Taking Time pocketwatch still. Directed by Gabe Crozier.

To mark the public launch of our services for writers and producers, and see the premiere of our cinema-quality jointly-written short film TAKING TIME, join us at the Mockingbird Theatre in the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham on February 2nd at 6.30pm!

The event will include networking opportunities, talks by our Chair Ian Kennedy and industry guests, and film screenings. We will be discussing:

• The story of Screenwriters Forum and how it brings together leading local professional writers for mutual benefit and provides a representative voice, and an industry- and public-facing organisation to promote their interests and create opportunities for them.
• TAKING TIME, a cinema-quality short film directed by local filmmaker Gabe Crozier, about an ageing man whose time is slowing towards a close. 6 local professional writers – all Screenwriters Forum members – have contributed a minute of script each to the film, creating a uniquely collaborative project. The film stars local actor Denny Hodge and many young local actors sourced through First Act Workshops.
• Our SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, which will be a monthly opportunity for professional and aspiring writers to get the input of professional writers and their peers to help build their work towards an industry commission. These will be running on the first Tuesdays of every month in Central Birmingham at 6.30pm (details to be confirmed).
• SWF’s partnership with Birmingham City University, who will be hosting many of our events as we provide them and their students with access to local industry professionals and our industry guest speakers.
• An exciting new partnership that Ian is currently confirming with a leading script agency in the international film industry, which can bridge the gap between UK writers and Hollywood studios.

The event begins with networking at the Mockingbird Theatre bar at 6.30pm, and the talks and film screening will begin at 7pm in the cinema there. The event will not be ticketed but guests are encouraged to email Ian Kennedy to let him know about their attendance. For any enquiries or further information, contact Ian on ian@iqkennedy.co.uk.

Taking Time promotional still. Starring Denny Hodge. Directed by Gabe Crozier.

FURTHER INFORMATION

SCREENWRITERS FORUM was founded in 2007 to provide a cohesive voice for established professional writers for TV, film and videogames based in the West Midlands of the UK. It holds regular meetings and hosts industry guests. Further information at screenwritersforum.org

TAKING TIME: Director Gabe Crozier had an idea for an experimental film that would consist of a group of writers all contributing a minute’s worth of screen time to take a central character on a journey. He believes that narrative film is a wonderful place to take a story anywhere and do things the way “Edward” would do them – “in his own way, in his own world and in his own time…”. There were no rules or guides for this short film, which explores – perhaps – a day in a life that is drawing to the end of its time. Screenwriters Forum members were invited to invent a minute of script each within that format, and the results have been woven together to create this film. The contributing writers are Andy Conway, William Gallagher, Liz John, Mark Brendan and Nicola Jones, with additional material and editing by Ian Kennedy. The result is an everyday tale of man out of his time wandering through a Birmingham landscape of past and present – a culmination of creative input and ideas, sights and sounds.

Screenwriters’ Forum Chair Ian Kennedy

IAN KENNEDY has been a professional writer since 2004 and has had 135 episodes of BBC drama produced as well as providing over 100 script reports for WriteMovies, SCRIPT and others; his website and blog of advice for writers can be found at iqkennedy.co.uk. Ian also runs ongoing Creative Writing courses across Birmingham and runs Friendly Creatives, a company providing dynamic websites, videos and creative services for local businesses and creative professionals. Ian was made Screenwriters’ Forum Chair in 2015.

THE MOCKINGBIRD THEATRE is in the heart of Birmingham’s creative quarter and provides a wide range of screenings, events and networking as well as a bar and kitchen. Find out more about the Mockingbird here: http://mockingbirdtheatre.com/about/

Director Gabe Crozier

GABE CROZIER is a Birmingham-based filmmaker and creative who for his day job works in broadcast and commercial productions. He has a love of and desire to make films like TAKING TIME which bring together the minds of creative talents.

FIRST ACT WORKSHOPS run sessions that give young people acting experience. First Act Workshops are run by Ross Berkeley Simpson who has wideranging industry credits. Find out more here: www.firstactworkshops.co.uk