British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant Overview: Understanding Star Brand Narratives in the Post Studio Era

Successful research funding for projects connected to stardom and screen performance are relatively rare, yet increasingly academic career progression is dependent on securing external funds.
To help address this concern, in this workshop we aim to provide a platform for our members for access guidance, discussion and collaboration on writing research grants applications related to stardom and performance research topics.
The session aims to offer practical subject-specific advice on approaching stardom and performance in a funding context, both for individual and collaborative work, and for projects of all sizes.
It will enable dialogue with successful recipients of funding from major UK funding bodies to reflect on and explore ways of leveraging stardom and performance projects into award-winning applications.
It will provide a space for SIG members to meet and workshop their own bids or ideas for bids with other members, to identify schemes and projects, and to potentially allow for greater collaborative initiatives and networks.
Expert speakers:
Professor Karen McNally, London Metropolitan University and Leverhulme Major Research Fellow for ‘Lana Turner, A Historical Biography’ (2023)
Dr Mark McKenna, University of Staffordshire and holder of a BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grant for 'Understanding Star Brand Narratives in the Post Studio Era’ (2024)
Dr Jacky Waldock, University of Liverpool, Impact Fellow for Faculty of Humanities and Social Science.

The Workshop will cover the following aspects:
1. Presentations from successful grant holders on their projects and application and Q&A, plus presentation from University Impact Fellow on embedding impact; 2. Interactive small group discussions on supporting work-in-progress bids and/or emerging bid ideas; 3. Large group reflections and feedback.
Attendance is free and open to all BAFTSS Performance and Stardom SIG members, regardless of career stage or bid development stage. We aim to provide an inclusive and welcoming space that allows everything from the inexperienced to start thinking about research funding to those wanting peer advice prior to a developed bid’s submission or those simply wishing to share their experiences with others.
You must be BAFTSS Performance & Stardom SIG member to attend and you must register by 10th January 2025.
If you are not a current SIG member and would like to join, please get in touch with us at baftssstars@gmail.com
Event organisers and Performance & Stardom SIG convenors: Sarah Thomas, Samar Abdel-Rahman, Eleonora Sammartino.
Please contact us as baftssstars@gmail.com if you have any questions at all.
Organised by the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies 'Performance and Stardom' Special Interest Group. Funded by the BAFTSS SIG Event Fund.