60 mins | Recommended 16+

Considering a career in film, but wondering how to break out of unpaid work? Working in production but unsure how to balance financial necessity with creative expression? Two Short Nights welcomes a panel of professionals with experience in different areas of the film industry to chat about how to develop a career that is both financially and creatively rewarding, and finding the sweet spot between the two that will help you develop a sustainable career.

PANEL

ASHLEY THORPE

Ashley is a regionally based animator who specialises in bespoke title sequences, editing and illustration.

Most recently Ashley created the title sequence for BBC’s ‘UNCANNY’, Directed horror feature ‘BORLEY RECTORY’ (now streaming on Netflix) & animated the documentary ‘WOODLANDS DARK & DAYS BEWITCHED’ (on Shudder).

He has written and directed several award winning short films ‘SCAYRECROW’ 2008 (winner of the Media Innovation Award 2009), ‘THE SCREAMING SKULL’ 2008 (nominated Best UK Short film at Raindance 2009) and ‘THE HAIRY HANDS’ 2010 (A SWS / UK Film Council project featuring VO by Doug Bradley). Ashley has written for FANGORIA magazine, horror radio dramas – ‘THE DEMON HUNTSMAN’ and also regularly tutors animation and film making to a variety of age groups for Cinemagic, Into Film and the Exeter Phoenix and BFI Academy.

Charlotte Barton

Charlotte is Head of Film for Denhams Digtital and began her career in non-fiction publishing, working as a copywriter, then editor commissioning books including Teach Yourself Post Modernism and Planted by Andy Sturgeon who went on to have a stellar career as an award-winning garden designer. She was the Project Writer on the Design Council’s Millennium Dome exhibit and then moved into TV to work on the broadcast series of Planted. She worked in Broadcast TV for over 20 years, as a Producer Director in food, factual and documentary. Since working at Denhams she’s directed multiple series for BBC Food, Bottlegreen and Riverford. Working across the company, in collaboration with both strategic and design teams, Charlotte has made powerful brand films for the Ministry of Defence, NHS and Dartmoor National Park turning complex propositions into clear and compelling stories.

Jon Drever

Jon is a multi award winning and Emmy nominated producer / Director, working mostly in comedy. He has made movies, and TV shows, documentaries, commercials, shorts and sketches.

Jon was the co-founder of Oscar winning production company, Grain Media, before selling his half in 2018 to concentrate on making comedy. His feature debut was the critically acclaimed SuperHero romcom, SUPERBOB which was called “a modern romantic classic” by Ricky Gervais and went on to win 9 international awards and played at 16 international festivals, opening and closing many of them. He has worked with some of the UK’s best comedy talent including Ross Noble, Brett Goldstein, Catherine Tate, Aisling Bea, Diane Morgan, Joe Wilkinson and lots more.

About Two Short Nights

Two Short Nights Film Festival is returning once again to celebrate short films and the people who make them. The 22nd edition of Two Short Nights will take place on 08 & 09 February 2024, highlighting the best international, national and regional short films.

Two Short Nights has always focused on great stories, and that’s what our 22nd edition will continue to do. We invite our audience to celebrate creativity, diversity and variety. The festival is proud to nurture new and emerging talent through selected screenings, commissions, and our famous 48 Hour Film Challenge!

VENUE: THE WORKSHOP, EXETER PHOENIX

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>