Applications to Random Acts North have now closed. Thank you to all those who have applied: if you have already sent us your application we will be in touch in the coming weeks. Please email [email protected] if you have any queries.
Random Acts North – Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I live/study outside the North?
No, you must be living or studying in the North of England (Yorkshire, Cumbria, North West, North East) to apply for Random Acts North. There are four other Network Centres across England which you may be able to apply to: for more information please visit the Arts Council website.
When can my birthday be if I want to apply for Random Acts North?
Your birthday must fall between 14 November 1991 and 3 April 2001 in order to apply for this round of Random Acts North.
Can I apply if I turn 25 during the submission period?
Yes, as long as your birthday falls after 14 November 1991 you can apply to Random Acts North, right up until the deadline of 3 April 2017. If you are over 24 you can still attend all public sessions of the programme.
Can I apply if I will be 16 soon after the application deadline?
No, you must be 16 on the date of the application submission deadline of Monday 3 April 2017.
I’ve made a film for Random Acts North or one of the four other Networks, can I apply again?
You are able to apply to Random Acts North if you’ve applied previously and not been successful with your application, but unfortunately you’re not able to apply again if you have previously made a film for Random Acts North or one of the other four Network Centres.
Can I amend my application once it has been submitted?
No, please check your application carefully before you submit. We would advise that you ask other people to read your idea before applying and write your description in Microsoft Word or an equivalent. You can then copy and paste it in to the application document
What sort of film can I apply to make?
We are looking for bold, daring and challenging expressions of creativity delivered in short film form, between 90 seconds and 3 minutes long. Other than this there are no restrictions on the type of film you can apply to make. Your idea for a film can be live action, animation (or a mixture of the two), serious, cheeky and/or outrageous.
To get inspired why not check out some of the films at Channel 4’s Random Acts website: https://randomacts.channel4.com/
Should the video links I provide in the application be to previous examples of work or a pitch for the film we intend to make?
It is not necessary to provide any additional material to support the description of your film idea, but it is necessary to provide examples of your previous creative work. Please send us links to your on-line portfolios, website, blogs, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. or alternatively put a disk in the post and send it to: Siobhan Finnon, Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6QG.
You do not have to make a film showing what you want to create as part of Random Acts North.
Can I apply as a team?
Yes, we do accept applications from teams or pairs of filmmakers. Please only submit one application and explain why you want to work in a team or with another person in your application submission’s film description.
Do I need to be an experienced filmmaker to apply?
No. You don’t have to have any previous experience of filmmaking but must be able to demonstrate a commitment to making new work in any creative art form. This includes – but is not limited to – dance, theatre, visual arts, music, animation, spoken word literature and film. You’re eligible if you’re involved in making some kind of creative work.
Do all the team or production crew need to be 24 or under?
All lead applicants must be 24 or under and based in the North. You are permitted to work with team members and production crew over 25.
How does the application process work?
All applications that arrive before the deadline are read by the Random Acts team. Applications are then long-listed and selected applicants are invited to attend one of five Development Days taking place throughout the North of England between 29 May 2017 – 2 June 2017. At these one-day workshops the Random Acts team provide individual feedback to each applicant on the strengths and weaknesses of their proposal, which they then have the opportunity to revise and resubmit. From these revised proposals, a short-list is drawn up and a commissioning panel of industry professionals meet to select the 24 films that will be taken forward into development and production.
What can I expect if I am successful?
Once commissioned, filmmakers will attend a two-day residential with a number of other commissioned filmmakers to start developing their ideas with the help of a professional mentor. The dates of the 2017 residentials are listed in the application form below.
After the residential, films are placed on a production schedule by True North and throughout the production process, filmmakers work with a range of professional mentors from across the television, film and artists’ moving image production sectors to plan, shoot and edit their films.
Completed films are between 90 seconds and 3 minutes in duration and are made available for acquisition by Channel 4 for broadcast on television and publishing online.
The process from residential to delivering the completed film is approximately 12 weeks.
What kind of resources will I have to make a film?
Each film has a moderate budget allocated, which is for production costs.. Commissioned filmmakers will receive mentoring from industry professionals, as well as practical support. We will ensure that you are guided through budget management and all stages of the production.
How long should my film be?
We are looking for ideas for a short film that is between 90 seconds to 3 minutes in length.
I need support in completing my application form – can you help?
Please email [email protected] or call our Random Acts Programme Manager Siobhan Finnon on 0191 227 5515 who can offer support and advice in completing your application.