Month: October 2011

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Film Online Talk Twitter

Talk at Dundee Discovery Film Festival

http://www.getambition.com/2010/10/webinar-6-now-youre-talking/

Last week was a bit of a busy one around these parts, meaning I didn’t have time to mention the talk I gave at the Discovery Film Festival on Saturday 22 October, held at Dundee’s DCA.

As part of a workshop entitled From Tweets To Blogs: Online Film Writing, I offered some of my thoughts on film reviewing today and the role of the blogger/film journalist to an audience of young film fans.

With anyone now able to set up a blog and start telling the world their views on the latest movies, I strongly believe there are some basics that everyone should at least attempt to heed if they want to appear semi-professional to their readers. Having a wide frame of reference and not simply discussing the latest Hollywood movies were two of the points I offered up, as well as advising them to enjoy what they’re doing.

Writing this post also reminded me that it’s been a year since my AmbITion talk was put online. I discussed how arts organisations can use social media to help promote themselves and the tone of voice required for online audiences – click through on the image below for the full talk.

Online seminar

Categories
Film

BAFTA Scotland 2011 jury member

Today saw the announcement of the nominations for the British Acadamy Scotland Awards 2011, celebrating the best in Scottish film, television and gaming talent.

I recently accepted an invitation to become a member of the BAFTA Scotland jury deliberating the Feature Film category, which now includes Peter Mullan’s NEDS, Morag McKinnon’s Donkeys and David Mackenzie’s Perfect Sense.

As the awards aren’t announced until Sunday 13 November I can’t say much more about the process or the nominess, except that it’s been an exciting few months being part of the BAFTA Scotland deliberations.

I’m as intrigued as everyone else to see who wins on the night and wish everyone the best of luck.

Categories
Facebook Filming Online

Screen Machine behind-the-scenes videos

Last week saw the second of my new Screen Machine videos go live on Vimeo, both of them filmed recently on Arran during the cinemas visit.

The brief here was to both interview senior operator, Iain MacColl, about his work on the cinema and to show how Screen Machine is set up, a question often asked by the 25,000 visitors who attend each year.

Both videos have had a positive response, mainly on Facebook from some of our 2,000+ followers. Let me know what you think.

Categories
Facebook Film Online Twitter

Screen Machine + classic films = success Galore

Whisky Galore

Back in July I wrote about some of my work with Scotland’s mobile cinema, The Screen Machine, which sees me managing the Machine’s social media presence and PR. With the promotion of an upcoming tour of 1940s film, Whisky Galore, the cinema is back in the news again.

We may have over 2000 Facebook fans and a growing Twitter presence, but nothing beats the traditional press release to generate some buzz around a project, particularly one as exciting as Screen Machine taking Whisky Galore back to Barra, where it was filmed in 1948.

Within a day we had news items on the BBC, STV and Stornoway Gazette websites, plus news items in the Daily Mail and other print publications. I also started some discussion on Twitter, inviting film fans to suggest other famous Scottish films that should be taken to locations around the country.

The response was fast and good fun, with some interesting ideas coming from all over the Twittersphere.

Screen Machine locations
Screen Machine locations

The buzz has continued over subsequent weeks, with a new competition recently added to the main website, offering a tour of the Scotch Whisky Experience and DVDs of the film.

Most importantly ticket sales are strong and the response from attendees positive, hopefully ensuring more special screenings in the coming year.

Listen to the BBC Film Programme’s trip to see Screen Machine on Barra on the BBC iPlayer.