Finding the Pathfinders

Whilst we're busy with the launch of ESPTV, we're also currently fundraising for a documentary close to my heart- a documentary about my father, Douglas Percy Cannings who flew in Lancaster Bombers during the war (yes, I was a late baby- I'm not that old!)
Bids are in with the Heritage Lottery and the Council and we'll know by mid September.
My Dad wants to find out what happened to all his crewmates in the two squadrons he served in- 100 Squadron at Waltham, Grimsby and 97 Squadron, Conningsby. Chances are there's not many left now but we want to contact the surviving family members too and gather them together for a day at East Kirkby to see a Lancaster Bomber up close.
We've found a few families so far and we'll hopefully find someone from each family. The stories we're uncovering so far are amazing, and some of them very sad.
We'll be enlisting the help of local history volunteers and St Christophers School, Lincoln too in our search, as we want to find some people that lived in Conningby and Grimsby during the war who can remember the Lancasters in the sky.
Of course, we'll be providing some paid jobs to Lincolnshire creatives too and making sure that, as always, that we give some paid work to newly graduated students in the region.
This is going to be a very special project and we'll keep you updated on here how it's all going.
My sister has done an excellent blog on her trip to Belgium accompanying Dad to a book launch about the Pathfinder Squadron raids there. (the writer had consulted Dad on some historical detail).
http://sandycanblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/im-so-proud-of-my-dad.html
It was one of the reasons that I wanted to tell this story. It's been an emotional time just making the first inroads into researching this. It is going to make a very special documentary.

Our advertising offer just got better!

Yes folks, we've made our Launch advertising offer even better by giving away TWO months free advertising!
We've been busy sorting through our submissions which is taking some time, so in order not to keep you all waiting too long, we'll be doing a special preview in September. Look out for our preview launch date- it's going to be rather special. We've chosen the "Steampunk" channel to be our very special month-long  preview and we'll be looking to find some rather splendid steampunk advertisers to grace our pages along with anyone else who would like to take advantage of our free offer.
Don't forget, anyone who takes us up on our offer will get entered into our free draw to win a pre-roll ad shot by Ermine Street Project up to a value of £500! You'd be mad not to!
E-mail us at info@erminestreetproject.co.uk for more details.

Free prize draw for businesses!

Calling all business owners....
Would you like free advertising for a month, plus the chance to win a free online ad made by Ermine Street Project CIC?
That's our great offer on the table to celebrate our upcoming launch of ESPTV.
All businesses, local or national that contact us in the next month will get:
1. Free banner ad space for a whole month on ESPTV, our new internet TV channel.*
2.One free entry into a draw to win a 20 second "pre-roll" ad to be shown before some of the films on our channel for the first three months. This will be professionally shot, using Ermine Street Project's customary flair and imagination. After the three months is up, you are free to use this ad anywhere on the web!**
What have you got to lose?
Tweet us or send us an e-mail for full terms and conditions.

*No charges will apply if contract cancelled within first month. Subsequent to that, CPM charges will apply at the rate appropriate for the banner ad.
**Pre-Roll Ad will be up to the value of £500 using Ermine Street Project CIC's current pricing structure

Submissions officially open!

Now we've finalised the contract, we're officially open for submissions to our channel.
Send us an e-mail at
info@erminestreetproject.co.uk and we'll send you details of how to submit.
Deadline for consideration in our very first month of operation will be 31st July 2012. Submissions will be considered at any time after that, but successful submissions will go online in subsequent months.
If you're included on our channel in that first month, you'll get an invite to the launch party in Lincoln, too.
Launch will probably be early september- more details on that in the coming weeks.

**STOP PRESS** extended deadline by request: 25th August

Films wanted!

Now that we're so very close to our crowdfunding total, we need to get the ball rolling with ESPTV in earnest. What we need is content from new filmmakers to show alongside our own. We're particularly interested in those of you from the East of the UK, from East Anglia up to South Yorkshire, but anywhere in the UK or beyond will be considered. If you have a film/animation/documentary and you have either:
 a. paid your cast and crew
 b. have a deferred contract in place
 c. Have not employed anyone other than yourself making your piece
Then we'd like to hear from you. We're asking people to adhere to this because it is an ethic that we believe in ourselves and we'd like to encourage good practice in the creative community.

 In return, you will receive a healthy percentage of the advertising revenue that your piece brings in. No fees, no lengthy tie-ins, no buying up of rights. Small filmmakers don't have many outlets for showing their films outside of expensive film festivals and even fewer opportunities to make money. Let's try and change that!

Send your films to:
 Ermine Street Project CIC
Sparkhouse Studios
Rope Walk
Lincoln
LN6 7DQ

 Or send us an e-mail at info@erminestreetproject.co.uk if you would like more detailed information.

Nearly there!

Good news folks! We only need another £300 and we will have made our crowdfunding target! How cool is that?! Huge thanks to all the generous individuals so far who have made this happen.

We can do it!!

Creative England outcome

Sorry to say that despite a fantastic proposal (although I do say so myself) we were unsuccessful with our grant application to Creative England's Film Network fund.
Not the end of the world just yet, as we are still trying to raise £2000 through www.buzzbnk.org/esp
We need donations now more than ever. Can you help...?