NewsReel 01/05/09

Sounds like it smells

The Reel bloody love the movies, so when lovely friendly production companies like Academy invite us to a screening of a feature we jump at the chance! The latest chance freshly jumped at is ‘Sounds Like Teen Spirit’, an affectionate documentary about the trials and tribulations of a group of Junior Eurovision Song Contest contestants. Directed by BAFTA, Broadcast and Grierson nominated ‘best new director’ Jamie J Johnson, the movie is laugh out loud funny and genuinely moving – a mean feat achieved through candid confessions and heart-wrenching acknowledgments from the young stars. We proper loved it, and you’ll get a chance to love it too when it hits the screens on the 8th May (see it before Star Trek).

www.soundsliketeenspiritthemovie.co.uk

If you have any doubts, just check out this clip:

Jamie J Johnson is represented for commercials by Academy Films, so if you want an ad about singing kiddies then you know who to call!

www.academyfilms.com

Cannes like em young


To get the youngsters away from their boxsets of Skins and knife crime, YouTube and Cannes Lions have launched a global competition for young creative talent aged 30 or under to attend this year's Festival and compete in the Young Lions Film Competition. At midnight on 15 May (GMT), YouTube will release a brief on www.youtube.com/canneslions for a 60-second ad for a major charity. Anyone born after 27 June 1980 can submit an ad to this channel until midnight, 17 May.

Not only that, but entrants have to market the film themselves too. The mini ad types will have two weeks to drive as many people to their YouTube video as possible, by embedding it, blogging about it, tweeting it, digitally beaming it to every iPhone in the land, the choice is yours (theirs). At the end of those two weeks, their panel of judges will pick two separate winners. The prize? An all-expenses paid trip to Cannes to take part in the Young Lions Film Competition as Team YouTube.

As The Reel will be at Cannes this year, the prize is better than even the wettest behind the ear admaker could imagine. So – are you young? Are you imaginative? Are you able to condense that into 48 hours of creativity? Then get to it!!

www.youtube.com/canneslions

Tsujikawa gets Passionate


We’re big lovers of J-culture here at The Reel, so when we heard that cult Japanese film and music video director Koichiro Tsujikawa had joined Passion Pictures for commercials and music video representation in Europe we did a merry jig.

Tsujikawa has won worldwide admiration for his remarkable films and music videos. Using both live action, stop frame and computer animation, his work includes a long running series of music videos for experimental musical artist Cornelius, videos for Sketch Show, and Supercar, short films Eyes and Kimagure Robot and commercials for Smirnoff, Shiseido and Sony Ericsson.

Executive producer Andrew Ruhemann says, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Koichiro Tsujikawa to Passion Pictures. In an industry bursting with talented directors, Koichiro’s work is truly in a class of its own. His films are stunningly inventive and beautifully crafted. He has been on our radar for a long time and this signing is great news for us. We look forward immensely to working with Koichiro and his team at Spoon in Tokyo.”

We look forward immensely to seeing it too!

http://www.passion-pictures.com/preview.html#page=d141

Bare Fundraiser

Bare Films, in association with Park Village, will be holding a fundraiser on the 7th of May 2009 to raise funds for a wheelchair for Will Pike, a former Bare employee. Will was seriously injured in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. There will be an auction with prizes, hosted by Nick Hancock, as well as karaoke and much merriment.

Things wot you can win include:

• Awesome package deal: 750 MPH are offering sound time, The Whitehouse are offering 2 days editing, and MPC are offering flame and telecine time, all useful for an aspiring film maker!
• Panavision have donated an ARRI 16SR3A Super 16 Camera Package for a 1-day shoot, valued at over £2500
• Peter Webb of Park Village is donating a limited edition print (number 2 of 25) from the original negatives for the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers album sleeve shot. These negatives have been missing since 1971 and have only recently been rediscovered, and so the print was previously unavailable and is therefore very rare
• Jim Weedon has donated a Nizo Super 801 camera in excellent condition. Made in the ‘80’s, this camera is worth £800
• Anya Hindmarch has donated a handbag in a style made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City
• Jaegar have donated a session with a stylist, plus a free outfit
• Make-up consultancy with Mary Greenwell, who has worked with Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vogue to name but a few.
• DDB have donated a MOT Test Gift Voucher from Kwik Fit (along with a child's Kwik Fit Fitter outfit!)
• DDB have donated two tickets for the Chelsea and Everton Cup Final held at Wembley. These cannot be resold.
• Lucky Voice are donating vouchers for private karaoke rooms for 15 people, normally worth £180.00, which can be used at their Soho and Islington branches.
• AKA UK have donated two tickets to the Hairspray theatre production, valid on a Monday-Thursday performance from 4 May – 12 June (not including 25-29 May)
• Gymbox Covent Garden have donated two free classes for one person and a friend! Options include pole dancing, parkour, etc

Tickets will be sold from the Bare office at £20.00 each, which entitles you to a drink and a snack at the fundraiser.
Please note that tickets are available IN ADVANCE ONLY, and will not be available at the door.
NB: The tickets are selling fast, so please reserve one quickly to avoid disappointment!

With a prize fund for filmy-types, gym-bods and Kwik Fit fitters you’d be a mug if you don’t get your tix now now NOW.

www.barefilms.co.uk