EIFF

The Edinburgh International film festival is generally billed as a stage for the UK's best and brightest young talent in the UK film industry to take center stage. However the reality is an altogether different beast. I had just finished covering it for a number of publications and was amazed at the amount of petulant and utter failures that shuffle around the event trying to get their names noticed, bags full of CV's, CD's and anything else to grab the attentions of the money men that have turned their positions at the festival into rescue boats for the eager young failures of tomorrow.

For the lucky few who are scouted and drafted to be the next big things in film. Scotland, Edinburgh and this film festival is generally left behind, never to be graced again as Hollywood and London await. A part of their careers that is referred to the 'spring board' or the 'big break'. However for the grand majority of those who aren't so lucky or indeed talented, they have the joy of becoming faded outlines that wander the festival like attention starved children. They are the radiation burns on the wall, next years volunteers, then the next and the next until they finally give up hope of ever making it in film. It's competitive in the film industry, just as it is in my profession of journalism and especially that of writing in general.

Degrees mean nothing if you can't, on your own initiative get your product, point or piece out there and make people take notice. It won't be handed to you and it certainly won't be easy, but the rewards are incredible for anyone with the determination to make their voices heard.

In short, the festival is an opportunity for the young directors and writers of the UK to make their mark. It is competitive and a frenzied market, that is both intimidating and incredibly pressured. If you can't stand the heat, hand out fliers...

Just a thought!!