MOVIE MAKING AS AN INVESTMENT

The success of "Slum Dog Millionaire" at the Oscars has stirred interest in investment in films, as investors seek new areas in which to put their money. Long viewed with some suspicion by the City and other sober institutions, the film industry should benefit from the success of this film, made for so little (comparatively) and already generating so much revenue.

Perhaps anticipating this new interest, Filthy Lucre Productions is seeking investment for a new British-made film, "The Five Murders of John Dawley", in a nifty package form that promises film credits and tickets for the premiere for a modest input.

Written and directed by Lailaa Carr, produced by David Woods and featuring Axelle Carolyn ('Doomsday','The Descent 2') among the cast, it is a feature thriller that requires additional investment to achieve a total budget of 150K.

For £100, investors can purchase an Associate Producer package that will ensure
a credit on the final cut as an Associate Producer, two tickets to the premiere and a DVD copy of the finished film.

For more substantial investments of 5K or more, there's an Executive Producer
package, which promises a share of monies earned, in the event of the film turning a profit, plus the benefits of the Associate Producer package.

The film's official web-site is www.fivemurders.co.uk, and for further details on the cast and crew go to www.imdb.com.

UNRIVALLED FILM ARCHIVES FOR FREE

Take advantage of the unrivalled film archives kept at the British Film Industry Archives when The Gentle Sex Collection is launched at Mediateques BFI Southbank this Spring. See Bette Davis in a Hammer horror, Margaret Lockwood (below) in 'The Wicked Lady', Diana Dors in 'Yield to the Night' and a bevy of other beauties in historic films, many of which are not available on DVD.

The BFI Mediateque offers a window on the the most significant film and television archive in the world. At the click of a mouse, you can sit back and enjoy a full-length feature film or browse television shows, at no charge. There is also a BFI Mediateque at QUAD, Derby, and others will be opening around the country next year.

A viewing station, which can seat between one to four people, may be booked for as little as 15 minutes or as much as two hours. Or you can simply turn up. It is open Tuesdays 13.00 - 20.00; Wed - Sun 11.00 - 20.00 and must be the best ticket in town. Tel: 020 7928 3535 or www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque. For information on the Mediatheque at QUAD, Derby, go to www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque

ART DOWNTURN SEEN AS "CORRECTION"

Some might be pleased to learn that the contemporary art world has been effected by the global economic downturn – with auction houses reporting falling prices in the last quarter of 2008. It is viewed as a “correction” by Chris Ewbank, spokesperson for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, which recently conducted a survey into the arts and antique market.

“The Contemporary Art sector has soared over the past few years and we are now in the midst of a correction,” he reports.

However, the jewellery and silver markets are  faring better, the report finds, as buyers continue to see these as a long term alternative investment to the stock market. But “buyers are becoming more selective in purchases as the credit crunch hits home, and  sellers will need to become more realistic in their expectations in order to achieve sales” is the RICS’s unsurprising conclusion.

The body conducted the survey as part of its remit to cover all aspects of the property and associated environmental issues. It attributes the downturn to lack of activity in the housing market as well as job losses in the financial sector. That would seem to be quite a conservative assessment.

But unlikely to be effected by such considerations is the body of work by Picasso now being exhibited at the National Gallery, on until June 7. In addition to the main exhibition, there is a display of his prints, including the one above, 'Brothel. Prostitutes Chatting, with Parrot, Celestina and a Portrait of Degas' Go to www.nationalgallery.org.uk

PERILS OF THE FORBIDDEN GAZE

Inspired by the famous "Diana and Acteon" picture, a new exhibition at the lovely Compton Verney gallery explores issues surrounding the forbidden gaze and how it has been interpreted by a wide variety of artists.

Works that have been inspired by the mythical tale, in which poor Acteon's punishment for encountering Diana and gazing upon her is to be turned into a stag and killed by his own hounds, feature artists from the late Renaissance to the nineteenth century. The display traces changing attitudes to the naked body over the last six hundred years. Tel 01926 645540 or email: ina.cole@comptonverney.org.uk

THEATRES OFFER STAY-OVERS

There are positive advantages to the recession. Though some theatres in the West End are doing quite nicely, others are suffering from a drop in visitors to the capital, both in terms of tourists and others from outside London, and so they are making efforts to tempt customers.

The Show-and-Stay package offered on a number of top shows provides one means of taking in a show, staying overnight at a good hotel, and not having to worry about getting home, all at a reasonable rate.

Shows include Billy Elliott, Blood Brothers, Chicago and Wicked and others, hotels are three or four star, and there are pre-theatre dinner options and up to a 40per cent saving on rail travel to and from London.

Available from Monday to Friday up until the end of March, prices start from £52 for show and hotel. Go to www.show-and-stay.co.uk or call 0871 360 2695.

:: VIKINGS AT WINDSOR ::