Chair’s report.
OVER the summer we regrouped and expanded the committee to reflect the diverse range of independents and post production houses in the region.
In September we co-hosted an event with the BBC and Watershed arts centre to recognise the prodigious talents of Colin Rose, who founded the BBC's animation unit and commissioned Nick Park's Wrong Trousers and exec produced the wonderful Bellville Rendezvous. There were more then 300 guests; BBC’s Peter Salmon chaired the evening. The audience was made up of leading industry figures, animation students and academics.
In October we staged a sell out Future’s event with two inspiring speakers, Dan Efergan, Creative Director for Digital at Aardman productions and Zodiack Media’s Ben Freeman, who’s leading on digital creativity.
In November our annual autumn supper for CEOs and Creative Directors saw virtually all the regions indies, plus the Natural History Unit and BBC Features, represented for an evening of very lively discussion. Fiona Francombe, who heads up the Bottleyard Studios gave an update on the development of the site which has seen Wolf Hall, Trollied and Deal or No deal and brought £9million into the area.
One Show presenter Mike Dilger and DIY SOS’s Mark Harrison hosted our first TV Quiz. Ten teams battled it out and Tigress productions under the wisdom of CEO Dick Colturst took the prize.
January-June ’15.
Bristol centre started the year with international TV executive Grant Mansfield giving the inside story of how to work in America and how to get your ideas commissioned on the US networks.
In February we held a very lively students awards ceremony at Watershed in Bristol. Hosted by BBC presented Patrick Ayree who showed his first audition tapes which were inspirational for a packed audience of student filmmakers from Gloucester, Bath and Bristol and their tutors. One of or student winners went on the National awards at the BFI on June 5th.
March and more than 40 TV, film and digital professionals walked the red carpet into Bristol Old Vic for our awards night. The high point of the TV year in the region and our most successful yet, hosted by Steve Backshall with more than 200 entries and high praise from the judges who were hugely impressed with the standard and range of entries. This year we introduced a ‘ Flying Futures” award to celebrate behind the scenes outstanding talent and it was won Erika Jones from the BBC’s See Hear. The Ambrose Fleming Award went to Gina Fuici and her team at Films@59 - 25 years in the business.
In June we hosted the centres’ council’s meeting in Bristol, including a lively session making Morph’s. We followed with BDH Unzipped. An evening with the creative directors of one of the UK’s most successful visual effects companies. There was also a programme of student films open to the public and invited schools from across the region
So far, our plans for the autumn include an animation event at Encounters short film and animation festival in September followed by a meet the professional session for emerging talent from across Europe.
We also have a date with Sky Arts in September and in October we will be staging a student event at Bath Spa University and a tour of the Bottleyard film studios - Wolf Hall and Poldark, November is our annual supper for CEOs and Creative Directors and in December it’s the Big Fat TV Quiz.
I have had great fun this year. Thank you to all the committee. To Hannah Gamblin who is stepping down and a special thank you to one of the region’s stalwart members and supporter, Phil Ashby. Without Phil’s attention to detail and patience, many of the centre’s events over the past years would have been very challenging. Phil has been a member for more than 15 years. We send him our very best wishes for him every success and good luck with the band.
This year’s committee has been exceptional in its commitment and support for the RTS and for that I am very grateful. Special thanks to my vice chair, John Durrant and to Wendy McCombe who has got to grips with the finances and to Belinda Biggam who has been fantastic as secretary.
Lynn Barlow
July 14th 2015.
