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, post-

producing 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-the-

scenes 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 documentary-

film, 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 Co-

productions 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 tax-

efficient 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 mini-

series 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 multi-

award 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

07877 636204

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-10.30 Introductions Archie Tait (AT),

Head of Projects,

LFS; Emma Hayter

(EH), Producer;

students

10.30-11.15 What is a Producer? - All the

definitions of a producer

EH

11.15-11.35 Break

11.35-13.00 Introduction to Film Finance 1

- Overview. Case study

LADIES IN LAVENDER

Bill Allan, Exec

Producer, Starbank

Films

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.15 Road Map. A case history of

a film from ideas to returns

Nick Brown,

Producer, Neal

Street Productions

15.15-15.45 LADIES IN LAVENDER

screening

15.45-17.00 Discussion EH, NB

TUESDAY 1 APRIL Assistant: Jo

Copping

07798 640787

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 5pm Identity, Self Presentation

and Career Management.

Shiona will provide tools for

self-analysis, helping you to

identify your strong and less-

developed skills

Shiona Llewellyn,

Career

Development

Specialist; AT

5.30 - 7pm Welcome Drinks Reception 33 Long Acre

WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL Assistant: Jo

Copping

07798 640787

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 11.15 International Sales &

Distribution. The importance

of the Sales Agent and

getting them on board early

Sam Horley, MD,

the salt company

11.15-11.35 Break

11.35-13.00 Unpack the Realities. A lucid

view of the paperwork

involved in filmmaking

Gareth Jones, Exec

Producer, RETRO-

JUICE

PRODUCTIONS

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Distribution. What producers

need to know about how

distributors work

Jezz Vernon, MD,

Metrodome

THURSDAY 3 APRIL Assistant: Farah

07739 098353

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 11.15 The Art of the Pitch 1 -

Presentation

EH

11.15-11.30 Break

11.30-13.00 British Film Qualification: BFI

Film Certification - how the

new Government

Regulations will affect

filmmakers

Anna Mansi, Head

of Certification, BFI

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Script Development. An

overview of what script

development executives

expect and how they can

influence your projects

Polly Stokes,

Channel 4

FRIDAY 4TH APRIL Assistant: Farah

07739 098353

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 From Page to Screen Rob Kraitt,

Casarotto Ramsay

Associates

14.00-15.30 The BFI Film Fund and how it

Works

David Segal

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

07739 098353

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 Casting Cast. You dream

about your ideal cast, but

the reality is very different

Karen Lindsay-

Stewart, Casting

Director

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Finance and Contracts. How

to move foreward once you

have your script, and the

legal processes involved

Carlo Dusi, Head of

Business and

Commercial Affairs,

Scott Free

TUESDAY 8TH APRIL Assistant: Jo

Copping

07798 640787

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 The Art of the Pitch 2 -

Students pitch their own

projects

AT, EH

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Script Breakdown. An

exercise in a feature film

script breakdown

Linda Bruce,

Producer / Director,

Greenpoint Films

WEDNESDAY 9TH

APRIL

Assistant: Jasmin

07877 636204

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 Movie Magic Presentation +

Q&A. An overview on how to

schedule your production

using the industry standard

software

Joanna Farr, Line

Producer

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00 - 15.15 Insuring Your Production.

Time consuming but vital to

protect your film

Shaun Emery,

Associate Director,

Aon Risk Solutions

15.15-15.30 Break

15.30-17.00 Completion Guarantees.

Time consuming but vital to

protect your film

Neil Calder, Film

Finances

17.30-19.30 Networking Event with LFS

MAF and MAS students

pitching their projects

THURSDAY 10TH

APRIL

Assistant: Jasmin

07877 636204

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 Managing the Production.

Health and Safety, running a

production, union

agreements

Paul Sarony, Line

Producer

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Screening of LOST IN LA

MANCHA; discussion

EH, PS

FRIDAY 11TH APRIL Assistant: Jasmin

07877 636204

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am-13.00 Managing the Production 2.

In production. A Director and

Cameraman discuss building

relationships with cast and

crew

Aisling Walsh,

Writer/Director;

Simon Kossoff, DOP

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Managing the Production 3.

An Editor discusses the

production and post-

production processes of film

editing

Sean Barton, Editor

WEEK 3

MONDAY 14TH APRIL Assistant: Giorgio

07530 894431

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 13.00 Post Production. Post

production sound editing

and scheduling is vital. How it

works

Steve Haynes,

Audio Engineer

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00 - 17.00 Site visit to Post Production

Facility (Molinare)

EH

TUESDAY 15TH APRIL Assistant: Jo

Copping

07798 640787

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 13.00 Finance 2 - Symposium.

Experts from all areas of film

financing explain the

complexities of film financing

today

Keith Northrop,

Goodman Derrick

LLP; Bill Allan; Ian

Hutchinson, Silver

Reel LLP; Sinead Mc

Hugh, Manager -

Film & TV, Saffrey

Champness

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Finance 2 - Role Play. The

experts show, by means of

role-play, what can go

wrong - and right - when

negotiating deals

Keith Northrop; Bill

Allan; Ian

Hutchinson; Paul

Sarony

WEDNESDAY 16TH

APRIL

Assistant: Giorgio

07530 894431

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10am - 13.00 Finance 3. Sales, soft money,

co-production, how to find

co-production partners

Chris Curling,

Zephyr Films

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-17.00 Setting up and Running a

Production Company.

Lawyers, HMRC, trade

organisations and funding

partners

EH; Rudi Capildeo,

Goodman Derrick

LLP

THURSDAY 17TH

APRIL

Assistant: Jo

Copping

07798 640787

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10.00-11.30 International Co-Production

1. A Financier explains the

intricacies of the multi-

national co-production

treaties

Bill Allan, EH

11.30-11.45 Break

11.45-13.00 International Co-Production

2. European Producer /

Director / Writer discusses

filmmaking outside of the UK

Ludi Boeken,

Director, Acajou

Films

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- Closing Meal - Joe Allen’s

FRIDAY 18TH APRIL Giorgio

07530 894431

SUBJECT SPEAKERS

10.00-13.00 The Art of the Pitch 3.

Participants Pitch their

projects to Bill Allan and Ludi

Boeken

Bill Allan; 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)