PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Small is beautiful A
t a time when even the most estab- lished film-makers are struggling to find funding for their films, Film Lon- don’s acclaimed Microwave scheme,
which helps to give new writers, directors and producers a leg up in the film industry, is more essential than ever. Launched in 2006, the initiative, which is
backed by BBC Films and industry training body Skillset, offers London-based film-makers the opportunity to make a feature-length film for up to $199,000 (£120,000). Microwave partici- pants also benefit from bespoke training during the programme, with each writer, director and producer being paired with mentors (current mentors include director Pete Travis, producer Pippa Cross and story editor Kate Leys). Microwave has seven features either com-
pleted or in various stages of production, and buoyed by the scheme’s success to date, the BBC has extended its partnership, paving the way for another six films to be greenlit in 2011. “Micro- wave was the prototype micro-budget scheme. It’s so important for the BBC to be engaged in discovering, encouraging and developing new film talent,” says head of films Steve Jenkins.
Microschool days With a rigorous selection process in place, up to 12 film-making teams are chosen from around 90 applications per round to take part in a four-day intensive ‘Microschool’, before going on to pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts who decide which films will be taken into production. “The big difference this year is the four-month
period we’re giving the teams after Microschool and before the selected projects go to pitch. It can take a while to absorb the information they have picked up, and the projects should benefit from having a longer period to rethink and reform,” explains Maggie Ellis, head of production and talent development at Film London. In order to prepare the teams for the tough
reality of raising film finance, Film London will only invest up to $99,000 of the $199,000 budget in each project, with the producers being expected to find the remainder. “It’s testing their entrepreneurial skills,” says
Microwave’s creative executive Mia Bays. “The film has still got to show it can prove itself in the marketplace in the way all the other films they go on to make will have to.” As a testament to Microwave’s growing repu-
tation in the industry, it has attracted a new partner for 2011, Technicolor, which will not only offer its film lab and digital facilities, but also some funding towards film festival trips for the film-makers, support in showcasing their films and the use of screening facilities. “We are excited about this partnership, because it will really make a difference when it comes to post- production, marketing and distribution,” explains Ellis.
The scheme has already managed to achieve a
100% success rate when it comes to securing theatrical distribution. Microwave’s three com- pleted projects — Steven Sheil’s horror film Mum & Dad, Kolton Lee’s Freestyle and Eran Creevy’s Shifty — all enjoyed successful theatri- cal releases. Frances Lea’s Strawberry Fields is in post, and a UK distribution deal is imminent on The British Guide To Showing Off, a documentary about the alternative Miss World show, which is nearing completion. Meanwhile Ben Drew (aka Plan B)’s anticipated debut feature ill Manors has been picked up by UK distributor Revolver. “People thought we wouldn’t be able to find
film-makers who could make films for such a low budget and that even if we did there would be no sales interest,” says Film London’s CEO Adrian Wootton. “I’m very pleased to say we’ve proved them wrong.” Microwave is helping to kickstart the careers
of a new generation of UK film-makers. Creevy has made the leap from directing Shifty through the Microwave scheme (the film won him a Bafta nomination for outstanding debut) to his second
The innovative, ultra-low-budget Film London Microwave scheme, backed by BBC Films and Skillset, is helping kickstart the careers of a new generation of London-based film-makers
feature, Welcome To The Punch, which is due to go into production this summer starring James McAvoy and executive produced by Ridley Scott. “Every year the film-makers get more ambi-
tious and we get more ambitious for the film- makers. We don’t see this as a model for continuing to make micro-budget films — we see it as a stepping stone for launching careers,” says Ellis. To ease that transition, Microwave also
‘Microwave is a stepping stone for launching
careers’ Maggie Ellis, Film London
organises a series of refresher sessions and fol- low-up events after the programme has ended. “It’s not just about the final prize, it’s about the training and looking at how they can keep their networks going,” says Dan Simmons, acting head of films at Skillset. With the latest round of applications drawing
to a close, the standard and number of entries is higher than ever, says Bays. “Now the reputa- tion is out there that we are a great place to make films, we are attracting some major names who are well known in other areas but who are now looking to direct.” n
www.filmlondon.org.uk/microwave
s
Microwave project Strawberry Fields is in post
Pete Travis n 28 Screen International at the Cannes Film Festival May 16, 2011
Mia Bays
Ben Drew
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