The FIRST CUT 2009 Film Festival is fast approaching...!

We look forward to this new and exciting element of the FIRST CUT Film Project, where, on September 26^th 2009, 18 short films and 5 Animations made throughout 2009 by young people, aged 14 to 21, who participated in FIRST CUT workshops and summer schools will have their first public screening. This Festival, which takes place at County Hall, Cork, is organised by FIRST CUT Youth Film Project in association with Cork Film Centre and funded by The Arts Office of Cork County Council and South & East Cork Area Development, SECAD. The young filmmakers come from Youghal, Passage West, Glanmire, Carrigaline, Cobh,Ballincollig,Carrigtwohill, Togher, Douglas and Midleton.

FIRST CUT Youth Film Project in South and East Cork is now in its third year. During that time two successful and very enjoyable Gala Film Nights have taken place at County Hall, Cork. This expansion from Gala to Festival is due to the increased interest and involvement of young people in this film making project throughout the area.

This year young people from East and South of the Cork Harbour area will gather together to see their films on the big screen.

The Festival will be a lively, informative, creative and fun mix of short films, workshops, information for all.

The Festival Programme will kick off at 2 p.m. in the foyer of Cork County Hall. The inaugural FIRST CUT Festival will be officially opened by Mick Hannigan, Corona Cork Film Festival Director.

In the foyer itself Information Stands will be on view from St John’s College Film Department, The Gaiety School of Acting and animation filmmaker Jane Lee.

Each of the participating groups including youth projects, clubs and schools, who took part in the FIRST CUT 2009 Workshops will also have stands providing information on their groups, their roles and of course their films.

There will be an opportunity for everyone to mix and mingle and look at the information on offer at the Stalls and ask questions.

At 3pm there will be 3 Workshops available to all young filmmakers to choose from

• Fresh Film Festival
• Claire Dix a local, young writer/director of documentary TV, short fiction, animation and also an award winning director of music videos.
• Screen acting with the Gaiety School of Acting

More details on the content of these half hour workshops will be available shortly, meanwhile if you would like to tell us your preference we can set aside a place for you.

At 5.30pm the First Cut 2009 Films will be premiered on Floor 16.
Full Programme to follow.

We at FIRST CUT hope that this Festival adds to your enjoyment of, and interest in, film.

This event is free. For more information please contact:

MARY MC GRATH, FIRST CUT CO-ORDINATOR on 086 8139019

Summer Courses

Here are some fun photos from the two week-long First Cut! summer courses that took place in Midleton and Carrigaline over the past few weeks.

Thanks to all who participated!

First Cut! Story Competition Results

Young Writers (youth project/secondary school age) in the South and East Cork areas were invited to submit their short stories to the First Cut! Film Project with a view to the winning stories being adapted for the screen at the First Cut! Summer Film Week workshop this June. This short story competition is the first writer-oriented project that First Cut! has initiated.

The two stories selected are:

She Was Just A Girl (Robert McCarthy)
Henry and Zooey (Kieran Doyle)

The runners-up are:

Swap (Michael Coleman)
The Intruder (Shay Buckley)
Harsh Times (Clodagh Cotter)

They can be read at:

http://cfcfirstcutstory.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Writers!

Sweded TV

We've caught wind of a competition which might be of interest to FIRST CUT! participants:


"Want to make your own TV shows? Now’s the time! You could win the chance to make and star in your own episodes of Sweded TV with a professional TV crew at your disposal. Apply by filling in the form via RTE website or post it to: Sweded TV, Still Films, 8/9 South William Street, Dublin 2. The deadline is 6pm on Monday 1st June so DO IT RIGHT NOW."

"What’s Sweded TV all about?"

"Sweded TV is a series of short comic films made by teenagers. It’ll be shown on TTV this Autumn and on YouTube after that. “Sweding” means making funny cheap n’ cheerful versions of famous films. Sweding first became popular on YouTube and there are loads of home-made swedes to be seen there. Sweded TV is a series of short episodes, each sweding a popular TV show instead of a film. Have a look at some of the swedes from last year’s series. http://www.rte.ie/tv/ttv/swededtv//swededtv_av.html"

"How do I get involved?"

"Want to make your own version of The Hills or The Late Late Show? Feel like laughing about Neighbours or Sky News? Apply by filling in this form and telling us who you are and which 3 TV programmes you’d most like to swede. You can also grab our attention by uploading examples of your own short films or swedes. You will need to apply as a group. This could be a group of your friends, schoolmates, a sports team, a drama group or whatever else, as long as there are between 6 and 12 of you. You should be aged between 12 and 19 to take part. Only one of you needs to fill in the form, but please include names of everyone in the group."

"What will happen if I win?"

"If your group are selected, your group needs to be free for one week (between 22nd of June and 26th July 09) to plan and film your swedes with the Sweded TV team. You will make up to 3 swedes and they will be broadcast on TTV in Autumn this year. GET APPLYING NOW! GOOD LUCK"

First Draft Short Story Competition

SO WHAT IS THE 'FIRST DRAFT SHORT STORY COMPETITION?!

Young Writers (youth project/secondary school age) in the South and East Cork areas are invited to submit their short stories to the FIRST CUT Film Project!

You don't have to be a filmmaker... or even have any ambition of becoming one... but, if you have a short story (up to 500 words - two typed pages, or less) that you'd like to see made into a short film by young filmmakers participating in the FIRST CUT! Summer Film Week, send it in!

In addition to having your story adapted for the Summer Film Week screenplay - and getting prominently credited in the film! - the winning story and two runners-up will be published on the internet on a site linked to the Cork Film Centre and FIRST CUT! websites.

ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FRIDAY MAY 22nd, 2009

AND WHAT IS THE FIRST CUT SUMMER FILM WEEK?

It's a week long filmmaking course aimed at young filmmakers who have already done some FIRST CUT! training. It will take place in late June. Watch this space for more info coming soon!

WHAT SORT OF STORIES CAN BE SUBMITTED?

Keep in mind that the short film will be made over three days, with a cast and crew of mainly young people - and without a Hollywood budget! So keep it simple and achievable. Outside of that condition, any and all types of stories are welcome. Let your imagination run wild!

WILL THE WINNER HAVE ANY SAY IN THE WAY THE FILM IS MADE?

No. As in a professional movie production, the writer is only concerned with the story. While every effort will be made to respect the spirit of the story and convey its ideas as powerfully as possible, the filmmakers reserve the right to make any changes necessary in adapting it for the screen. The writer will not be consulted about changes.

His or her credit will read: "Adapted from an original story by..."

WHERE WILL THE FINISHED FILM BE SCREENED?

The film will be screened at Cork County Hall as part of the inaugural FIRST CUT FILM FESTIVAL in September 2009. More information on that event coming soon!

WHERE DO I SEND MY STORY?

To:

Cork Film Centre,
Civic Trust House,
50 Popes Quay,
Cork

or by email to:
info@corkfilmcentre.com.

The winners will be announced on the CFC website and on the FIRST CUT blog site on Friday June 5th, and will be notified by e-mail.

Workshops Completed

The 2009 cycle of two-day workshops is now complete!

A massive thank you to Cork Film Centre's team of tutors: Ciara, Jane, Sarah, Deirdre and Barry. Great work! And, of course, thanks to all who participated, young people and adult supervisors alike.

Watch this space for news on the First Cut! summer project and the gala screening this autumn!

Feedback from Cobh Youth Services Workshop Participants

"I did it the year before and it was good so I wanted to do it again. We acted and learned sound and camera work and how to direct. I liked all the fun we had and it was such a laugh"
Ricky Parker, 15.

"I wanted to experience what it would be like to do a film project. We learned how to use the cameras and made a film. Making the film was the best thing about the workshop, I would do it again."
Ann-Marie O Flaherty, 15.

"I did the film workshop because I like drama and I wanted to be involved in the production. I video recorded the scenes and played a part in one of the scenes and used the clapper board to say what scenes were on. I enjoyed being in the film the most because I like taking part in things like that. I would definitely do it again"
Jennifer O Connell, 15.

"I wanted to take part in the film workshop because I thought it wold be a good laugh and a good experience. I learned about cameras and how to act out scenes. We made a good laugh out of it and I would definitely do it again"
Nigel Murray, 17.

"I took part in the film workshop to see what it would be like and find out if I had any talent. We learned about acting and we were shown how to use the cameras. The entire experience was enjoyable, we never had a chance to do this before"
Rob Donachie, 18.