Author: Alton Williams

The 2008 list of the films that most deserve distribution has just been published by our friends at www.indiewire.com

See how 250 Amerian film critics voted on the Top Undistributed Films of 2008 . Some great films on this list, some of which played Raindance.

Want to read some great reviews of films from 2008? Screen International has a collection of over 300 reviews of the best movies of 2008

What’s the favourite film you saw at a festival this year that you deem worthy of distribution? Let me know at live@raindance.co.uk

On Tuesday 13 January from 6:30 – 9pm, come and meet the instructors and tutors of Raindance in an informal session. Bring your questions and aspirations.
See shooting and lighting demonstrations, mini-lectures and Q&A’s by the team that has taught some of the finest British filmmakers including Guy Ritchie and Christopher Nolan.

It’s a free event, but you need to let the new courses director Xavier Rashid know if you want a place. His email is xavier@raindance.co.uk Just write Open House in teh subject line.

These are all movies that Steph saw in 2008; some of them may have been released elsewhere in 2007, or may not be released in the UK until 2009.

She’s picked her Top Ten.

Agree? Disagree? Send us your own list.

Looking for a unique bit of film training that only costs a tenner?

Why not consider the 99 MINUTE FILM SCHOOL – a lightning quick tour backstage of the film industry with Raindance founder Elliot Grove.

…fantastic… Lynn Willis, Toronto filmmaker
…didn’t know when to stop laughing, or keep writing… Liam Garvin, London wannabee filmmaker
…haven’t had so much fun and learned so much in years…Harry Welcome, Derry screenwriter

When? Thursday 15 January 6:30 – 9pm Where? Central London
How much? £10.00 This event is FREE to members of Raindance

Call 0207 287 3833 to register of Book Online Here
www.raindance.co.uk
We don’t teach filmmaking. We make filmmakers.

Steph’s list of films you may not have seen but really should…

Bukowski: Born Into This
After screening at a few festivals and at London’s ICA for a couple of weeks this insightful and affecting documentary seemed to disappear without anyone taking much notice. As a fan of Bukowski I had been looking forward to seeing this and wasn’t disappointed. Highlights include Harry Dean Stanton reading my favourite poem, Bluebird. Lows include Bono being a complete twat, but that can easily be overlooked. For fans and the uninitiated alike, it’s hard not to be moved by this unflinching look at Bukowski’s life.

It’s currently available on region 1 DVD and according to amazon a region 2 is coming out in February 2009.

We have four basic certificate programmes starting in January.
Each course takes 5 nights and costs £165.00 + VAT.

All classes at Craven St Rehearsal Rooms next to Charing Cross Station

Filmmaker’s Foundation Certificate
5 Tuesdays from 20 Jan 6:30 – 9pm
Writer’s Foundation Certificate
5 Wednesdays from 21 Jan 6:30 – 9:30pm
Director’s Foundation Certificate
5 Thursdays from 22 Jan 6:30 – 9:30pm
Producer’s Foundation Certificate
5 Tuesdays from 24 Feb 6:30 – 9pm

Our courses outside London
Toronto: Starts Jan 28th Filmmakers Foundation
Munich Jan 31/Feb 1 Lo To No Budget Filmmaking
Paris Feb 5/6/7 John Truby’s 22 Step Masterclass

1) There Will Be Blood
I saw this film at the Berlin Film Festival with the entire cast present and was filled with expectations. Alas. For me it was the Emporers New Clothes. Which won’t make me too popular.

2) Julia
This too I saw at Berlin with the cast present. Snore. And it was a gala screening at LFF?

3) Mamma Mia
Saw this at my local Cineworld and it is Baaaad. But I still enjoyed it! Which won’t make me too popular, and will probably ruin whatever street cred I have left after dissing There Will Be Blood.

4) Burn After Reading. OK, now I have no street cred left. I’m sorry. I thought this movie was overbearing and boring. And I am a huge Cohen Bros fan.

5) It’s pretty cheesy and lame to knock someone else’s work, isnt it? Any films you thought were over rated in 2008? Send them to me at live@raindance.co.uk

Round 17 of Britain’s oldest and largest independent film festival opens for your films on January 1st.

Noted for some of the finest independent film programming in Europe, and described as ‘how Sundance used to be 15 years ago” Raindance prides itself for the unusual and the unexpected.

And last year, all but 2 of the 250 films came from open submissions.

Submissions open January 1st

We haven’t picked the movie yet, but when we do, it will be a good one, the admission will be free, and there will be cheap drinks.

This week, find out what its like to have someone show up just when you need them, with these buddy flicks.

‘Help‘ by Danny Spring, is a story
about Oscar and Calliope and their (sort of) forbidden love.

Liz Banks gives us ‘Hedgewitch‘ with school girls cruel enough to make a grown man cry, and a friendship warm enough to thaw the coldest heart.

‘Hank, Aaron, and the Alien from Outer Space‘ is Daniel Yost’s off-the-wall take on the buddy flick. Hank and Aaron are best mates that find an alien from outer space. If that isn’t worth checking out, I don’t know what is.

Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Bolt, Clive Bradley, Philippa Braithwaite, James Breese, Paul Brooks, Arabella Cecil, Mark Ezra, Julian Fellowes, Roland Gift, Richard Holmes, Nick Hornby, Vadim Jean, Kirk Jones, Emily Lloyd, Mark Mahon, Ken Marshall, Ben Millar, Chris Nolan, Alison Owen, Guy Ritchie, Tom Shankland, Charles Steele, Leslie Kenton, Ben Trebilcock, Matthew Vaughn, Jake West, Edgar Wright, David Yates, Toby Young are some of the people who have taken courses at Raindance.

Got something? Need something? Email us at live@raindance.co.uk

You don’t ask, you won’t get

“When the tide goes out you get to see who’s swimming naked.”

Warren Buffet

Want to get good at writing and directing? You need to get good at reading scripts. Learn from the masters!

Here are three scripts that all have a Raindance connection:

1. Sherlock Holmes – new Guy Ritchie movie (he took Raindance courses)
2. Nottingham – 2006 draft of the Riddly Scott movie, not due to be released til 2010. His Mill Films (with bro Tony) is around the corner from our office in Soho and every year at Raindance Film Festival we screen shorts made by runners from The Mill.
3. This Side of the Truth – script written by Ricky Gervais, due out 2009 – we’re trying to work out the connection with Raindance, but Ricky, like us, is British.

Want them? The scripts are free here.

Enjoy

Register at:SCREENPLAYBYPHONE.COM/ASKCHRIS
*And get a free MP3 Recording from HollywoodByPhone.com!

AT LAST, A PRODUCED SCREENWRITER SHOWS YOU HOW:

CHRIS SOTH, of MillionDollarScreenwriting.com, (WGA Member, USC MFA, Screenwriter of FIRESTORM and OUTRAGE) will host a LIVE 60-minute conference call taking ALL your questions on screenwriting, the industry, it’s future and —

HOW TO WRITE YOUR BEST SCREENPLAY EVER IN 2009!
Sunday, December 28th,
5:30 PM PACIFIC, 6:30 Mountain, 7:30 Central, 8:30 Eastern

Submit YOUR questions at: SCREENPLAYBYPHONE.COM/ASKCHRIS, we’ll get to the most asked questions on the call.

Register for the call here: SCREENPLAYBYPHONE.COM/ASKCHRIS, we’ll send you the call details —

RESERVE YOUR CLASS SPACE NOW!

Ever find those rejection letters grinding you down?

Here’s the Raindance deal: Send the letter to us and we wil instantly send you a Letter Of Acceptance to the Raindance Gallery of Rejection. And you will be in great company.

Send you letters here.
Visit the Raindance Gallery of Rejection

Over 600,000 people visited our website,
“the Raindance website is about the best organised websites around. Always full of fresh and vibrant information” …member of Raindance, name supplied on request

nearly 2 million people watched a movie on www.raindance.tv,
“probably the very best films of any festival in Europe”…Peter Belsito, Filmfinders

over 2,800 people attended a training event
“Raindance training is concise and to the point. Obviously, because these guys also know how to run a film festival and a terrific film awards” … Fred Carpenter, writer.director

the Raindance Film Festival box office went up 38.95%,
“Record breaking crowds, sold out screenings, live music, loud raucous parties and great films. This is what an independent film festival should be. Raindance has become what Sundance used to be fifteen years ago.”

and the British Independent Film Awards was, by every account, the best ever.
“Raindance founded the BIFA’s – a strange beast. They have all the glitz and celebrity shine of the big US ceremonies but somehow they remain credible.” – Little White Lies

We’d like to thank you for your support.

Best for 2009.

Yours

The Raindance Team
Elliot Grove and the Raindance Team:
Suzanne Ballantyne
Rory O’Donnell
Will Pearce
Joe Pearshouse
Xavier Rashid
Chris Thomas