Sign up for a FREE Screening near YOU!

Well today is an exciting day for the team at Big Society The Musical!

Today our Producers travel to Bristol to present our Audience Engagement and Distribution strategy to Creative England, Film London and a panel of industry gurus who know Film Marketing and Distribution better than anyone.  (See our previous post on Audience on Demand for more info on what this presentation is all about)

Were very proud of the different and innovative ideas we have come up with and cannot wait to start sharing our plans with you – in the meantime though were very happy to tell you that you can now start signing up for a FREE Screening of the film in YOUR area!

All we need you to do it give us a few details for us to arrange these events and Hey Presto! next year a screening could be coming to a town near you. We promise never to spam you or send you annoying emails, we will only ever send important updates on this exciting production.

We really need as many of you as possible to sign up to the screenings because this is our way of getting the film out to the world – we want to distribute this film in exactly the same way that we produced it, with the COMMUNITY in mind. The more of you who sign up – the more evidence we can provide that people want to see a creative response to the cuts! This film may not necessarily appear in multiplexes or in huge showcase style cinemas but we can guarantee we will work hard to screen this film on pop-up, drive in and secret cinemas within your neighbourhood.

So – please head over to our Screenings page and tell us where you are so we can come and see you! http://www.first-take.org/screenings#/

Whilst you are there why not stop by our FORUM – a brand spanking new area that we shall be testing out over the coming weeks. A space which is designed to build up a debate community around the film and which hopefully will give you guys a platform to raise your own issues, meet others and together find a voice against the government cuts!

And Don’t forget – follow us on Twitter @BigSocietyFilm and ‘LIKE’ on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BigSocietythemusical

Big Society in the Big Smoke…

So it’s Audience on Demand Time again and were down here in London with the 12 other Producers invited by Film London to be representing the future of film distribution, exploring new models and methods of getting OUR films to YOU the audience.

Being Northerners, we are making the most of our time down here and setting up Breakfast Meetings (A new concept to us but basically its not all bagels and croissant’s its holding those exciting hook ups which you just can’t fit into the working day) and also evening networking with some great and wonderful potential partners and fellow creatives.

This morning before our course started we met over a cup of coffee with the totally inspiring and motivating Marcus Markou, who currently holds the highest screen average this year for a cinema screening of his film Papadopoulos and Sons – the latest self distributed British success story. Marcus shared some insights into his journey of getting the Greek community behind his film and the cinemas to book it – were very excited to be considering a similar model to Marcus and will share more in the coming months.

Today on the course we have heard from Tyrone – owner of London’s only true 5 screen indie cinema – Genesis – about how he calcuates booking indie films vs studio releases, up next was VUE Cinema Booker Jessica Smith who gave us an insight into the calculations of Hold Over’s, Scheduling and why they may not take an Indie film in certain areas.

Now were about to hear from Wendy Mitchell, editor of Screen International on how to build a perfect Festival Strategy…. Remember to follow us on Twitter #audienceondemand @BigSocietyFIlm and @Film_London for our tweet tips from the course.

Tonight’s early evening meeting will be with music producer, singer/songwriter and front man of the socially challenging band KYSHERA. The group boast a number 1 single for 5 weeks in Canada, have airplay on Radio 1, are distributed by Universal and who sport a rather similar lip stick to us… check them out here. They describe their music as a platform for spreading an important message and were hoping to talk about how together – we can make that message heard, as a creative response to the UK Government spending cuts! Watch this space!

Tomorrow see’s us hosting breakfast meetings with the amazingly talent Olivier Kaempfer, a Microwave producer about to launch a whole new distribution model for his film Borrowed Time, plus speed dates with BFI, DIstrify and many others were excited for the rest of our time down here.

 Dont Forget…. for more info ‘Like’ us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bigsocietythemusical

www.first-take.org/bigsocietythemusical 

@BigSocietyFilm

Share the Trailer: http://vimeo.com/47942994

 

Big Society The Musical…Gives Back!

Well a little over a month ago we held our private cast and crew screening of the film for all the wonderful people who were involved. Courtesy of our screening partner Liverpool Screen School, Liverpool John Moore University, a packed 350 seater cinema played host to the first ever screening of the films rough cut. It was an amazing evening with laughter, tears and of course singing!

The event was held to thank each and every person involved in the production for their efforts, locations, time and talent which created this unique film. Over 300 local people, writers, actors, dancers, singers and amazing people from our communities came together and worked in their spare time and days off over a period of two years to pull this film together. We have been supported by many organisations throughout Liverpool but what makes the film special is that everyone involved volunteered their time because they believe in the project.

However, sadly, there were a few people who couldn’t be with us at that screening and we wanted to do something special to thank them for their personal contribution to the film. The attendees of the screening all chipped together to raise just under £200 for the Chics Liverpool Charity – a Northwest UK based children’s cancer charity providing information and support to children and their families that are affected by cancer.

By making that kind donation our cast, crew and sponsors all proved (in a time when things are tight for all of us) that nothing is stronger than true community spirit. That’s OUR Big Society….

Thank You to all the wonderful people who make this project what it is!

 

The Cleggy Song…

Our last blog post alerted you all to our Lyrics and Music competition which we are running until August.

Our fantastic supporters have been submitting their entries from across the globe but we just had to share this brilliant entry from Andrew Hunt, entitled simply…The Cleggy Song!

The Cleggy song:

(melodic guitar)
And now…the end is near…and so I face…
the final curtain… I can’t…My mind’s not clear…
I have to say… I’m so uncertain…
my job… it is now gone..
I’m beached upon the highway
so now… I face facts…
of doing it his way!

=punk guitar=

regrets…. there are a few
but then again to few to mention
I did, what he told me to,
I saw it through, to my corruption,
but then I felt the cut
he kicked my gut
along the highway
But much, much more than this,
he kicked me his way!

There were times,
I thought they knew,
my words were wee and far to few
for that bloody path, that I did take,
it looked so good, but it was fake,
the shadows grow
My face is Po,
I did it… his WAY!

The cold and bitter snake
I’ve had my fill of his opinion
And now, the tears subside,
I find it all un-amusing
to think I conned them all
and may I say, not in a trite way
Oh no… oh no not me…
I did it his way!

I am a prat what have I got?
I wear ukip hats and quite a lot
I soil things, that I can’t feel
and the words are so unreal
The beggers show!
My guilt just grows!
Coz I did it his way!

C-adh2013

Lets Get Lyrical!

Our Music competition has been receiving some fantastic entries so far but if you cant play the guitar or hold a note don’t worry… You can still get involved!

Simply pick your favorite song title or lyric and make it relevant to the current political, economic or social climate!

The best ones will get shared via our social media, here are some of our examples to get you going….

Don’t cut me baby…

I will always owe you…

Is this the real life… Is this just Tory fantasy…caught in a recession no escape from reality!

Go crazy guys!

For more info on how you can get your music distributed see our previous post

Tweet us at @BigSocietyFilm or post on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bigsocietythemusical

For more info and to view the trailer visit:

http://www.first-take.org/bigsocietythemusical.

Audience on Demand!

Today the Producers are off to Sheffield for the second instalment of our Film London, Creative England and Creative Skillset funded course Audience on Demand.

Big Society The Musical was chosen as one of a handful of new productions to receive an intensive fast track distribution mentorship with the aim of helping British films engage with audiences in new and exciting ways.

We’re really made up about this award as its great to receive industry support for a film which has, to date, been delivered solely through community collaboration and hard graft.

So… Today’s course sees us meeting with the teams from Sound It Out, Weekend and Borrowed Time hearing how they have tackled the changing landscape of film distribution and have moved outside the cinema to reach their audiences.

We will also be having a one2one session with the guys from FilmTiki, a professional film Marketing agency who work with big studios on how to get you guys, the audience, watching their films! We’re excited to have their input on things like our Silent Protest Gallery and our Regional Screenings model! Head to our website over the coming weeks to find out more about our plans!

Finally as part of this scheme were also lucky enough to get to spend time with the amazing Producer of Age of Stupid, Lizzie Gillett. Last week we chatted with her about all our ideas for the roll out of the film and she gave us some unique tips from her experience which includes hosting a global simultaneous zero carbon satellite premiere of their film which stars the late great Pete Posthlethwaite see more here

Exciting times guys and don’t forget – follow us on Twitter @BigSocietyFilm and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BigSocietythemusical as we shall be sharing bite sized tips from the course for all you filmmakers out there!

Get Involved…

@producerjenny is working away inviting press to #BigSocietyStunt – Be part of LiverpoolsMusicalProtest against cuts: http://ow.ly/lJrOl

Big Society Stunt

Big Society Stunt

 

 

First Take and Big Society The Musical want YOU to get involved in a unique flash mob stunt taking place on 18th June at the Echo Arena. For more info and to sign up please follow the link: http://bigsocietystunt.eventbrite.co.uk/

 

Share and be part of something BIG!

Get YOUR music distributed!

Want to get YOUR songs distributed internationally as part of a brand new musical feature film? Then submit your video’s for the chance to win one of 5 special feature segments alongside the release of Big Society The Musical. Every entry submitted will be shared on our social media and websites creating a whole new audience for YOUR music!

 

What do you have to do? Producer Jennifer Monks explains more: “Whether you are a singer/songwriter, a band or a bedroom rapper – We want you to record a simple video with a song based around how the recession has affected you, how the cuts have hurt you and your family or maybe just how angry you are at the state of the economy. However you feel – upload your song to YouTube where we can then share your music with the films audience.”

 

The best 5 videos will be included in the films Special Features section upon general release. Winners will be announced at the end of August 2013 and the videos will be judged upon lyrical content, creativity and boldness.

 

If you don’t play an instrument don’t worry – just pick your favorite song title or lyric and make it politcal, the best ones will get shared via our social media….eg Don’t cut me baby…

To submit your video please upload to YouTube and email the link to all@first-take.org. You can also tweet it to @BigSocietyFilm or post it on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bigsocietythemusical

For more info and to view the trailer:

www.first-take.org/bigsocietythemusical.

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/bigsocietythemusical

Twitter follow @BigSocietyFilm @firsttakenews #BigSocietythemusical

 

 

 

Were Blogging…..

Well everyone were very excited to announce our new BLOG! The place where you will get  to know about all things BIG SOCIETY THE MUSICAL… first! We will be posting on things we think you should know about, from protests to events, from screenings to flash mobs! Most of all we want this space to be something where we can voice YOUR experiences, your issues, your protests… BIg Society The Musical is our response to the cuts – tell us yours!

Get Involved!

For more info:

www.first-take.org/bigsocietythemusical.

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/bigsocietythemusical

Twitter follow @BigSocietyFilm @firsttakenews #BigSocietythemusical