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Bluebird Pictures

Established in 2017 Bluebird Pictures is a bespoke production company based in East London. We also

05/03/2024

Our is taking a break while we focus on our development slate and expanding the team this year. It will return in 2025. Any questions please email [email protected]

24/01/2024

2024 ⭐️

15/12/2023

First look preview of Queenie from and with the first 4 episodes directed by our CEO - out next Spring 👑

03/11/2023

Everyone has been made for some articulate work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart - Rumi
Bluebird Pictures CEO and Executive Producer

05/09/2023

On Friday the 29th of September, we will have a live read-through of TV pilot 'Brood', written by Afshan D'Souza-Lodhi. The reading will be directed by Yasmin Godo and developed by Bluebird Pictures.

We are looking for actors to take part - please email eleanor@bluebirdpictures or drop us a message if you know someone who would love to be involved!

Tickets for all three days of the World Cinema Film Festival are available now via the links in our bio.

24/08/2023

Tickets for the 2023 WCFF are now live!

https://www.thebroadwaybarking.com/sales/genres/films

From the 29th September to 1st October, we are taking over the Broadway Theatre in Barking for 3 days of film screenings from all over the world, insightful panels with industry professionals, networking opportunities for filmmakers and creatives, family friendly activities and so much more.

We also have something very special in store for this years opening night on the 28th, so save the date for that too.

Follow on Instagram for updates and check out our shiny new festival website at https://readymag.com/u3699038584/4373974/ for tickets and event info.

15/08/2023

Scrapper is a 2023 British comedy-drama film written and directed by Charlotte Regan in her feature debut. It is made by BBC Film and BFI in association with Great Point Media, and stars Harris Dickinson, Lola Campbell and Alin Uzun. The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

Synopsis: Living alone in her London flat, 12-year-old Georgie must confront reality when her estranged father, Jason, shows up out of nowhere. Uninterested in a sudden new parental figure, she remains stubbornly resistant to his efforts. As they both adjust to their new circumstances, Georgie and Jason soon find that they still have a lot of growing up to do.

Read Eleanors thoughts on 'Scrapper', which is due to be released on 25 August 2023.

10/08/2023

On the 1st of October this year we are facilitating a day at our World Cinema Film Festival specifically catered towards families. Alongside screening child friendly films, we will also be hosting industry professional panels for parents working in the Film and TV industry, and providing fun film-themed activities for kids throughout the day.

We want to highlight the amazing work being done over at an online platform for mothers (and all parents) working in the film industry who want to connect and create a positive community built around mutual support.

CM promotes flexible work and job-sharing opportunities and where possible, can provide mentoring and ad hoc advice, so head over to https://www.cinemamas.co.uk/ to find out more about what they do.

More info about Children's Day coming very soon!

31/07/2023

Calling all Filmmakers!

Bluebird Pictures are looking to screen your films in September. World Cinema Film Festival is back again for another year boasting all new partnerships, collaborations, film categories and more.

Send us your film by Wednesday August 2nd at 23:59 for a chance to win:

* Industry standard software
* A meeting with an industry professional
* Screening of your film in London
* A free membership with Backstage Casting

Head over to Filmfreeway.com/WorldCinemaFilmFestival to find out everything you need to know about submitting to the festival. Good Luck!

26/07/2023

Greta Gerwig made history as Barbie has the biggest opening weekend for film directed by a woman. Barbie scored a US$377m (£293m, A$560m) opening weekend around the world, making it the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman.

We think the casting for Barbie was 10/10, and we love how many quintessential British and Irish actors were part of one of the anticipated films of 2023. Swipe for our favourite Barbie cameos!

Emma Mackey (Netflix's S*x Education) as Physicist Barbie
Ncuti Gatwa (S*x Education, Doctor Who) as Ken #4
Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary) as Lawyer Barbie
Jamie Demetriou (Stathl Lets Flats) as a Mattel employee

Who was your favourite Barbie character?

18/07/2023

Hollywood Strike Update ⚠️

4 days ago, the American actor's union SAG-AFTRA went on strike, with this being the first joint actor and writer strike in decades. Some of the shows and films affected include Wicked, Avatar, Deadpool 3, American Horror Story and Euphoria.

14/07/2023

In April, we officially launched Writer in Residence, a free programme offering support and guidance to filmmakers who are looking to develop their TV script into a fully developed pilot. Our winner has the opportunity for Bluebird Pictures Film Production company to guide them into developing their TV pilot, based on a sample of their script. The winner will not only receive one to one mentoring from CEO and Director Joelle David (Dreaming Whist Black, Queenie, Greasy Spoon) but they will also receive a £3000 bursary and a live-reading of their script at the World Cinema Film Festival.

We are thrilled to announce that the winner of our very first Writer in Residence scheme is Afshan d’souza-lodhi! Afshan is a writer of scripts and poetry, and her work has been performed and translated into numerous languages across the world. As well as her own writing, she is keen to develop other younger and emerging artists.

We are so impressed by her script idea and can't wait to start developing it.

Congratulations!

13/07/2023

Loosely inspired by real life events, Dreaming Whilst Black tells the story of Kwabena, an aspiring filmmaker stuck in a dead-end recruitment job who takes the first step to achieving his dream. However, he is quickly confronted with the tribulations of balancing finances, love, and his own sense of reality.

Adjani Salmon's creation now has a release date, and we can enjoy the hilarious web series adaptation at the end of this month on July 24th, on BBC3 and IPlayer! Episode 4 and 5 was directed by our very own founder Joelle Mae David, so keep an eye out for those episodes.

10/07/2023

Last week, we attended the Young Audiences Screening Day 2023, an event ran by the ICO looking to attract and inspire young audiences. Alongside the other attendees, we explored the ways in which independent cinemas can improve the representation of children in their audiences and young people in their audiences and workforce.

The 'Young People’s Cinema Careers: What Comes Next?' session was especially interesting, exploring the recent growth of schemes and programmes that give young people new access to careers and opportunities in exhibition, and how how can we make these opportunities sustainable.

Thank you to The Independent Cinema Office for having us!

29/06/2023

This month, we had the opportunity to speak to Keyleen, founder of the Q***r Filmmakers Network. She shared how she got into filmmaking and directing, why she started the QFN, how you can get involved and more.

Read the full interview here;

https://bluebirdpictures.org/qa-with-filmmaker-and-director-keyleen/

27/06/2023

We have finally finished watching the new season of Black Mirror!

If you've never watched the series before, the episodes are set in an "abstrusely dystopian future, where several individuals grapple with the manipulative effects of cutting edge technology in their personal lives and behaviours". It's full of drama, satire, thriller, science fiction and more.

Reviews of the newest season have been pretty mixed. Some have criticised the writers for moving away from the tech-horror aspect of the show, with others arguing they have stuck with the original dystopian aspect of the show, but instead they've focused more directly on humans and their distasteful behaviour. For example, Loch Henry reflects our "complicity in pop cultures worst obsessions" (Huffington post), exploring our obsession with true crime.

What did you think of the new season, what was your favourite episode?

27/06/2023

We have finally finished watching the season 6 of Black Mirror!

If you've never watched the series before, the episodes are set in an "abstrusely dystopian future, where several individuals grapple with the manipulative effects of cutting edge technology in their personal lives and behaviours". It's full of drama, satire, thriller, science fiction and more.

Reviews of the newest season have been pretty mixed. Some have criticised the writers for moving away from the tech-horror aspect of the show, with others arguing they have stuck with the original dystopian aspect of the show, but instead they've focused more directly on humans and their distasteful behaviour. For example, Loch Henry reflects our "complicity in pop cultures worst obsessions" (Huffington post), exploring our obsession with true crime.

What did you think of the new season, what was your favourite episode?

22/06/2023

What is the Writer's Strike and why did it begin?

In May, we wrote an article exploring the increase in use of Artificial Intelligence in the Film and Television industry. The Writers Guild of America has been on strike for 50 days now, and outlined one of the reasons for striking, is that writers want more regulation of AI. For example, bans on studios using it to write or rewrite things like stories, treatments and screenplays or even write the source material that human writers would adapt for the screen.

As a result, there have been both delays of TV shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment that rely on written content. Some of the shows affected include Abbott Elementary, Stranger Things,Saturday Night Live and The Last of Us to name a few.

You can read our blog post on AI here;

https://bluebirdpictures.org/artificial-intelligence-revolutionising-the-film-industry-or-a-loss-of-creativity-authenticity-and-diversity/

21/06/2023

Happy World Music Day

“With its massive success at the box office, widespread critical acclaim, and a devoted fan base, Black Panther has cemented itself as an iconic brand in pop culture. The films have both been massive box office successes, and the music is also similarly beloved. From Kendrick Lamar’s groundbreaking soundtrack for the first film to Ludwig Göransson’s score for the sequel, the music of Black Panther has been just as integral to its success as the story and the action” - Forbes (2023)

Watch Ludwig explain the process behind the film score.

Article: ‘The Complexity Of The Music Of ‘Black Panther’: Wakanda Forever’ Explained By The Team That Made It Happen (Forbes)

Video: The Making of “Wakanda” from ‘Black Panther’ With Ludwig Göransson (Genuis/Marvel Studios)

15/06/2023

4 Films to watch in cinemas this month 🍿

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence.
Starring Oscar Isaac, Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld
Release date: 2 Jun 2023

THE LITTLE MERMAID
"The Little Mermaid" is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton's daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea.
Starring Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Halle Bailey
Release date: 26 May 2023

TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a '90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer - the Maximals - to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons.
Starring Tobe Nwigwe, Dominique Fishback, Anthony Ramos
Release date: 9 Jun 2023

BFI PRESENTS: PRETTY RED DRESS
Travis has just been released from prison and it quickly becomes apparent that everything's changed while he's been gone.
Starring Natey Jones, Alexandra Burke, Temilola Olatunbosun
Release date: 14 Jun 2023

How many of these films have you seen?

08/06/2023

In a climate of rampant homophobia, PE teacher Jean is forced to live a double life. A respected member of staff during the week; on the weekend she slips into Newcastle’s gay scene. When a new student threatens to expose her, Jean is caught in a dilemma to protect her job and her integrity.

This Bafta nominated film is a Thatcher - era period piece, and sheds light on the 'Section 28' law, which was brought in to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities". The law was partly inspired by a 1983 story book called 'Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin', which aimed to give children information about different types of family relationships. Section 28 stopped councils and schools "promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".
It was in force until 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England and Wales.

Described by Q***r Times as "an instant q***r classic", the film explores themes such as self acceptance, and freedom. Blue Jean is available to stream in the United Kingdom now on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, BFI Player, YouTube and Chili.

***rfilms

30/05/2023

Last month, we had the opportunity to sit down with the talented Assistant Director, Writer and Director Yasmin Godo. We found out more about her Channel 4 Random Acts short film Un(fit) to work (which we enjoyed as part of our let's watch series) , how she found her way into the industry and the ways in which being neurodivergent plays a part in her career as a creative.

Read the full interview here

https://bluebirdpictures.org/qa-with-writer-and-director-yasmin-godo/

26/05/2023

Only 1 week left until the regular World Cinema Film Festival submission deadline.

You have until June 1st to submit your Short Film, Feature Film, Short Documentary, Short Animation or Children's Short to this years WCFF. This year will be our biggest festival yet, with all new collaborations, networking opportunities, industry panels, screenings and a lot more.

Head over to https://filmfreeway.com/WorldCinemaFilmFestival for a chance to win some phenomenal prizes!

24/05/2023

SUNDAY DINNER - written and directed by Monique Needham is up next for our short film review series.

On paper, life for Maya looks perfect: an athlete, popular, has a loving family, and is head over heels for her girlfriend Jasmine. However, she’s about to risk it all by inviting Jasmine around to Sunday Dinner. With the help of her grandmother, with whom she shares a special bond, will dinner with her quirky family go smoothly, or will they scare Jasmine off?

Sign up to our Film & TV newsletter via our website to hear what we thought about the film .

17/05/2023

Have you heard the big news??

We are delighted to announce that Joelle David, founder and director of Bluebird Pictures, will be directing drama series Queenie, based on the best selling novel by Candice Carty-Williams. The comedy drama follows 25-year-old Jamaican-British journalist recovering from a messy breakup and is currently filming in South London.

Find out more about the series including the cast, where it will be available to watch when released and more on our website,

https://bluebirdpictures.org/bluebird-pictures-joelle-david-directing-channel-4-drama-series-queenie/

11/05/2023

You've written a short film, but what is the best way to fund it?

Finding and applying for film funding can be a tedious process, so most filmmakers use a combination of methods, such as public funding or private investors. It's important to research what's out there and figure out what works for you and your film.

Read more about the different ways to fund your film on our website - link in bio.

Don't forget to check out our previous post where Producer of CYCLE Kashif Boothe explains how we funded our sci fi short film 🎥

11/05/2023

08/05/2023

Meet Chanel Washington!

Chanel has joined the Bluebird Pictures team as Marketing and Events Manager. She will oversee the World Cinema Film Festival, Partnerships and Collaborations.

If you are interested in collaborating with us for this years festival, want to learn more about the WCFF or need to discuss anything marketing, please related contact Chanel at [email protected]

04/05/2023

Writer in Residence, our free competition for drama TV screenwriters has now closed. We received an outstanding number of applications so a huge thank you to everyone who sent us their script!

“We’ve been wanting to support an up and coming writer for a long time and we can’t wait to work with a forward thinking, passionate and creative writer with our new writer in residence programme” - Joelle David (Writer, Director and CEO of Bluebird Pictures)

{Successful candidates will hear back in June}

02/05/2023

On a recent podcast episode of 'Baby, this is Keke Palmer', Keke and Jordan Peele explored why we as viewers choose to be scared, how the horror genre has changed throughout the years and why NOPE was more than just a horror film.

It's fair to say that the multi award winning director has redefined the horror genre as we know it, so we'd love to know which of the winning trio you enjoyed the most.

- Nope
- Get Out
- Us

Let us know!

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Make It Barking, 15 Linton Road
Barking
IG118HE

Website

http://www.bluebirdpictures.org/

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Videos

Tickets for the 2023 WCFF are now live! https://www.thebroadwaybarking.com/sales/genres/films From the 29th September to 1st October, we are taking over the Broadway Theatre in Barking for 3 days of film screenings from all over the world, insightful panels with industry professionals, networking opportunities for filmmakers and creatives, family friendly activities and so much more. We also have something very special in store for this years opening night on the 28th, so save the date for that too. Follow @worldcinemafilmfestival on Instagram for updates and check out our shiny new festival website at https://readymag.com/u3699038584/4373974/ for tickets and event info. #worldcinemafilmfestival #barkingdagenham #filmevent #bluebirdpictures

Loosely inspired by real life events, Dreaming Whilst Black tells the story of Kwabena, an aspiring filmmaker stuck in a dead-end recruitment job who takes the first step to achieving his dream. However, he is quickly confronted with the tribulations of balancing finances, love, and his own sense of reality. Adjani Salmon's creation now has a release date, and we can enjoy the hilarious web series adaptation at the end of this month on July 24th, on BBC3 and IPlayer! Episode 4 and 5 was directed by our very own founder Joelle Mae David, so keep an eye out for those episodes.

Happy World Music Day “With its massive success at the box office, widespread critical acclaim, and a devoted fan base, Black Panther has cemented itself as an iconic brand in pop culture. The films have both been massive box office successes, and the music is also similarly beloved. From Kendrick Lamar’s groundbreaking soundtrack for the first film to Ludwig Göransson’s score for the sequel, the music of Black Panther has been just as integral to its success as the story and the action” - Forbes (2023) Watch Ludwig explain the process behind the film score. #film #music #worldmusicday . . . Article: ‘The Complexity Of The Music Of ‘Black Panther’: Wakanda Forever’ Explained By The Team That Made It Happen (Forbes) Video: The Making of “Wakanda” from ‘Black Panther’ With Ludwig Göransson (Genuis/Marvel Studios)

In a climate of rampant homophobia, PE teacher Jean is forced to live a double life. A respected member of staff during the week; on the weekend she slips into Newcastle’s gay scene. When a new student threatens to expose her, Jean is caught in a dilemma to protect her job and her integrity. This Bafta nominated film is a Thatcher - era period piece, and sheds light on the 'Section 28' law, which was brought in to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities". The law was partly inspired by a 1983 story book called 'Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin', which aimed to give children information about different types of family relationships. Section 28 stopped councils and schools "promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". It was in force until 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England and Wales. Described by Queer Times as "an instant queer classic", the film explores themes such as self acceptance, and freedom. Blue Jean is available to stream in the United Kingdom now on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, BFI Player, YouTube and Chili. . . . #filmreccomendation #bfi #lgbtq #queerfilms #pridemonth

Let's Watch SUNDAY DINNER - written and directed by Monique Needham @getneeks On paper, life for Maya looks perfect: an athlete, popular, has a loving family, and is head over heels for her girlfriend Jasmine. However, she's about to risk it all by inviting Jasmine around to Sunday Dinner. With the help of her grandmother, with whom she shares a special bond, will dinner with her quirky family go smoothly, or will they scare Jasmine off? Sign up to our newsletter via the link in our bio to hear our thoughts on the last film we reviewed, and to watch and share positive thoughts on this months film.

SAVE THE DATES 🚨 Our World Cinema Film Festival will be taking place from the 23 - 25th September at Make it Barking. Deadlines for entries 1st August. submit via link in bio #worldcinema #filmfestival

We will be screening the brilliant feature film Gagarine on the opening night of our World Cinema Film Festival, alongside short films and a VR experience. Ticket link in our bio * #gagarine #curzoncinema #gagarin #frenchfilm #wcff #worldcinema #filmfestival

Get involved with Bluebird Pictures on our twitter page too! @BluebirdPicture

We have some new sponsors for this years film festival 👏🏾 👏🏾 Film Hub London, Film London, BFI Audience Network and The National lottery 🎉

Our @worldcinemafilmfest is officially open for 2021 submissions. Submit your short film, documentary, animation or 360 and win mentoring, software, screenings, trophy, on going support and much more. What does culture mean to you? #earlybird #filmfestival #filmfreeway #culture #community #create #worldcinema