Dance film is a thriving and exciting scene in the UK. Want to get involved? Here are some hints on how…
… Meeting People – Finding Equipment – Read All About It – Festivals & Screening Opportunities – Online Presence – Creating Opportunities … MEETING PEOPLE
If you are a choreographer or filmmaker looking for collaborators, there are a number of places you can advertise. FINDING EQUIPMENT
It’s worth checking with local authorities for colleges that might hire out their equipment. There are also some UK arts centres that offer support of various kinds (see Listings & Links). - In London, Artsadmin's Video Resource Facility offers artists a range of equipment for hire at very reasonable rates.
- Space Place. a charitable organisation, offers exceedingly good rates for their editing equipment, available for hire to community arts projects. They also have a number of good courses, listed on their website.
- Videoworks at The Place also have equipment that you can hire with editorial supervision.
For equipment hire in the UK outside London, call your regional media development agency. These are great resources for finding the best deal, and can probably offer you some extra advice too. Most of their websites are very informative and well worth a visit (Listings & Links). READ ALL ABOUT IT
Publications that list dance film or new film are good to check for any upcoming opportunities or deadlines, or to engage with discussion about what’s happening now. - filmwaves is a monthly magazine with a regular dance film article, and lots of information on low or no budget filmmaking. You can order back issues of the magazine online or by phone, with dance film articles and interviews by Cleo Williams.
- The Film Council have a pack of information on funding, which is free and available to anyone.
- And, of course, keep checking the Screen section of The Place Artist Development magazine, Juice.
For fuller information and discussion, books on the development of dance film and issues surrounding it include Dance on Screen: Genres and Media from Hollywood to Experimental Arts by Sherril Dodds, 2001 and Parallel Lines: Media Representation of Dance by Stephanie Jordan, 1993. Don’t forget all the available resources at London’s contemporary dance hub The Place. You can visit Artist Development and browse through the dance film sections of our library, use the Videoworks library, or book time in the London Contemporary Dance School library. They also have copies of past dance film articles from filmwaves for you to read. FESTIVALS AND OTHER SCREENING OPPORTUNITIES
There are a number of festivals dedicated to dance films. - Dance on Screen happens annually at The Place. DoS 2002 included international screenings; One Minute Wanders; an intensive masterclass; Rosemary Lee and Thierry de May on making dance film; and a new departure, Club 18/25, an evening of dance films, live video and DJs
- The Constellation Change Screen Dance Festival is also in London.
There are also a number of venues that have monthly screening nights. - In London, Cleo Williams organises dancefilmforum.
- In Glasgow, the Glasgow Media Access Centre host Café Flicker, monthly screenings for filmmakers in any medium
- In Brighton, Cinematheque host a bi-monthly, self-curating open reel night.
- It’s also worth contacting local arts cinemas to find out if they organise similar events.
For a full list of international dance film festivals, UK regional centres for dance film, and funding bodies, contact The Place Artist Development for a free copy of the Dance Film Factsheet. The Arts Council of England also has a list of film production companies who are interested in or working with dance, which you can download. See also Contacts & Events for more information and check the Britfilms site for a database of 500 international film festivals. AN ONLINE PRESENCE
As technology becomes more accessible, putting your work online is an increasingly attractive option. Hosting film online can give you great exposure, but be sure to shop around first. Here are some useful questions to ask potential service providers: - Is there a limit (due to bandwidth restrictions) to the number of people who can watch the film?
- Will viewers with different kinds of connection (modem, DSL etc.) and both Windows and Macintosh viewers all be able to watch the film online?
- Is it being published on a streaming media server (as opposed to a web server)?
This last question is important as streaming media prevents the viewer downloading your film, and thus prevents copyright violation, but it may be more expensive. Every six months, FW:Fwd selects around ten one-minute films and puts them on their website, as well as emailing them out to a mailing list. The films are currently seen by around 750 people a month and it’s a great way to gain exposure. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
Finally, don’t forget that you can do anything if you really want to! If there isn’t any dance film happening in your area, then make it happen: approach local cafes, clubs, theatres and galleries. Local film nights are becoming very popular, and are good for business. You may even be able to secure food and drink donations. Think creatively and be bold - it’s easier than you think.
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Compiled by Rajni Shah for Juice magazine, the magazine for dance artists and organisations published monthly by The Place Artist Development. Subscribe to Juice or ask about Artist Development’s free Dance Film Factsheet. |
