Do you define yourself as an artist or filmmaker? Is there a place for artists’ films in cinemas, and how do we position filmmakers’ works in galleries?

Last nights panel looked at these issues and explored the directions emerging filmmakers and artists may take to develop a successful artist film practice.

If you missed it catch up with the disscussion here on the live blog we wrote…

Katia Porter
Digital Reporter
@katiaporter
http://www.katiaporter.com

There was a lot of helpful advice dispensed at yesterdays panel discussion. Successful director Phil Hawkins chaired the session and a group of industry professionals talked about their experiences on becoming a freelance filmmaker. These included....

Mercedes Crescenti the funder of Mercedes Crescenti TV. She began her career as a runner at the BBC and graduated to head up production for the Current Affairs department, producing a wide range of programme, from BAFTA nominated documentaries to live broadcasts. Over the past few years, Mercedes has worked for independent companies shooting award-winning television commercials for multinational brands.

Richard Bodgers has composed and produced music for over 1000 commissions, including global TV and cinema ad campaigns for brands such as Bentley motors, Mercedes, Tomb raider and Hoover. He has also written original scores for computer games and films.

Paul Kondras a production designer and art director with a background in theatre.

And Ollie Pillon who is fairly new to the industry after graduating from Manchester Met two years ago. He's now an assistant director and editor after beginning his career as a runner.

Phil and the rest the group had recently worked on a Manchester-made feature film called Being Sold which is due to be released early next year. 

Everyone agreed that being a runner was a good way of getting into the industry. If you're eager to learn and can make yourself indispensable then you will hopefully progress. It's a great way to learn about the industry. An ability to drive is a useful skill to have as a runner. It's not a necessity but will make you more hireable.

Working on short films is a good way to acquire new skills and get your work out there quickly. If you can get your work shown in one of the many film festivals around the world then that's a good way of marketing yourself. There are also still avenues for funding, even in this financial climate.

Another great positive for being freelance is the freedom to do your own thing, up to a certain point. Everyone agreed that it can be a little daunting if a constant supply of work isn't flowing in. You just have to keep publicising yourself and be as proactive as possible and you will hopefully find more work.

The best piece of advice was to just go for it. If you have an idea, for a film or business, then you can make it happen. If you have the passion and the commitment to get into the film industry, give it a go. Be as confident as you can be and introduce yourself to other professionals. There is a lot going on, in and around Manchester for the freelance filmmaker in terms of projects and networking events and with MediaCityUK opening in the coming year the future seems bright for the freelance filmmaker.

And if that wasn't enough advice for you our Digital Reporter Dan Shannon caught up with Phil after the panel. They talked funding opportunites, the different routes into the industry and those all important characteristics you need to make it.

Rob Birchall
Digital Reporter

The festival starts tomorrow and do we have a line up of guests for you...and it's only the first day! Advance tickets are going really fast so make sure you get booking to guarantee a place. Throughout the festival we'll make sure we document as many events as we can via this blog, video and audio to give you a little taste of what happened if you miss out. But nothing beats being at the festival itself!

The day will start with Jo Combes, New Writing Development Manager at Writersroom for the BBC Writer's Workshop, who will help you develop your story skills through an informal and practical guide to narrative structure.

• Phil Hawkins directed his first short film when he was 13. Since that time, he has continued making shorts and promos regularly. It was through the experience of writing, directing and editing his own films, that he has honed his skills as a filmmaker. After writing and directing a short film for BBC Manchester, Phil fell into the commercials industry. He worked his way up the ladder from Runner to VT Op, Camera Assistant, 3rd Assistant Director, 1st AD and then Director. His first commercial won a Roses Advertising Award and his work since have won over ten advertising awards. His first feature THE WOMEN OF TROY won Best Director at the New York Independent Film Festival and his second feature, Philip Pullman's THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO, won Best Adaptation at the same festival in 2008 (and Phil won Best Director for the second time). Phil was also the only filmmaker from the UK to appear on Fox/Dreamworks reality television show "On The Lot" for filmmakers. Phil was personally selected by Steven Spielberg to appear on the show and was controversially voted off to the surprise of the show's producers, critics and fans!
  

• Richard Bodgers (Composer) has composed and produced music for over 1000  commissions, including global TV and cinema ad campaigns for brands such as Bentley motors, Mercedes, Tomb raider and Hoover. He has also written original scores for computer games (WORMS and TOMB RAIDER) and films TRIPLE EXPOSURE, SNAPS and THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO. During 1998/99, he was appointed Musical Director at Manchester's Library Theatre, where he composed original scores for ANGEL’S IN AMERICA and THE GLASS MENAGERIE. More recently, he has composed serious music for EMI and KPM music libraries and is

• Mercedes Crescenti is the funder of Mercedes Crescenti TV. Mercedes began her career as a runner at the BBC and graduated to head up production for the Current Affairs department, producing a wide range of programme, from BAFTA nominated documentaries to live broadcast including Panorama, Real Story, Liquid Assets and The One Show. Over the past few years, mercedes has worked for independent companies shooting award-winning companies shooting award winning television commercials for multinational brands 

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We will then welcome Alex Connock (Chief Executive, Ten Alps Plc); John Robb (Musician, Music Journalist, Broadcaster and Author); Liz Molyneux, (Academy Partner, BBC North and Nations) and Jon Corner (Director, MediaCityUK, University of Salford) for a panel chaired by award-winning broadcaster and journalist  Terry Christian. Creative North (at 18.30)  will explore what is shaping the creative landscape of the region and the opportunities it offers for aspiring creatives.

• As one of the UK’s leading media professionals, Jon Corner is responsible for delivering the University's unique 103,000 sq ft, teaching, research and business hub at MediaCityUK and for forming the commercial partnerships to enhance student experience and engagement with industry .Jon is the founded River Media, the highly successful Liverpool production house that has contributed films for the City’s European Capital of Culture and World Heritage Site bids. His knowledge and expertise spans broadcast, post-production, interactive and advertising. Jon is also Chair of the Liverpool Digital and Creative strategy committee and is a non-executive director of Liverpool vision.

• Liz Molyneux has been a film maker in Current Affairs and Factual TV throughout her career. She has worked mostly for the BBC though her credits include programmes for C4, ITV and Discovery. Liz's career started in the newsroom in Plymouth, she has inevitably spent time in London where she was Director of Development for the Specialist Factual and Editorial executive within the BBC Commissioning group but has spent a good deal of her life and career in Manchester.  Liz was Head of Network Current Affairs TV in Manchester and is now BBC Academy Partner North and Nations.

 We also have very special guests throughout the day as most of the filmmakers whose films were selected to be shown at the festival will be around. We can't wait to meet them and we hope you'll give their film a warm welcome!

Full programme can be found on the exposures website