The BBC today launched New Music Shorts 2007 – an initiative offering aspiring filmmakers a £5,000 budget to make a music-based short film with a professional production company and have it premiered at the BBC Electric Proms festival in October.
BBC Electric Proms, BBC Film Network and BBC New Talent are inviting budding filmmakers to visit bbc.co.uk/newtalent and submit ideas for “shorts” that either use or are inspired by music contributed by four leading independent record labels.
The idea for the new music short could be anything from a music promo or moving image visuals to a drama or documentary. The filmmakers with the most innovative ideas will receive up to £5,000 to make their film under guidance from Warp Films and the shorts will be premiered at the opening day of the BBC Electric Proms on 24 October.
Warp Records, Ninja Tune, Domino and 679 Recordings have provided new tracks from artists including The Earlies, Wiley, James Yorkston and the Athletes and Gravenhurst. The same four labels provided tracks for the competition last year and were so pleased with the initiative’s success that they have contributed exclusive tracks again this year. These are:
* The Earlies – Bad Is As Bad Does (679 Recordings)
* King Creosote – Twin Tub Twin (679 Recordings)
* Wiley – Slippin (Ninja Tune/Big Dada)
* Cinematic Orchestra – Breathe (Ninja Tune)
* James Yorkston and the Athletes – The Lang Toun (Domino)
* Lightspeed Champion – Dry Lips (Domino)
* Gravenhurst – Farewell Farewell (Warp Records)
Last year, five commissions were selected and premiered at the BBC Electric Proms. The winners’ films are available online at bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/newmusicshorts2006.
BBC Electric Proms Festival Director, Lorna Clarke, said: “Last year’s New Music Shorts was a great success and I’m delighted to announce that the BBC Electric Proms is supporting the initiative again this year. The BBC has unparalleled links with new film talent and the BBC New Music Shorts programme will develop and build on that heritage.”
Following the successful inaugural festival, BBC Electric Proms 2007 will take place from 24 to 28 October. The event will be broadcast across BBC television, radio, online and via the red button for digital viewers.
For further details and to enter, visit bbc.co.uk/newtalent or call 08700 10 60 60. The closing date for entries is 1 June, 2007.