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Screen Rootz - West Midlands Digital Shorts Production Scheme

Screen Rootz is part of the national Bfi scheme, Black World - a major initiative from the British Film Institute celebrating black creativity in film, television and the moving image. Screen Rootz will produce up to 15 digital short films from aspiring, emerging and established black and Asian filmmakers. Selected applicants will have the benefit of professional mentoring throughout. From pre-production to shooting to post-production, support is available from freelance professionals and from Coventry based Frontline AV production staff. The exciting thing about Screen Rootz is that even if you have never made a film before, but have a great idea, your film can be produced. So, you have an idea and you just know it could work as a short film. But you’ve never written a script! Or you’ve got the script but don’t know what a storyboard is. This is the beauty of Screen Rootz – you can work with a scriptwriter, or spend a day with a director to get your idea and skills ready to make your film. Your mentor will be a professional in the area you need support most.

If you are from a black or Asian background, are sixteen plus and come from the Warwickshire area -Coventry, Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Rugby and the surrounding areas, Screen Rootz is for you. (The scheme is unfortunately not open to Birmingham based applicants.) Again, you don’t need experience – but you will need a well thought out idea, the ability to summarise and sell that idea, and the vision and commitment to make it happen. The scheme is open to established filmmakers, but experience or lack of it will not affect the selection process. Screen Rootz is all about ideas, and whether or not they are possible and realistic. Production values will be high, so it’s important to pitch a fresh idea that works as a short film and captures the imagination. All the completed Screen Rootz films will be launched in August 2006 at a dedicated screening, with lots of opportunity to meet industry professionals and regional agencies, filmmakers, and producers. The deadline for applications is 24th February, 2006.

Application forms are available from:

Fran Porter,
Frontline AV,
85 Far Gosford St,
Coventry,
CV1 5DZ

Tel: 02476 224221

Email: fran@frontlineav.com

You can also download the application as a word or PDF document from www.bfi.org.uk and www.cbaf.co.uk