team for nine years. She started as a Certification Analyst whilst the unit was still with the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport dealing with British film applications under the old
tax relief schemes. She moved with the team to the UK Film Council in April 2007 and was
instrumental in the introduction of the cultural test for films. Anna became the Certification
Manager in February 2010 prior to the Unit’s move to the BFI in April 2010.
KEITH NORTHROP specialises in Media Law with a particular emphasis on
film work. He has worked extensively with film producers, financiers and
distributors, both domestically and internationally, and dealt with every
aspect of the contractual process involved in film financing and
production. He is an Adjunct Professor of international copyright and EU Law at Pepperdine
University in the USA, a regular speaker at international conferences and has written
extensively for leading specialist publications. He was an Executive Producer of THE LAST OF
HIGH KINGS for Miramax Films, and HONEST directed by Dave Stewart. Keith is part of
Goodman Derrick LLP’s specialist film finance and production team. They have handled a
broad range of sale and leaseback transactions, and continue to develop financing
schemes for media projects.
PAUL SARONY. An established Film & TV Producer with credits ranging from
low budget Oscar & BAFTA winning film MRS. BROWN to $80 million dollar
studio picture BABYLON AD, Paul has Produced or Line Produced over 30
films and many more Television dramas as a Production Manager. Recent
films credits include HYSTERIA; VAMPIRE ACADEMY: BLOOD SISTERS and SKY high profile miniseries FLEMING: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BOND about the life of James Bond author Ian
Fleming. Previous Films include Paul Schrader’s THE WALKER; Julia Taylor-Stanley’s Royal
Premier film THESE FOOLISH THINGS; Kate Winslet in HIDEOUS KINKY; Venice Film Festival winner
BEFORE THE RAIN; director Gurinder Chadha’s successful first film BHAJI ON THE BEACH;
comedy THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP THE HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN starring
Hugh Grant and produced by Miramax; four BAFTA winning BBC Films; A RATHER ENGLISH
MARRIAGE starring Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay; award winning documentary BEING
MICK for Mick Jagger’s film company Jagged Films. Other notable productions have been
WELCOME TO SARAJEVO; CRIMINAL; KING OF THE WIND; TOOTH; EMMINENT DOMAINE; Oscar
winner SHINE etc. etc. Management experience includes General Manager of HTV
International which included buying Film Distributor First Independent for the group and
overseeing their International TV Sales Company and numerous International Productions
both TV and Film this allowed Paul to fully appreciate the more commercial side of the film
business often not experienced by Producers. Paul has also acted occasionally for
Production Guarantors Film Finances in their risk management of films they were considering
bonding as well as stepping in to productions for them when those films were in trouble.
DAVID SEGAL HAMILTON. Prior to joining the BFI Film Fund, David worked in
development for Stephen Fry’s Sprout Pictures and as a freelance script
consultant and assessor for companies such as BBC Films, Film4 and Film
London’s Microwave programme.
POLLY STOKES is Senior Development Editor at Film4. She previously worked
for the theatre company Complicite, and as a freelance producer for
production companies including Warp Films. She produced Paul Wright's
debut feature FOR THOSE IN PERIL which was selected for Critics' Week,
Cannes, 2013. The film won two Scottish BAFTAs, a BIFA and was nominated for a BAFTA in the
category Outstanding Debut.
ARCHIE TAIT is Head of Projects at the London Film School. As Cinema
Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, he established ICA Projects,
one of the UK’s longest-established distributors of World Cinema, and
introduced the work of directors Terence Davies, Jim Jarmusch, Pedro
Almodovar, Chen Kaige, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Luc Besson and many others. He was Head of
Development at Zenith Productions (SID AND NANCY, SIMPLE MEN, VELVET GOLDMINE) where
he also produced many primetime TV drama series and serials. For ITV, he produced 100
hours of the long-running family drama HEARTBEAT. Archie teaches TV Drama Writing on the
New York University - Tisch School of the Arts London Visiting Program, and on the LFS MA
Screenwriting course.
JEZZ VERNON is Managing Director of the distribution company,
Metrodome. Prior to that he was the Head of Distribution of Metrodome
from April , 2010. He joined Metrodome in 2005 and was previously head of
marketing and operations. Metrodome are responsible for the UK
distribution of films such as PRINCE AVALANCHE, FRANCES HA, THE DEEP, A ROYAL AFFAIR and
SHIFTY.
AISLING WALSH is an award winning film and television writer and director.
Her feature film credits include her debut film JOYRIDERS in 1988, her multiaward winning SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY in 2003 and THE DAISY CHAIN in
2006. She wrote and directed Invisible State, Ireland’s segment for the
European Film Omnibus in 2004 which was produced by Lars Von Trier and Zentrope,
Denmark. Her television credits include A POET IN NEW YORK starring Tom Hollander, a film for
BBC2 to celebrate the centenary of Dylan Thomas’s birth; LOVING MISS HATTO in 2012; ROOM
AT THE TOP for which she won a BAFTA Award in 2013; WALLANDER with Kenneth Branagh in
2010; FINGERSMITH in 2004 with Sally Hawkins; SINNERS in 2002 for which she won Le Prix
Europa; and DAMAGE which she wrote and directed in 2006. In 2009 Aisling was nominated
for a BAFTA Scotland Award for THE TEARS WELLED part of the Eadar Cluitch Series for BBC
Alba in Scotland. She was nominated for BAFTA Award in 2011 for her direction on
WALLANDER and in 2004 for her direction on FINGERSMITH.
Fast Forward Producing 2014
Schedule
If, during the course you have any problems, please contact the assistant on the given day,
or Lydia Penke 07985141888.
This schedule is subject to change during the course.
WEEK 1
MONDAY 31 MARCH
Assistant: Jasmin
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Introductions
Archie Tait (AT),
07877 636204
10am-10.30
Head of Projects,
LFS; Emma Hayter
(EH), Producer;
students
10.30-11.15
What is a Producer? - All the
EH
definitions of a producer
11.15-11.35
Break
11.35-13.00
Introduction to Film Finance 1
Bill Allan, Exec
- Overview. Case study
Producer, Starbank
LADIES IN LAVENDER
Films
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-15.15
Road Map. A case history of
Nick Brown,
a film from ideas to returns
Producer, Neal
Street Productions
15.15-15.45
LADIES IN LAVENDER
screening
15.45-17.00
Discussion
EH, NB
TUESDAY 1 APRIL
Assistant: Jo
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Identity, Self Presentation
Shiona Llewellyn,
and Career Management.
Career
Shiona will provide tools for
Development
self-analysis, helping you to
Specialist; AT
Copping
07798 640787
10am - 5pm
identify your strong and lessdeveloped skills
5.30 - 7pm
WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL
Assistant: Jo
Welcome Drinks Reception
33 Long Acre
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
International Sales &
Sam Horley, MD,
Distribution. The importance
the salt company
Copping
07798 640787
10am - 11.15
of the Sales Agent and
getting them on board early
11.15-11.35
Break
11.35-13.00
Unpack the Realities. A lucid
Gareth Jones, Exec
view of the paperwork
Producer, RETRO-
involved in filmmaking
JUICE
PRODUCTIONS
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Distribution. What producers
Jezz Vernon, MD,
need to know about how
Metrodome
distributors work
THURSDAY 3 APRIL
Assistant: Farah
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
The Art of the Pitch 1 -
EH
07739 098353
10am - 11.15
Presentation
11.15-11.30
Break
11.30-13.00
British Film Qualification: BFI
Anna Mansi, Head
Film Certification - how the
of Certification, BFI
new Government
Regulations will affect
filmmakers
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Script Development. An
Polly Stokes,
overview of what script
Channel 4
development executives
expect and how they can
influence your projects
FRIDAY 4TH APRIL
Assistant: Farah
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
From Page to Screen
Rob Kraitt,
07739 098353
10am-13.00
Casarotto Ramsay
Associates
14.00-15.30
The BFI Film Fund and how it
David Segal
Works
Hamilton, BFI Film
Fund
15.30-15.45
Break
15.45-17.00
Review of the Week
EH
WEEK 2
MONDAY 7TH APRIL
Assistant: Farah
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Casting Cast. You dream
Karen Lindsay-
about your ideal cast, but
Stewart, Casting
the reality is very different
Director
07739 098353
10am-13.00
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Finance and Contracts. How
Carlo Dusi, Head of
to move foreward once you
Business and
have your script, and the
Commercial Affairs,
legal processes involved
Scott Free
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
The Art of the Pitch 2 -
AT, EH
TUESDAY 8TH APRIL
Assistant: Jo
Copping
07798 640787
10am-13.00
Students pitch their own
projects
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Script Breakdown. An
Linda Bruce,
exercise in a feature film
Producer / Director,
script breakdown
Greenpoint Films
WEDNESDAY 9TH
Assistant: Jasmin
APRIL
07877 636204
10am-13.00
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Movie Magic Presentation +
Joanna Farr, Line
Q&A. An overview on how to
Producer
schedule your production
using the industry standard
software
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00 - 15.15
Insuring Your Production.
Shaun Emery,
Time consuming but vital to
Associate Director,
protect your film
Aon Risk Solutions
15.15-15.30
Break
15.30-17.00
Completion Guarantees.
Neil Calder, Film
Time consuming but vital to
Finances
protect your film
17.30-19.30
Networking Event with LFS
MAF and MAS students
pitching their projects
THURSDAY 10TH
Assistant: Jasmin
APRIL
07877 636204
10am-13.00
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Managing the Production.
Paul Sarony, Line
Health and Safety, running a
Producer
production, union
agreements
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Screening of LOST IN LA
MANCHA; discussion
EH, PS
FRIDAY 11TH APRIL
Assistant: Jasmin
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Managing the Production 2.
Aisling Walsh,
In production. A Director and
Writer/Director;
Cameraman discuss building
Simon Kossoff, DOP
07877 636204
10am-13.00
relationships with cast and
crew
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Managing the Production 3.
Sean Barton, Editor
An Editor discusses the
production and postproduction processes of film
editing
WEEK 3
MONDAY 14TH APRIL
Assistant: Giorgio
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Post Production. Post
Steve Haynes,
production sound editing
Audio Engineer
07530 894431
10am - 13.00
and scheduling is vital. How it
works
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00 - 17.00
Site visit to Post Production
Facility (Molinare)
EH
TUESDAY 15TH APRIL
Assistant: Jo
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Finance 2 - Symposium.
Keith Northrop,
Experts from all areas of film
Goodman Derrick
financing explain the
LLP; Bill Allan; Ian
complexities of film financing
Hutchinson, Silver
today
Reel LLP; Sinead Mc
Copping
07798 640787
10am - 13.00
Hugh, Manager Film & TV, Saffrey
Champness
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Finance 2 - Role Play. The
Keith Northrop; Bill
experts show, by means of
Allan; Ian
role-play, what can go
Hutchinson; Paul
wrong - and right - when
Sarony
negotiating deals
WEDNESDAY 16TH
Assistant: Giorgio
APRIL
07530 894431
10am - 13.00
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
Finance 3. Sales, soft money,
Chris Curling,
co-production, how to find
Zephyr Films
co-production partners
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Setting up and Running a
EH; Rudi Capildeo,
Production Company.
Goodman Derrick
Lawyers, HMRC, trade
LLP
organisations and funding
partners
THURSDAY 17TH
Assistant: Jo
APRIL
Copping
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
International Co-Production
Bill Allan, EH
07798 640787
10.00-11.30
1. A Financier explains the
intricacies of the multinational co-production
treaties
11.30-11.45
Break
11.45-13.00
International Co-Production
Ludi Boeken,
2. European Producer /
Director, Acajou
Director / Writer discusses
Films
filmmaking outside of the UK
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-15.30
DEADLINES screening
15.30-15.45
Break
1545-17.00
Group Discussion
Bill Allan; EH; Ludi
Boeken
18.00-
FRIDAY 18TH APRIL
Closing Meal - Joe Allen’s
Giorgio
SUBJECT
SPEAKERS
The Art of the Pitch 3.
Bill Allan; Ludi
Participants Pitch their
Boeken
07530 894431
10.00-13.00
projects to Bill Allan and Ludi
Boeken
13.00-14.00
Lunch
14.00-17.00
Course Round-Up and Q&A
LFS is grateful to the Creative Skillset Film Fund for financial support to Fast Forward Producing 2014.
This scheme is supported by Creative Skillset’s Film Skills Fund, which is funded by the BFI with National
Lottery funds, through the Skills Investment Fund (SIF)