Pitch an idea at Galway Film Fleadh

Written by Lisa Regan

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Got a great idea for a film but don't know how to get it from your brain to the big screen? Well, would-be filmmakers in Galway are being invited to pitch a story idea at the Galway Film Fleadh, which will take place from Tuesday 8 to Sunday 13 July.

The Fleadh is offering filmmakers an opportunity to compete for its prestigious Pitching Award, with the deadline for submissions Friday 20 June.

Applicants must write and submit a 500-word story idea for screen. All applications will be read by a panel selected from the Irish Film Industry and the top five will be shortlisted and invited to present their pitch to a panel of judges.

All pitches will take place in front of an audience during the Galway Film Fleadh and the winner will be presented with a cheque for €3,000.

"The Pitching Award offers many people with no experience of the film industry an opportunity to put their ideas to paper and to practice the art of pitching. For those selected they experience the thrill of bringing their story to life as they try to win over the crowd.

"The Pitching Award continues to attract significant entrants and it is wonderful to see how the award has helped former winners to expand their pitch into a full feature film script," said Managing Director of the Galway Film Fleadh Miriam Allen.

For more information, log onto www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.

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The Roman De Fauvel
written by Wayne Fauvel, February 15, 2009

The Roman de Fauvel, translated as The Story of the Fawn-Colored Beast, is a 14th century French poem accredited to French royal clerk Gervais du Bus, though probably best known for its musical arrangement by Philippe de Vitry in the Ars Nova style. First published in Paris in 1314, the piece serves as an allegorical criticism of church and state, using the metaphor of a donkey becoming the ruler of his master’s house upon a kind whim from Dame Fortune. The poem, though banned at the time for being seditious and heretical, was wildly successful and still copied into the 15th century. Twelve manuscripts have survived, many of which are in remarkably good condition, because they were stowed away securely due to their illegality. Fauvel, an ambitious but foolish donkey, decides that he is unsatisfied with his residence in the stable and moves into the largest room of his master’s house. Upon moving there, he changes it to suit his needs and has a custom hayrack built. Dame Fortune, the goddess of Fate, smiles upon Fauvel and appoints him leader of the house. Subsequently, Church and secular leaders from many places make pilgrimages to see him, and bow to him in servitude, symbolizing Church and state rulers quickly bowing to Sin and corruption.

Upon receiving Dame Fortune’s smile, Fauvel travels to Macrocosmos and asks for her hand in marriage. She denies him, but in her stead she proposes he wed Lady Vainglory. Fauvel agrees, and the wedding takes place, with such guests present as Flirtation, Adultery, Carnal Lust, and Venus, in a technique similar to that of the Morality plays of the 15′th and 16′th centuries.

Finally, Dame Fortune reveals that Fauvel’s role in the world is to give birth to more iniquitious rulers like himself, and to be the follower of the Antichrist, eventually to bring about the end of the world.

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