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Filmmaking 101: Producing with Sarah Beardsall

Filmmaking 101

What does a producer actually do? What makes a good script? Why is editing so important? Over the course of this year, Bell House Films will answer these questions and many more with its series of ‘Filmmaking 101’ events. 

Every month, an industry professional will host an online tutorial, where they will delve into the fundamentals of a specific filmmaking discipline. 

Fifth tutorial: Producing

Sarah Beardsall will be looking at what it takes to produce a short film, from fund-raising and script development to post production and festivals, while also sharing her vast experience as a TV producer and casting director. 

Who is this for?

For anyone and everyone with an interest in film, ‘Filmmaking 101’ is for you. You don’t need experience, you don’t need kit, you just need to bring your creativity and your curiosity.

About Sarah Beardsall:

With Dominic Minghella, Sarah founded Island Pictures, whose productions include ‘Knightfall’ Series One for A&E Studios/History and ‘The Scapegoat’, directed by Charles Sturridge, starring Matthew Rhys, Andrew Scott and Sheridan Smith, which was commissioned for ITV and selected for Dinard and Chicago Film Festivals. 

She was a casting director for many years before moving into drama development and production. For Island Pictures she developed and produced ‘The Scapegoat’. Her short film ‘Stand Still’ (2019) directed by Isabella Wing-Davey, was selected for BFI Network funding and for the BFI London Film Festival, and other festivals including Woodstock, Hobnobben, Sheffield and Bolton. The film won best UK short at the Link festival who called it 'a cinematic gem'. 

Sarah is a freelance producer on the long-running Saturday night drama ‘Casualty’ for the BBC. Casting credits include ‘Truly Madly Deeply’, ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral', ‘The Saint’, ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, ‘Shooting Fish’ and ‘The Parent Trap’. 

Sarah is a volunteer at Bell House and a founder member of the Bell House Film Committee. 

Booking information:

The cost of this individual tutorial is £15.

Discounted tickets at £10 are available for under 18s.   We also have 2 free/bursary tickets available for those unable to pay the full price. Please email your request to [email protected]

All proceeds are shared between the workshop leader and Bell House, a volunteer-run educational charity. 

*** Book all four tutorials here for a special discount £40 ***

(offer ends 15th July)

15th July: Producing with Sarah Beardsall 

19th August: Acting with Keziah Joseph and James Broadley

16th September: Editing with Fred Tschepp

14th October: Animation with Sophie Burrows

Earlier Event: 13 July
Shared Reading in the Afternoon
Later Event: 17 July
Make a Film in a Weekend (MaFiaW)