This lively seminar explores all angles of the film-producing process, for both short films and features, giving you a well-rounded overview of what it takes to be a professional producer.
During the course, you’ll learn how to develop an idea, work with writers and directors, build the right team, secure finance, identify the right potential audience and steward a film from idea to screen. The day aims to answer that elusive question: what exactly does a film producer do? And how could you do the same?
Our panel of world-class expert speakers includes Ken Loach’s long-term producer Rebecca O’Brien (The Wind that Shakes the Barley; Jimmy’s Hall), Oscar-winning producer Gareth Ellis-Unwin (The King’s Speech; Exam; Kajaki), Oscar- and Bafta-nominated producer Finola Dwyer (An Education; Brooklyn), and acclaimed producer David Livingstone (Pride), with the event curated and hosted by leading film journalist and critic Dave Calhoun (Time Out).
This course is for you if…
- You’re an aspiring film producer, director or writer who wants to understand more of the role of the producer in the film industry
- You’re an aspiring film producer, either of short films or features, who wishes to learn tricks of the trade from those with many years of experience in the film industry
- You’re an aspiring film producer who wants to learn how best to develop your own skills
- You’re a curious film lover who wishes to learn more about the art and business of film producing
Course description
This one-day seminar explores all angles of the film producing process, for both short films and features. It comprises in-depth interviews and talks from some of the UK’s leading film producers, with plenty of time for Q&A. Scheduled sessions include:
- An in-depth talk and interview with Rebecca O’Brien – one of the UK’s most celebrated independent producers – on the role of the producer in the filmmaking process and on working for more than 25 years with Ken Loach, one of the country’s top filmmakers
- In-depth interview and Q&A session with leading producer Gareth Ellis-Unwin, offering practical advice on developing stories for the screen, finding the right team and financial support, working out who your potential audience is and shepherding a film project from idea to screen
Tutor profiles
Rebecca O’Brien is a producer who has made 13 films with director Ken Loach, including Hidden Agenda, The Wind the Shakes the Barley, My Name is Joe and Jimmy’s Hall. In 2002 they formed Sixteen Films. In addition to films with Loach and the writer Paul Lavery, Rebecca also produced the Bean movie for Working Title, Princesa for Parallax Pictures and has executive-produced for Camilla Bray, Ian Knox and Henrique Goldman. She has sat on various film industry boards including PACT, the UK Film Council and South West Screen. Rebecca is currently a member of the Film Industry Training Board, the British Screen Advisory Council and the Board of the European Film Academy.
Gareth Ellis-Unwin is a British film producer best known for producing The King’s Speech, which won Best Picture at the 2011 Academy Awards. He has since produced Zaytoun and executive-produced the 2014 film Kajaki. Gareth started out in the film industry as an assistant director and production manager. His first feature as producer was Exam, which was nominated for a Bafta. He is currently producing The Lady Who Went Too Far by David Seidler, the writer behind The King’s Speech.
Finola Dwyer is an Oscar and Bafta-nominated film producer whose credits as producer include the feature films An Education, Quartet, Severance and Backbeat. Her most recent film, Brooklyn, adapted by Nick Hornby from a Colm Toibin novel and directed by John Crowley, had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
David Livingstone recently produced the hit British feature film Pride and was formerly President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution at both Universal Pictures international and Working Title Films. Here he worked on over 100 films, including Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones Diary, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,Four Weddings and a Funeral, Trainspotting, Billy Elliot, Elizabeth, United 93, Johnny English, Bean and The Usual Suspects. He has now moved into film production, and Pride is his first feature film.
Dave Calhoun is the global film editor at Time Out London. He has written on film for publications including the Guardian, the Observer, The Times and Sight & Sound. He regularly broadcasts on Sky TV and BBC Radio and TV, and hosts film events at cinemas across London for public, BAFTA and AMPAS audiences. He was previously deputy editor of Dazed & Confused magazine.
Details
Date: Sunday 12 April 2015
Times: 10am-4pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £129 (includes VAT, booking fee, lunch and refreshments)
Event capacity: 100
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
