A star behind the camera and on the radio
BBC Radio Merseyside welcomed its latest expert onto the airwaves this week.
Edge Hill's Professor Roger Shannon will be talking about all things film during his fortnightly, 15 minute slot on the Claire Hamilton show, which airs each weekday from 5 - 7pm on 95.8FM.
The film features will look at everything from the latest national and international releases to cutting-edge cinematic styles.
Professor Roger Shannon said: "I'm thrilled to have been invited by the BBC to be their film commentator on BBC Radio Merseyside.
"The fortnightly slot will be a mix of film reviews, previews and film industry comment with a regional and national focus. I will discuss new UK films, and the best of world cinema, alongside the Hollywood blockbuster. I have a few ideas for guests up my sleeve as well.
"I will also be reflecting on the latest film festivals at home and abroad, the first one being this year's Cannes, which takes place in mid May.
"For me, it will be a pleasure to be able to introduce listeners to a wider menu of film and hopefully inspire them to think about film in different ways.
"Having caught the film bug as a teenager many years ago at the Merseyside Film Institute, subsequently honed by late night viewings of international cinema on BBC 2, this new link with BBC Radio Merseyside seems, personally, very appropriate. It also reflects the critical, educational and cultural attention that Edge Hill University, in its broad range of film-related courses, pays to the significant medium of film.
"In my slot last night I previewed the line-up for this year's Cannes Film Festival which starts the following week. This year's festival has a fantastic line up, including two UK films in the running for the Palme d'Or - Ken Loach's Looking For Eric, set in Manchester, starring the iconic Eric Cantona, and Andrea Arnold's follow up to Red Road, Fish Tank."
The broadcast is available on BBC iplayer.
Biography: Professor Roger Shannon
Born in Liverpool in 1952, Roger Shannon was schooled at Waterloo Grammar School, before taking an English degree at Teesside Polytechnic (now University), followed by a Masters in Contemporary Cultural Studies at Birmingham University (1977 - 79) under the inspirational Professor Stuart Hall.
His beginnings in film included both Birmingham Film/VideoWorkshop, a Channel 4 and BFI-backed organisation which pioneered new ways of making films with young people, and the award-winning Birmingham International Film Festival. His work in the late 1980s helped set up the network of Regional Film Commissions and the emergence of ‘Media Quarters' in cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield.
Returning to Liverpool in 1992 to head up the Moving Image Development Agency (MIDA), Roger Shannon established the first regional Film Investment Fund - the Merseyside Film Production Fund - applying ERDF support to the bustling film economy in the city, a model now adopted by most of the Regional Screen Agencies. He later pursued this robust regional approach as Head of Production at the British Film Institute (1997 - 1999), the UK Film Council as Head of the Production Dept (1999 - 2001) and as Head of Production at Scottish Screen (2004 - 2005).
His film work also includes a number of educational affiliations. He is Professor of Film and Television at Edge Hill University near Liverpool; visiting Honorary Professor in International Film Business at Glasgow Caledonian University and Birmingham City University's Film Fellow. He also has an attachment to the Cuban Film School, where he teaches annually on the International Producers Workshop. Roger is also a Board Member of Midlands Arts Centre and of Tindal Street Press.
Roger has been associated with over 20 UK feature films including Festival, Butterfly Kiss and Under The Skin and has worked with groundbreaking talents including Jimmy McGovern, Michael Winterbottom and Frank Cottrell Boyce. Roger's productions have won awards at International Film Festivals such as Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and Edinburgh.
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Published: Thu, 7 May 2009
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