London: Why don't women direct horror? In 100 years of cinema history we can barely name a handful of female horror directors. What is it about this incredibly successful worldwide genre that either excludes, or fails to appeal to women directors? This question becomes even more pertinent as the number of women attending cinema screenings of horror films now marginally exceeds male attendance figures for the first time. With funding support from Skillset Film Skills' Fund, Warp X in partnership with Threshold Studios, has established Darklight: Women Direct Horror, a unique training and production initiative to encourage women directors keen to reinvent the horror genre for the 21st Century.
From seventy six applications ten female directors have been selected for Darklight; Smita Bhide, Miranda Bowen, Nichola Bruce, Corinna Faith, Finola Geraghty, Faye Gilbert, Toni Harman, Olivia Lory Kay, Juliet McKoen and Amy Neil. Warp X is delighted with the collective talent of the shortlist whose diverse wealth of experience ranges from BAFTA nominated shorts to art installations to television documentary.
Last weekend (23 – 25 February) saw a series of Darklight horror master classes at historic Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire for the ten directors. Tutors included writer/director Richard Stanley (Dust Devil, Hardware), Producer Ros Borland (Wild Country, Co-Producer The Last King Of Scotland), Executive Producer of Trauma, Lizzie Francke in her current role as Executive Producer, Film at East Midlands regional screen agency EM Media, Editor Celia Haining (Dead Man's Shoes, The Deaths of Ian) Danny Perkins (Optimum Releasing) and Warp X Production Executives, Robin Gutch, Caroline Cooper Charles, Barry Ryan and Mary Burke.
Caroline Cooper Charles, Head of Creative Development at Warp X, said 'We're hugely excited to be working with these ten directors to bring genuinely new approaches to such a popular genre. The residential weekend has been an opportunity for us all to explore the dark, terrifying and thrilling world of horror and will I hope be the catalyst for some great films for the Warp X slate'.
A period of one to one story development and a second master class weekend where the directors will work with actors, sound recordists, lighting and camera talent will follow. Darklight will culminate in the commissioning of four of the directors to develop their ideas into full treatments. Warp X aim to green light two of these as feature films for production through the their digital slate in 2008.
Warp X is the UK low-budget digital film studio set up by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film4 with partners EM Media, Screen Yorkshire and Optimum Releasing, offering filmmakers development support, production finance and theatrical distribution in the UK.
Press Enquiries to: Kate Fewins, Warp X: 0114 213 0336/ kate@warpx.co.uk
Uzma Choudhry, Threshold Studios: 01604 250377/07947 868250/ uzma@thresholdstudios.tv/
Photos available upon request.
Notes to Editors:
1) Warp X
Warp X is a pioneering new digital film studio based in Sheffield, with offices in Nottingham and London, and is allied to Warp Films and Warp Records.
Warp X intends to build on Warp Film's reputation for combining creative originality with commercial success, with releases like Shane Meadows' Dead Man's Shoes, Chris Cunningham's Rubber Johnny and Chris Morris' My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117. Warp Film's latest project directed by Shane Meadows, This is England is due for release on 27 April 2007.
Between 2006 and 2008 Warp X is making seven films. By harnessing cutting edge digital technology and low budget production methods Warp X is making high value movies that can reach cinema audiences across the world. These films are being managed and produced by Warp X for the Low Budget Feature Film Scheme set up by UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film4 to revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film industry. Other key financial backers are EM Media and Screen Yorkshire. Optimum Releasing are closely involved in the development process, and will distribute the films theatrically and on DVD in the UK. Channel 4 will take UK television rights.
Further information: www.warpx.co.uk/info@warpx.co.uk
Loading...
