BBC Wales Producers Claire Parker from Kudos and Julie Gardner at Cardiff ATRiuM Life on Mars Friday 16 Nov.

Colleagues, Friends and Students,

As you may know, we are hosting a one-day conference on the ground-breaking TV series Life on Mars in the Faculty on Friday 16th November.

A highlight will be a discussion with two of the executive producers of the series (Claire Parker from Kudos and Julie Gardner from BBC Wales) in the afternoon.

Many thanks – and look forward to seeing some of you there.

Stephen
swlacey[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Professor Stephen Lacey
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries/Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd
University of Glamorgan/Prifysgol Morgannwg
ATRiuM Adam St/Heol Adam Cardiff/Caerdydd CF24 2XF

Life on Mars
One-day symposium
Friday 16th November 2007

Download a Registration form here!

Event Date November 16, 2007 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location – ATRiuM

CCI researchers are hosting a one-day research symposium on the ground-breaking and critically-acclaimed BBC Wales/Kudos drama series Life on Mars, which finished its second, and final, series earlier this year.

"Starsky and Hutch meets Cracker...intriguing British drama"
The Toronto Sun

"...brilliant detective-noir"
The National Post

‘Life on Mars’ will attract academics from across the UK for what is the first research event devoted to a drama series that has emerged as one of the most significant of the 21st century.

Symposium fee (includes tea/coffee/lunch): £40 (full cost); £25 (student/postgraduate)

STOP PRESS! Both Claire Parker and Jane Featherstone of Kudos have confirmed their attendance

Life on Mars Series 2 Trailer x2



The conference will open with a keynote address by Professor Robin Nelson, whose book on ‘quality’ television drama (A State of Play, MUP, 2007) has recently been published, and will close with a panel discussion with some of the leading figures behind the series; so far, Claire Parker of Kudos, who produced Life on Mars, Julie Gardner, Head of Drama for BBC Wales who commissioned it, and Ashley Pharoah, one of the series’ devisers and main writers, have provisionally agreed to attend.



Papers will be given on a range of topics, including the role of nostalgia in audiences’ responses to the series, the re-working of the iconography of the 1970s, the programme’s relationship to other police series and the role of the uncanny.



The symposium is organised by Dr Ruth McElroy and Professor Stephen Lacey, and will be one of the first research events to be held in the Atrium, the University of Glamorgan’s new base in Cardiff.

Life on Mars
One-day symposium
Friday 16th November 2007

Download a Registration form here!

[Please return this form by Friday November 9th]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/

Life on Mars Schedule

9:45-10:00 Registration and Coffee

10:00-11:00 Keynote: Prof. Robin Nelson

11:00-11:15 Coffee

11:15-1:00 Panels 1 and 2

Panel 1: Sam’s Stories - Narrative and Genre
Panel 2: Producing Audiences for the Past



1:00-2:00 Lunch

2:00-3:15 Discussion with members of the production team:
Julie Gardner (BBC Wales)
Claire Walker and Jane Featherstone (Kudos)
Ashley Pharoah (writer)

3:15-3:30 Tea

3:30-5:00 Panels 3 and 4
Panel 3: Nostalgia and the Uncanny Media
Panel 4: Locating the 1970s



Life on Mars Panels

Panel 1: Sam’s Stories - Narrative and Genre
Nichola Dobson (??)
‘Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time?’ Generic and narrative complexity in Life on Mars

Karen Devlin (University of Hull)
Voices Bleeding Through: The Strange Journey of Sam Tyler in Life on Mars

Ross Garner (Cardiff University)
Make Another World: Expressing the Nostalgia Affect in the Diegesis and Narrative of Life on Mars

Angelina Karpovich (Brunel University)
Life on Mars and the Dialectic of Suicide

Panel 2: Producing Audiences for the Past
John Cook (Glasgow Caledonian University)
‘Moonage Daydreams’: Industrial and Cultural Memory contexts of Life on Mars

Brett Mills (University of East Anglia)
‘American Remake – Shudder’: Online Debates about Life on Mars and ‘Britishness’

Justine Mortimer (University of Winchester)
‘Knowing’ Quality: Exploiting Popular Cultural Capital, and Producerly and Audience Expectations

Panel 3: Nostalgia and the Uncanny Media
Matt Hills (Cardiff University)
The Media is the Monster…or the Message? Uncanny Test Cards and Interactive OU Lecturers in Life on Mars

Elisa Oliver (Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London)
Longing to Return-Seeing the 1970s. Life on Mars: Britain, Nostalgia and Art

Peter Jachimiak (University of Glamorgan)
‘Through the TV Screen’ – The Test Card Girl, the Uncanny and a ‘70s Childhood

Panel 4: Locating the 1970s
Teresa Forde (University of Derby)
Location, Location, Location: What does the 1970s look like?

John Curzon (University of Warwick)
Sam Tyler and the New North

Andy Willis (University of Salford)
Memory Banks Failing! Life on Mars and the politics of re-imagining the 1970s

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Last Call for ATRiuM Skillset Screen Academy Wales: Careers Workshop for Students Wed. 14 Nov.

There a few places left on Wednesday’s workshop… full details below.

To book a place please contact Sara at sara@screenacademywales.org or on 01633 432679.

· Do you know where to find up-to-date info on careers in the film, TV, animation or performance industries?

· Have you always wondered what Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors and Animators actually do on a daily basis?

· Are you looking for tips on how to write the perfect film CV?

· Do you want access to experienced industry professionals discussing how they got into the industry and what they wish they’d known when they were starting out?


If so, this event is a must for you!

This half-day workshop includes:

Session signposting where to find info on funding for post-FE/HE training and useful careers tips

Interactive CV workshop giving you vital dos and don’ts

A chance for you to quiz a professional Animator, Actor and industry Writers, Producers and Directors about how to get noticed in an extremely competitive industry, improve your contacts, avoid pitfalls and progress, once you’ve got a foot in the door in the audio visual sector

University of Wales-Newport


SPEAKERS:

Vicky Jones – Skillset Cymru Co-ordinator

Vicky provides administrative support for the Director of Skillset Cymru, Gwawr Hughes, and Skillset's activities in Wales. Vicky also co-ordinates Skillset's Careers Service in Wales.

Sue Jeffries – Producer, Writer and Director

Sue graduated from University College Wales, Aberystwyth. She has worked her way up through the grades from Principal Production Assistant to Continuity Supervisor, Production Manager, Line Producer, Director and Producer and became freelance in 1989.

Sue has been working as a freelance film and television producer for more than twelve years, mainly in the field of drama. Her latest credits include the children’s drama for ITV and Nickelodeon – Help! I’m a Teenage Outlaw which was shot in the Czech Republic in 2004. Currently, she is preparing to shoot a full length horror feature film entitled Snapshot which will be shot entirely on location in Wales.

Since Sue is passionate about helping new people into the industry, as well as giving a hand up to those already there, she, with a colleague, runs audition and interview workshops for children, actors and industry professionals mainly through Equity, BECTU and the Welsh Assembly.

Sue has also recently been on the drama school accreditation panel of the National Council for Drama Training. Sue also delivers careers advice and guidance to new entrants and freelancers for Skillset.

Catherine Linstrum – Writer/Director

Having made her Cannes debut this year with the Romanian feature film California Dreamin’ which was selected for the highly sought-after Directors’ Fortnight screenings, Catherine has a 15 year track record of writing and directing feature films, dramas and documentaries.

Dreaming of Joseph Lees was her first feature as a screenwriter, a Twentieth Century Fox production directed by Eric Styles.

She has also written and directed two notable shorts, The Boy with Blue Eyes and The Black Dog starring David Threlfall.

She is currently developing a feature script with her artist husband David-John Newman, which is being supported by the Film Agency for Wales.

Antony Smith – Producer, Writer and Director

Antony was brought up in the South Wales Valleys. He began his career in 1998 with ITV. During his period there he was engaged on a number of TV dramas and feature films such as Testimony Of Taliesin Jones, Mindblowing and A Way Of Life.

Antony seized every opportunity at ITV that would allow him to gain experience in a number of different fields. Producing became Antony's natural role.

In 2006 Antony produced his first feature film on a budget of £50k and is now overseeing a slate of 12 films with a combined budget of £3.5 million.

Paul Cawley – Actor and Skillset Careers Adviser

Paul started out as a chef before retraining as an actor at The Drama Studio London. He has now been a professional actor for twenty years.

In London Paul has appeared in several theatrical productions in the West End and at The National Theatre, as well as at prestigious fringe venues such as The Gate, Southwark Playhouse and Jermyn Street Theatre.

On screen as an actor Paul has contributed to eight series of Numbertime for the BBC, as well as appearances in The Bill, London's Burning, and a number of independent films, as well as several TV commercials.

As a voice artist, Paul created the character of Bill in the BBC’s Numbertime, which he voiced for eight series, and has contributed a variety of voices and characters for BBC series, The Adventures of Captain Crimson.

Paul also delivers careers advice and guidance to performers for Skillset.

Guardian - See You In Heaven - Clipe Legendado -- Featuring Paul Cawley


Aron Evans – Animator and Co-Founder, Dinamo

Award-winning animation directors Aron Rhys Evans and Owen Stickler set up the young, innovative animation production company, Dinamo in 2004.

The company produces high quality 2D and 3D digital animation for film and TV using various software applications and also offers services in visual effects and motion graphics.

Dinamo is currently producing the 20-part pre-school series Happy Valley and providing animation for S4C’s satirical series Cnex.

They have a number of series in development for children of all ages and family, including live action with animation.

PROGRAMME

Skillset Screen Academy Wales: Careers Workshop for Students

10.15am – 2.45pm, Wednesday 14 November 2007

ATRiuM Building, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, Uni. of Glamorgan,
Adam Street, CARDIFF CF24 2XF

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Former Fulbright Scholar Professor Eckart Voigts-Virch 'Janespotting' English Theatre Speaks at Cardiff ATRiuM Roundtable Wed. 14 November

[Pictured above: Dr. Eckart Voigts-Virchow]

CCI - DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA AND MUSIC
RESEARCH SEMINAR

It is our pleasure to welcome Professor Eckart Voigts-Virchow, University of Siegen, Germany.

'Droso-Philology’: Adaptation and Bio-Poetics
WEDNESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2007
11AM -- ROOM CA228

Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries
ATRiuM University of Glamorgan
Adams Street Cardiff CF24 2XF

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED -- ALL WELCOME!

Professor Voigts-Virchow coined the term ‘Droso-Philology’ in order to mark approaches to art dominated by neo-Darwinist thinking (i.e., Joseph Carroll).

This paper reviews recent approaches to adaptation (Kamilla Elliott and Robert Stam) and attempts to assess the relative merits of the biologistic analogies of the term.  

In particular he shall argue against the universalist tendencies in bio-poetical approaches.



The point of this paper is, therefore, to articulate doubts about the intrinsic, universal and perennial appeal of any story, any writer and even more severe reservations about the attempt to build a canon from socio-biological universalism:

"The greatest literary works most completely satisfy [the reader's desire for cognitive order]" (Carroll 2004: 145).

This paper is very much work in progress and invites attempts to apply this to theatre and performance in preparation of the forthcoming conference

“Adaptations – Performing across Media and Genres”, University of Siegen, May 2008.

Please, click here for more information on the conference.

Professor Voigts-Virchow's Current projects:
"Janespotting" – Die bildmediale Konstruktion nationaler Identität am Beispiel der Inszenierung von Englishness in costume films, heritage movies und classic TV serials der 1990er Jahre in Großbritannien (ZMI Gießen, 2001-2003).

Professor Voigts-Virchow's Areas of research:
Theater, film and media theory. Contemporary drama. Culture, literature and technology. Metaphorology.

Professor Voigts-Virchow's Papers and Conferences:
President of sessions 'Beckett and Popular Culture', 'Discussion Group: Media and Literature' at the MLA Convention (Chicago, 27-30 Dezember 1999).

Organiser of the International Conference 'Dramatized Media / Mediated Drama', CDE (17-20 Juni 1999, Giessen, sponsored by DFG, HMWK etc.).

Papers read at Bochum University; Tübingen University; Freiburg University; Strasbourg University; German Shakespeare Convention, Weimar; Leipzig University; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (IAPL); Siegen University; Potsdam University; Koblenz-Landau University; Birkbeck College, University of London; Humboldt University, Conf. Beckett in Berlin 2000, Stuttgart University

AIM: ATRiuM Intelligent Media

Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods