Deansfield High School pupils promotes the use of expression and BSL features in their film performance

March 2009

Deansfield High School pupils promotes the use of expression and BSL features in their film performance

As part of the school promoting inclusion of sign language within performing arts, Zebra Uno has been involved in a six week creative arts scheme with pupils of Deansfield High School. Here they have used their outstanding performing talents alongside learning the use of British Sign Language facial expression, emotion and basic signs that have been used in their performances.

During the school’s Creativity Zone week, their performing arts production will be showcased.

‘The Guest’ is a huge hit at the Sweden Film Festival

February 2009

‘The Guest’ is a huge hit at the Sweden Film Festival

Marilyn, one of Zebra’s directors reveals another one of her talents by acting as Valerie Clarke, a bed and breakfast owner in the film ‘The Guest’.

The film portrays Valerie as a larger than life character who as a bed and breakfast owner has her first booking for over 20 years. The events that follow have a dramatic effect on her life.

Marilyn was nominated for Best Supporting Actress together with other members of the crew at the Visual Film Gala in Sweden.

When asked what she had gained from this experience Marilyn said, ‘I have learnt so much. The emotion of the character was so hard to express.’

It was later announced that the film was awarded Best International Film - Bim Ajadi and Pierce Starr and Brian Duffy who played Valerie’s son Georgie received the award for Best Supporting Actor.

Further details and screening can be seen on www.theguestfilm.wordpress.com

‘Happy New Year from Zebra Uno and Zebra Access’

January 2009

‘Happy New Year from Zebra Uno and Zebra Access’

May 2009 be a year of great opportunity and success to you all!

Deaffest Film Festival 2008 is a Hit!

Deaffest Film Festival 2008 is a Hit!

New Deaffest co-ordinator Marcella Stratton starts her new role at Deaffest’s 2008 National and International Film Festival.

The weekend was a great success comprising of seminars, presentations, panel discussions, film and archive screenings as well as Young Deaffest.

Deaffest kick started on Friday 28^th November with Young Deaffest where films, written and produced by young people throughout the UK, were screened at our very own film festival.  Soon after Deaffest launched its evening with spectacular screenings from Zebra’s Media Box scheme and the premiere film of ‘Four Deaf Yorkshiremen and the Missing wife’.  

Saturday daytime consisted of extensive panel discussions and seminars where Deaf people had the opportunity to find out the latest updates of Deaf and hearing media and received outstanding professional advice about ‘Pitching’ from a number of well experienced media practitioners. Following this, films from the UK and Internationally by Deaf filmmakers were screened.

Deaffest Gala Evening was hosted by our very own Great Britain Miss Deaf World Winner, Rosanna Mazzocchio, who performed sign songs. The evening consisted of outstanding premiere screenings of Horatio, directed by Louis Neethling and Stiletto, directed by William Mager, which wowed the audience. During the evening, audience members had the privilege to take a historical stroll down memory lane and gain an insight of how our Deaf community lived in the early 1900s.

The night ended with a great big party bash…..!

‘At Work with the Deaf Community in the West Midlands’ project begins…!

‘At Work with the Deaf Community in the West Midlands’ project begins…!

The month of November sees the start of an exciting and fascinating discovery of how Deaf people worked and lived in the West Midlands.

The project is looking at the working lives of Deaf people. We’ll be interviewing Deaf people from Coventry and looking at how employment has changed over the years.  We will also be interviewing other members of the Deaf community from Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Stoke.

Stay tuned for the launch of the DVD in the New Year!!

Zebra Uno’s very own director Nikki Stratton becomes a MUM!!

November 2008

Zebra Uno’s very own director Nikki Stratton becomes a MUM!!

Zebra Uno would like to announce a new beautiful addition to the Zebra staff. Her name is Estella Maisie Beech. She was born at 8.16pm on Friday 14^th November weighing 6lbs 12oz.

CONGRATULATIONS Nikki and Chris on the birth of your beautiful baby girl!!!

We look forward to the day she joins the team.

Zebra Uno & Zebra Access Launches New Website and Showreel at Wolverhampton Arena Theatre

Zebra Uno & Zebra Access Launches New Website and Showreel at Wolverhampton Arena Theatre!

A date to remember this month was the 30th October where the Wolverhampton Arena Theatre held the celebratory party of Zebra’s new website and showreel.

With their new website make-over and showreel capturing their remarkable achievements since Zebra was established 5 years ago; this event was an outstanding success!

Special thanks goes to the Arena Theatre for providing us with the use of their venue.

For more information regarding our showreel please contact Zebra at info@zebra-uno.com

Zebra’s Success in Achieving West Midlands Museum Contract!

October 2008

Zebra’s Success in Achieving West Midlands Museum Contract!

 

‘At work with Deaf communities in the West Midlands’ is the title heading Zebra’s new successful contract with West Midlands Museums based in Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke and our very own Wolverhampton. Deaf people, of all ages, will be interviewed regarding their working experiences. This DVD will explore how Deaf people’s working lives and occupations has changed from generation to generation.

 

This archive DVD will be launched in March 2009, so watch this space!

Screening of Mediabox films in Denmark and Birmingham

September 2008

Mediabox’s Bursary Films to be screened in Denmark and Birmingham Artfest on 13^th September!

Zebra Director and Mediabox project co-ordinator Nikki Stratton is proud to announce the 3 bursary films made thorough Young Deaffest are to be screened in Denmark and Birmingham on 12^th – 14^th September 2008.

Further details about Artsfest can be viewed at: www.Artsfest.org.uk 

The Films The World Today by Brown Solid Productions, The Tape by Purely Platonic Productions and Near Fatal Attraction by 3 point productions highlight the talent of young Deaf filmmakers and actors under the age of 25.

Best British Short Film 2007 Nominee; The Guest is screened in Trafalgar Square at the Liberty Film Festival on 30th August!

 

Best British Short Film 2007 Nominee; The Guest is screened in Trafalgar Square at the Liberty Film Festival on 30th August!

The Guest tells the story of a Bed and Breakfast owner Valerie Clarke, The larger than life character makes her first booking for over Twenty Years and is about to be awoken from her incredibly depressing life. But all hell is about to break loose because Valerie is no longer the young twenty something that was pretty and slim. She is instead a withered old hag that has devoted her life to Georgie her troubled son. She sets out to entice her guest and invites him to her ‘party’, bringing a new dimension to all characters involved.

But will it turn out the way she has planned it? Or is she in for a surprise?

Further details of the film can be viewed at:

 www.theguestfilm.wordpress.com/