menu
Documentary Film - Expressions of Interest 11th March 2014 Events Media & Press

The Place of Character and Values in Contemporary Britain

We are inviting expressions of interest to produce a 45min to 60min documentary on the theme of character and values in contemporary Britain with the purpose of being broadcast.

Theme: Issues related to the teaching of character, a subject of considerable controversy and debate within educational, philosophical and psychological circles in the world of academia, is suddenly all the rage in policy circles in the UK. In the wake of the report by the All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on social mobility, and Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt’s speech character education is climbing up the political agenda. It has also been talked about by David Cameron, Michael Gove, the CBI and many other prominent individuals and organisations over the last year. Character education was also the number one recommendation in the Riots Communities and Victims Panel report launched in the wake of the 2011 riots in the UK.

A key conviction of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values, based at the University of Birmingham, is that the virtues which make up good character can be learnt and taught and that they have largely been neglected in schools and in the professions. The Centre is looking to make a documentary that will raise awareness as well as add to the current dialogue about the place of character, values and virtues in contemporary Britain. This is an exciting opportunity for a production company to make a film on a topic that is currently drawing a great deal of interest. A budget of up to £150,000 is available to make the film.

We are particularly interest in collaborating with production companies who can demonstrate:

  • a solid track record of producing material for broadcast;
  • a strong position to ensure the documentary brief is taken up for broadcast;
  • an ability to work collaboratively with the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values, the University of Birmingham and other partners on the project;
  • creativity with the subject matter to ensure audience interest.

We are very keen to discuss what creative approaches can be used to best communicate the subject matter and are open and flexible as to how the finished film will look in terms of the actual content and structure.

Submit an expression of Interest

Expressions of interest indicating why you feel you would be a good fit for this brief should be submitted to Centre Manager Aidan Thompson by email (a.p.thompson@bham.ac.uk) on or before Monday 24th March 2014. Expressions of interest should include a CV and biography of the key talent on the team who will make the film and links to examples of previous work.

We intend to hold follow up discussions with potential production companies in London on Tuesday 1st April 2014.

For further information please contact either

Prof. James Arthur, Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values – after 10th March 2014 (j.arthur@bham.ac.uk 0121 414 5596)

Tom Harrison, Deputy Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values – before 10th March 2014 (t.j.harrison@bham.ac.uk 0121 414 4812)

For some background information on the theme we suggest:

 

You may also be interested in...