A film production company based at the Electric Cinema are to
produce a series of short films showcasing the amazing diversity of
Birmingham's Southside District. The films, entitled Southside
Stories, will focus on real people living and working in the
Southside area of Birmingham and be directed by the cinema's owner
Tom Lawes.
An in-house production company called Electric Flix, responsible
for the forthcoming documentary on cinemas, The Last Projectionist,
will be using a state of the art digital cinema camera to shoot the
films. The 'Red Camera' is creating a revolution in Hollywood,
allowing film makers to ditch traditional 35mm celluloid and create
super high resolution digital images as seen in recent blockbusters
The Social Network and Pirates of the Caribbean 4.
Filming will begin in December to include Christmas events,
following on with the free Chinese New Year Festival, Year of the
Dragon [January 29th] and continue throughout the spring.
Southside Stories will be premiered to a VIP Audience at The
Electric Cinema followed by screenings to the general public as
support films throughout 2012. The films will also be available to
view on the Southside website www.enjoysouthside.co.uk and will
eventually have their own individual site,dedicated to all the
Southside Stories.
Stuart Griffiths; Southside BID Chairman said;"There is an
amazing spectrum of activities going on in this part of the city,
Southside Stories will enable us to showcase some of those people
that live, work and play here and encourage others to do the same.
We hope people will in turn come here and make their own
stories."
Tom Lawes, Owner of The Electric Cinema said: "my connection
with the Southside District goes way back to my teens, when I had a
Saturday job in a restaurant on Station Street. Over the years I've
seen the area blossom into one of the most culturally diverse
districts in Europe. The chance to capture the sights, sounds and
amazing individuals in a series of short films is an irresistible
opportunity and I can't wait to get started on the project."
Tim Manson, Operations and Policy Director for Marketing
Birmingham, the city's strategic marketing partnership,
said:"Southside is an area renowned for its creativity energy,
diverse appeal and cultural fusion. The district is home to many
inspiring organisations, such as the Electric Cinema, which offer
something utterly unique and unforgettable - helping to tempt
visitors back to the city again and again. Southside Stories is an
extremely exciting project, which will not only highlight this
unique part of the city but will capture that very real, authentic
voice of Birmingham."
Southside Stories will be part funded in collaboration with the
ERDF Investing in the Region Programme.