Dear <<First Name>>
This month Raising Films marks a significant milestone - it's our FIVE year anniversary...
As we reflect on what's shifted, changed and improved over those five years we remain focused on the work that still needs to be done for parents and carers working in our industry and how Raising Films can be best placed to help steer and guide that work.
With that in mind Raising Films would like to encourage you to look forward, to a future that could and should work better for all of us. Share your future visions for a better film and TV industry through our #RaisingOurFutures initiative. All the info and links below.
Raise a glass/mug to five years of Raising Films and don't forget to register with EasyFundraising to help us on our way - more info below.
Until next month...
The Raising Films team
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Raising Our Futures
Encouraging the film and TV sector to imagine a better working environment
When the current coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is over what will the film and TV landscape look like? Raising Films wants to help answer this question by calling for ideas that imagine a better future for the film and TV sector, and for the people that work within it.
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"I implore Future Us to be more inclusive, more international, and more impacting. Our industry has long thrived on a country club style of thinking that is built around exclusivity, and that just isn’t representative of most of the stories we are telling and that need to be told."
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Ideas are requested from across all departments and across the whole screen industry, from production to broadcast and from development through to distribution and exhibition. Our collective voice is vital because when the future arrives, and it will, we need to be prepared not just to return to ‘normal’, or to accept the imposition of worse conditions.
Raising Films remains focused on building a future of fair pay, fair hours and fair practices that the organisation has been working towards for a long time. We have to, not just because of the pandemic; but it has made all the challenges and problems our community shares with all workers more apparent.
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"For women to be able to continue to work in the film and TV industry if they have a family. There's a reason there are so few female writers and directors and more should be done to accommodate the balance of their working lives."
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SUPPORT RAISING FILMS
Raising Films is registered with EasyFundraising. If you set up a profile with EasyFundraising everytime you buy something online from over 4,000 shops and sites Raising Films will receive a small donation from the retailer. It costs you nothing!
EasyFundraising is currently running a Refer to Win competition so Raising Films could WIN a £500 donation if you sign-up to EasyFundraising before the deadline of 19 May.
Every person who signs up via the link below will give Raising Films an entry into the competition.
Signing up only takes a moment and it's completely free, so please get involved if you can. Think of it as a birthday present to us...!
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Online Courses
How Job-Sharing Can Support Your Mental Health
Date tbc
Michelle Reynolds, co-director of Share My Telly Job, is leading on this ScreenSkills online course. Topics covered include:
- What is job-sharing
- The benefits of job-sharing
- How job-sharing can help you maintain a balanced, healthy way of life
- How your personal circumstances don't necessarily have to exclude you from a job in TV
You'll need to sign-in or register with ScreenSkills in order to register your interest.
ScreenSkills is also running two other returning to work online courses. Click on the titles for more info.
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Opportunities to show your work
Feminista Film Festival and Tour
Feminista is looking for inspiring docs about women/girls. Submissions can be any length and the filmmaker can be any gender. The deadline for submissions is 19 June and Feminista has kindly offered Raising Films subscribers a fee waiver. So submit for free using code: FFF2020RaisingFilms
Grierson Awards
The Grierson Trust has opened entries for the annual British Documentary Awards. This year the Trust is asking entries to expand on how diversity and inclusion practices have been embedded in the making of films or series submitted to the awards.
Juries will be looking for evidence of effort to include under-represented groups both on-screen and behind the scenes, plus any narratives and themes around diversity and inclusion.
The window of eligibility is from 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020. The deadline for entries is Friday 29 May 2020.
Are you a director? Are you owed money!?
Directors UK is opening up their collecting services for all directors - not just Directors UK members. Here's a list of directors who they have funds waiting for.
The 'Working Parent Shift' research project needs your input
Hult International Business School is leading on this project that aims to explore the psychological challenges and experiences of parents returning to work after parental leave.
Lead researcher Dr. Carina Paine Schofield explains, "We know that making the shift from worker to working parent is challenging at the best of times. We are currently in the worst of times - as a pandemic has turned family life on its head. Working parents are navigating school closures, remote working and social isolation. Who are we? Can we be workers, parents and teachers?"
Ultimately the project will offer details of what a quality return to work program would look like and is specifically investigating the impact, in an organisational context, on the following:
- sense of self and identity
- self-efficacy
- future work self
The research aims to provide recommendations and practical changes that organisations and individuals can make to address the negative psychological impact that goes beyond flexible working practices, to ensure that working parents feel supported and organisations retain motivated employees. Ultimately the project will offer details of what a quality return to work program would look like.
Dr. Carina Paine Schofield is keen to ask working parents in film and TV how you are feeling. You can complete the questionnaire via the button below. We estimate it will take around 10 minutes and thank you in advance for taking the time.
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SOURCES OF INFO/SUPPORT
We've highlighted a handful here and also linked to the very brilliant list compiled by the also brilliant Wendy Mitchell for Screen Daily - access the list via the button below. Wendy is updating regularly so you might want to bookmark the article.
Financial Advice from the Film and TV Charity
BECTU's COVID-19 advice for members, including information for freelancers working in film and TV and workers in theatre, live events and the arts.
The BFI's Q&A on Covid19 to help answer some of the UK screen sectors most pressing questions about the impact of the virus.
Coronavirus: Advice for Directors UK members
The Creative Industries Federation has compiled a list of general and legal advice, mental health and holistic support, tips on working from home and some stress relievers.
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