Industry insight

Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

IS WOODY WOODPECKER P-P-P-Picking up a Placard? WILL THERE BE AN ANIMATORS STRIKE?

In July of this year, the Pixar-produced “Inside Out 2” sprinted out of the gate to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Meanwhile, some are predicting that a strike by animators in the USA is potentially looming

So how does this come to be? How do we explain the huge discrepancy between box office success and layoffs? And what are the issues faced by animators working in Hollywood? 

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Esther Smith Esther Smith

Why Is The Yellow Blob Funny?

Talking animals and moving objects, it seems like science flies out the window when it comes to animation – or does it? Anthropomorphism dominates animated films and it turns out there’s a good reason for this.

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Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

Trust the Process? A very human guide to writing your screenplay

The block - it comes for every artist at one time or another.

FF’s Jess Sweetman is no stranger to the heartache of not being able to get on and write.

Luckily she’s willing to explore a raft of techniques from witchcraft to cat gurus, via Brian Eno, as well as inspiration from Werner Herzog to Jackie Collins, to help you find your creative mojo.

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Esther Smith Esther Smith

Love, Hate, and Lawsuits: AI Is Causing Chaos

The new obsession is sweeping through every industry and film is no exception. Some swear by its efficiency, while others condemn its slippery slope. I’m looking at AI in the film industry and the controversies and headway it’s making.

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Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

‘The truth will set you free’: unless you’re a filmmaker documenting oppressive regimes

We are living in tumultuous times. Sometimes it feels almost normal to find out that another filmmaker is in hiding, or facing arrest for making a film that has upset a regime. And while this is not a new phenomenon, according to experts, there has been an increase in crackdowns globally on freedom of speech, affecting filmmakers alongside activists, journalists, and anyone else with a platform.

And just to be clear, this isn’t a far-away thing that can be ignored with the casual ennui that comes from living in the West. From Iran to the UK, filmmakers are threatened for speaking truth to power. This article summarises just a few of the places and filmmakers who have been silenced in recent years and it ends with a few glimmers of hope.

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Esther Smith Esther Smith

Human Rights Films and the platforms dedicated to screening them

In a world where human rights are being violated, hope feels scarce – but that’s not entirely the case. With film festivals and organisations across the globe highlighting these issues, the flicker of hope is growing. I’m exploring these platforms and talking to filmmakers to find out what we, as an audience, can take away from human rights films.

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Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

Have We Outgrown Women-Only Spaces in Film?

Are programmes specifically screening the work of female filmmakers antiquated or important? And do we need dedicated programmes to focus on women’s stories? I reached out to a mix of female filmmakers, festival organisers, and others in the industry to see what they think.

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Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

 So why are short films important?

So why exactly are short films important? We asked our new friends attending the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival to find out their points of view.

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Jess Sweetman Jess Sweetman

The BEST OF 2023 edition

To wrap up 2023, we reached out to some of our friends across the industry to find out about their most memorable short films and we’re excited to present the official list here for you today.

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Mark Brennan Mark Brennan

Ok, Smartypants, Let's Make a Movie!

If you’re as old as I am, you’ll remember the advent of the digital democratisation of filmmaking. That was when, up to that point, only the Gods on Mount Olympus could possibly make films as they were the only ones with access to the filmmaking equipment required to do so. Now, we have all been bestowed the power of the Gods.

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Guest User Guest User

Futurism - writing beyond worlds

Speaking to some of our clients (Mike Keaby // The Problem With Time Travel, Heather McQ // A Positive Contribution, Francis Tamburin // IRIS, and Ian Sweeney // Time Tourists) sci-fi scriptwriters are societies modern revolutionaries preparing their audiences with what the future entails. But how do we make it entertaining?

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