Dear Levi
It's 2020 - what the h*ll? As ever we thank you for opening this message and for all your support and retweets and comments and mentions and contributions. You are the collective strength to our elbow.
This month we're easing in gently, with lots going on behind the scenes plus we're making plans for how to celebrate a significant anniversary... Back in 2015 Raising Films was birthed into the world with the aim to support parents and carers working in the UK screen industries. More news about our plans for continuing and building on our existing work will follow in the coming months, you'll read all about those plans here in the newsletter and of course we'll be sharing and shouting about them on social too.
If all goes to plan it's going to be a great year, in the meantime here's your January news from Raising Films!
Until next month...
The Raising Films team
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New documentary on motherhood looking for contributors
One of our founders, director Hope Dickson Leach, and Passion Pictures are making a documentary about the life-change experience of motherhood. They would like to talk to mothers who found birth or the arrival of motherhood traumatic and struggled to find themselves in their postpartum lives. They are looking to hear from both those who have managed to overcome this struggle, and those who are still in the middle of it.
Why are so many of us unprepared for the experience, despite the fact this is something that has been going on since the beginning of humanity?
If this sound interesting to you and you’d like to share your story please get in touch with the production via email. And of course please share with your friends, networks, contacts as appropriate.
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Two heads can be better than one
At Raising Films HQ we're putting the final touches together on a new online resource all about job sharing. We'll be pressing the publish button very soon and we're aiming for the resource to provide an initial low-down on support and suggestions and to grow over time with additional resources and signposting. As ever, we're keen to hear your experiences, whether they be good or not-so-good. So if you have something you'd like to share please use the button below to send an email. And if you'd like us to we can keep your contribution anonymous too...
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That's a wrap on Making It Possible
With support from ScreenSkills we ran the third iteration of our popular Making It Possible personal and career development days at the end of 2019. They took place in London, Leeds, Cardiff and, for the first time, online. Within its structure Making It Possible examines the things that might hold us back (see image) and then develops strategies and tactics to overcome these blockages and move on. One of the aspects we have tried to develop through Making It Possible is fostering a supportive group and facilitating open sharing. Participants are assigned a buddy to work together on key aspects of the sessions and to connect with each other around the official sessions. A series of follow-up group calls allowed people to check-in with each other and with our Making It Possible lead tutor Blaire Palmer about challenges, progression and successes.
A huge thank you to our Making It Possible 2019 participants for their energy and commitment, and, for their feedback...
"It has made me feel more positive, more driven and put me in touch with other people that I can support and can support me too."
"Blaire was amazing with her insights and calm, positive energy."
"Listening to the others' stories of struggle and triumph was very empowering. And to learn that we all suffer from the exact same self-doubts and negative inner voice was a revelation."
"The 'buddies' I made during the session and their encouragement and ongoing support are the best thing I will take from this session."
We're currently planning for further iterations of Making It Possible - watch this space!
Making It Possible 2019 was supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the British Film Institute (BFI) as part of the Future Film Skills programme. Raising Films acknowledges in-kind support from Directors UK, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Film Fixers and Screen Yorkshire.
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NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES
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Family-friendly services at Berlinale
The Berlinale (running from Thursday 20 February to Sunday 1 March) has announced its Berlinale Kids Package and Berlinale Kindergarten, open for accredited professionals of the festival and market who require onsite childcare. These services have been made possible in cooperation with Parenting at Film Festivals, following the success of The Red Balloon creches in Cannes and San Sebastián. To register, please email Berlinale directly and hurry, places are filling up!
Parenting At Film Festivals call-out for support
Parenting at Film Festivals is also seeking financial support for its other main creches at Cannes and San Sebastían. Expressions of interest for the various Partnerships Packages available can be sent directly to the Parenting at Film Festivals email.
And if the new year is looking busy with festivals and trips to film markets you might want to think about joining the Parenting at Film Festivals community. To do that please request to join the dedicated WhatsApp group or request access to the Facebook group. (When joining please be sure to provide your email address and the right for Parenting at Film Festivals to send you communications.)
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Pregnant Then Screwed LIVE
This amazing event takes place on Saturday 1 February at Conway Hall in London. As usual it brings together some of the funniest, most inspirational women to help you rediscover what makes you tick, empower you in your life and inspire you out in the world. You’ll hear from Hollie McNish, Zelda Perkins, Jen Brister, The Crafty Fox, Dope Black Mums, Roshni Goyate, Kathryn Wallace, with the hilarious Sindhu Vee hosting on the day. Other speakers still to be announced too!
AND for the first time Pregnant Then Screwed LIVE will be happening in York on Sunday 15 March with a special focus on returning to work after a career break. Tickets can be grabbed here.
Femspectives 2020
The full programme for Femspectives 2020 - Glasgow Feminist Film Festival is now available online! The festival takes place between Thursday 20 and Sunday 23 February at Civic House, Glasgow. There will be film screenings, open forum discussions and special events, all celebrating feminist storytelling and encouraging conversations about feminisms, social issues, and politics.
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THE WATCH
The Circle returns
Season Two of this roundtable series that brings together a dynamic group of British Black and Asian practitioners across TV, film, streaming and audio returns. They discuss their journeys and their creative processes, their highs and lows and their ideas for the future. As well as featuring episodes covering Writers and Showrunners, Producers and Development, Directors and Filmmakers, Actors and Actresses, and Production Team and Post, there will be brand new Commissioners episodes, covering the misconceptions of being in a role where so much is expected of you.
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THE LISTEN
Is This Working
During one of those few blissful hours of peace and quiet over the holidays we stumbled out of an Instagram hole and upon this podcast, hosted by journalist Anna Codrea-Rado and writer Tiffany Philippou.
Each week they challenge conventional views about work by taking on topics like mental health, productivity, office culture and even what the modern way of working means for our relationships. Take a listen and we hope you enjoy!
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