Big Screen Birmingham had a fantastic year in 2006, playing host to interactive games, the World Cup, showing hundreds of local films and was the venue for various music and dance events. The Big Screen also relayed events such as the Canal Boat Light Parade and other special events.  | | Catching the World Cup action |
Geraldine McCullagh, Screen Manager is passionate about the role of the Big Screen: "We’ve had a great year at the Big Screen, providing information to passers-by via News 24 and the City Diary. We’ve also been supporting local filmmakers and bringing the community together through live events. "One of my favourite events in 2006 was ‘Into Pieces’, a community art project that needed 150 individuals to take part and create a dance film consisting of still-shots. The response was immense. "It was also fantastic to see the crowds of people stopping for the Dance Week we had in July. "It's an exciting challenge to see what we can do in 2007 to build on the success of 2006." Local films get a showingBig Screen Birmingham is proud of its film programme. In the last year the screen played over 300 films, mainly from local filmmakers but also welcomed submissions from national and international producers. Jo Willis, Film Curator for the Big Screen said: "2006 has seen an increase not only in the number of films submitted, but also the quality of the films. We welcome films from anyone and for the first time ever we screened a full-length feature film, produced by students from Tamworth and Lichfield College." If you would like to submit a film please e-mail jo.willis@bbc.co.uk or if you would like the Big Screen to host an event please e-mail geraldine.mccullagh@bbc.co.uk. Hi-lights | | Sleeping Beauty relayed from The Royal Opera House |
The year of Big Screen events literally kicked off in March with an interactive game. People queued up to 'Kick for a Ticket'; they had to kick an imaginary rugby ball through the goal posts. A wedding, as part of Paradise Dreaming theatre production, took part in Chamberlain Square in June. The congregation (consisting of actors, invited guests and passers-by) gathers to see the happy couple. The Penalty ShootOut interactive game was also in June when the Big Screen got into World Cup spirit. The Big Screen decided to see if they could find their own Beckham with a Penalty Shoot-Out - this proved pretty popular.  | | South Asian Performing Arts |
And Roots DeVille provided lunch-time entertainment in June. Dancing was the name of the game July. Crowds of people took part in The Big Dance, aiding in a National World Record. The Whiteman Dance Acacdemy also helped to make July's Dance Week a success by performing some colourful routines and music came in the form of Music4Youth. A real treat for ballet loversVarious artists warmed up the crowds at the Big Screen as the Royal Opera House was relayed live to the Big Screen, including their production of Figaro and Turandot. IntoPieces saw Babis Alexiadis creating art in the community in September. Passers-by were shown how to pose for his still-shot; these shots were then put together to create a dance film.  | | A World Face Paint record relayed from The Mailbox |
SAPA's 'Bollywood Masti' took over the screen in October. The show included singing, Bollywood dancing and workshops. Nikki Tapper presented Rock Idol on the Big Screen at various points in October and November. It was a national competition held via video-conferencing to find the best school rock band. BBC WM got a new breakfast presenter in October – Phil Upton. The Big Screen saw this as a great opportunity to show a live radio show in action. Children in Need in November saw Jimmy Franks live on the Big Screen, presenting all the action from The Mailbox, so the people in Chamberlain Square could see all the activities of the day.  | | Canal Boat Light Parade |
Let Loose in December: Students from Coventry University staged a pantomime show in front of the screen to launch the festive panto season on the crowds. The Big Screen relayed the fabulous Canal Boat Light Parade, as well as the main horse race of the year! The Pantomime Horse Race featured grown men dressed in horse costumes jumping through hay! These are just some of the hi-lights that made 2006 a good year for the Big Screen. The team are now looking at an exciting programme for 2007. So keep an eye out. | 
