The idea is this. People send a synopsis to Screen East before a certain deadline (earlier in the year) Six of these get chosen as finalists & the filmmakers will pitch their idea for a microbudget feature of under £150,000 to a panel of experts who'll give their feedback on the idea, and how feasible a "micro" budget production it is.

The filmmaker of the best pitch will win a one-to-one feature film development session with The Script Factory (worth £300). Results will be announced at this event & then printed in the BAFTA and Screen East newsletters.

Me, in the audience getting to see 6 pitches & the feedback may not sound interesting to all of you, but it most certainly was. For me, from the ideas, only 4 out of 6 worked. 2 of them could have done with some more preparation, a hook to sell their film better, and 2 genuinely interested me. 1 of these 2 intrigued me to the point, I have requested to be kept in the loop with the project.

Oddly enough, the winner was one of the 2 I dismissed as not terribly interesting content-wise, but, I have to admit, his pitch was good. He had locations planned already, an outline of areas he's have permission to shoot, basically a lot more feasibility study than the others & that wins a pitch contest. It makes sense.

Another interesting truth that came about was that UK Film seems to be getting labelled as 'gritty', 'dark' and generally quite unpleasant. I'd agree. The pitches backed this theory. Maybe I should put a pitch together for the 'Ranjeet' screenplay after all. Seems like they could do with it. I guess I should finish writing it first. Hmmm'

Amused. I can't actually review this because I pre-viewed and wrote the blurb for the Raindance Film Festival catalogue last year, amongst others. The 'blurb' .. you know, that bit you read about a film that tries to convince you to go see it. If I did a review, it would reflect 'some' of that, sure, but naturally, a fair amount is omitted to ensure it sounds 'good', ie; no critique.

Summer Scars

Anyway, which blurb do you prefer? Which would make you go watch this film?

The Raindance Version (My Version)
When six 14 year old kids skip school to play in the woods, their day's antics culminate in a motorcycle crash where they fear having killed a drifter. Relieved that he is still alive and well, they feel obliged to befriend him- an obligation they come to deeply regret.

The drifter's behaviour increasingly oscillates between kindness and abuse and the truants eventually find themselves being held hostage in their own den. They are soon forced to embrace the darker side of human nature if they are going to survive this ordeal.

Summer Scars sheds serious light on the choices we are forced to make under extreme circumstances where our impulsive reactions can sometimes take us beyond what we thought capable. With an unsettlingly natural Jekyll and Hyde like performance from Kevin Howarth, writer/director Julian Richards superbly captures the essence of life-changing experiences. The resonance of a single event is beautifully explored here, this is a definite must for all British Film fans.

The Cambridge Version
In this disturbing British thriller, the fate of a gang of urban kids who skip school to play in the woods with a souped-up stolen moped is changed forever when they crash into Peter. A dishevelled drifter, Peter is delighted to have a group of youngsters to hang out with. First he gains their trust by joining in their games but then his behaviour begins to change. Peter uses what he has learned about the kids against them, bullying the alpha boys, belittling the weaker ones and saving his worst for the only girl of the group. The kids realise too late that they are being held hostage and when Peter acknowledges things have gone too far, the kids are forced to embrace the dark side of human nature if they are going to survive the ordeal.