News/Blog

@ Lighthouse
Wed 15 July, 10am - 4pm
Cost: £65+VAT

1-day workshop designed as a technical introduction to editing using Final Cut Pro.

There is an early bird discount of 10% if booked before Friday 10 July.

For more details on the workshops please contact Kelly Jeffs To book a place please contact Box Office on t. 01902 716055

@ Lighthouse
Wed 8 July, 10am - 4pm
Cost: £35+VAT

1-day workshop which gives an introduction to video production, including an overview on camera functions and lighting techniques.

There is an early bird discount of 10% if booked before Friday 3 July.

For more details on the workshops please contact Kelly Jeffs To book a place please contact Box Office on t. 01902 716055

For the first time, budding young comic artists in Telford have the chance to learn from Marvel/DC/DC Thomson pro’s.

For the first time since it started five years ago, Hi8us will deliver its internationally successful and innovative Comic Art talent scheme in Telford! Comix Telford is a talent finding competition for budding young comic artists. The aim is to discover and nurture talented artists and support them to get into the comics industry with the help of world-class comic professionals such as John McCrea (X-MEN, SPIDERMAN, THE HULK) and Hunt Emerson (THE BEANO, WALL STREET JOURNAL, FORTEAN TIMES). The scheme is COMPLETELY FREE thanks to Telford & Wrekin’s Find Your Talent programme and the only thing applicants need to do to be considered is send in copies of their most recent comic strips and complete a short application form. The DEADLINE for postal submissions is Friday 17th July ‘09. The DEADLINE for email submissions is Sunday 19th July ,09. If people want to find out more about the scheme they can attend the informal recruitment sessiontaking place at the Telford College of Arts and Technology from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm on Wednesday 8th July. Comix Telford will prioritise 16 to 19 year olds living or studying in Telford.

From July ’09 to October ‘09, 20 finalists will get the opportunity to train with the lead professional comic artists on the scheme John McCrea and Hunt Emerson as well as a wealth of other professional talent including Laura Howell (THE BEANO, THE GUARDIAN), Asia Alfasi (IMAF WINNER, BEST NEW MANGA, BLOOMSBURY GRAPHIC NOVELIST) and Andi Watson (GEISHA, BUFFY) amongst others. The invaluable experience of the professionals will be used to support and develop the talents of those on the scheme, giving them all the essential training, tips and tricks relating to the art of comics as well as a route into the industry by providing access to publishers and editors. The scheme will culminate in the trainees having their first comic book published and launched at the British International Comics Show in October.

Hi8us Midlands is part of an established charity with an impressive long history of utilising the skills of experts to guide aspiring artists and media producers, with professional results. “We run a range of arts & media projects in a range of communities up and down the country; we come across a great deal of untapped talent and this scheme is just one way of meeting the needs of the gifted individuals we know are out there.” Kulwant Dhaliwal, Hi8us Midlands Director. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity,” comments John McCrea  “when I was breaking into the industry I would have loved the chance to be on this project”.

This scheme is fully funded by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Find Your Talent programme. Julie Jones, Creative Arts Manager at Telford & Wrekin Council said “Our aim is to support and nurture talented young people, we know they’re out there!”

Applicants need to submit examples of their best and most recent work. We are looking for good photocopies of 2-4 pages of original continuous comic strip (no posters), preferably without lettering.  Submission guidelines can be downloaded from www.hi8us.co.uk. To book a place at the recruitment session and/or get an application pack, contact: Kulwant Dhaliwal on 0121 753 7700 or kulwant@hi8us.co.uk

Creative content producers need to take project management seriously, according to one industry expert. Steve Stopps, from Leamington Spa-based Blitz Games Studios, says that many creative companies need to reassess how they run their operations.

Steve, who is the keynote speaker at Birmingham City University's ‘Creative Networks' event on Thursday 25 June, believes that project management is increasingly important, given the growth of the creative industries sector. The creative industries are expected to employ 1.3 million people by 2013 - more than the financial sector - and will contribute £85 billion to the UK, up from £57 billion in 2009.

A quarter of those employed in the UK games industry are located in the West Midlands. Steve said: "This is a multi-billion dollar industry, which strongly performs even during the recession.

"The current generation of the highest quality AAA games are similar to Hollywood blockbusters. If a company is going to risk huge amounts of money on a product it needs to gets its project management right. A huge amount of skills and disciplines contribute towards the end product and it's important that these are properly managed.

"With the possibilities offered by digital technologies there is a real opportunity for the screen and sound based sector to capitalise on the growth in demand for its products, but it has to get serious about managing content production.

"Steve will be speaking at Birmingham City University's city centre campus at Millennium Point, Curzon Street on Thursday 25 June, starting at 6pm.

Creative Networks is a FREE event and was established in 2004 as a regular monthly hub of networking and expertise for those working or hoping to work in the creative industries. For more information call 0121 331 5400 email creative.networks@tic.ac.uk or visit www.creativenetworksonline.com

The North Staffordshire Creative Economies Forum (NSCEF) has been developing a new web portal to support the area's creative economy. We now need an enthusiastic, multi-skilled communicator who can capture and connect all the good things in our area.

The person awarded the contract will work on a freelance basis, reporting to the manager of Cultural Services and the communications lead of NSCEF. You will commission, create and share content related to our creative industries, with a wide range of networks.

Working knowledge of production processes online and in print is required. Knowledge and experience of a range of technical equipment, social networking websites and Adobe CS or equivalents will be necessary and we will consider collaborative applications where strong evidence of teamwork is present. You will need to show how you will make good connections quickly into the
diverse creative communities of North Staffordshire and develop content that will engage people in many different ways. We may be able to coordinate training for a strong candidate who needs development in a particular area.

This is an opportunity to be at the centre of exciting, creative central web portal in North Staffordshire.

The editor post is funded for 2 years; the applicant must be self-employed and is fully responsible for tax and national insurance contributions.

Applications received until Friday 3rd July, interviews Monday 6th July 2009

For more information and application details please email: culturaldevelopment@stoke.gov.uk or tel: 01782 232542

Attached is a copy of the final report of the Digital Media study which was completed by Worcester research on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce funded by the Rural Regeneration Zone of Advantage West Midlands. The research was conducted to find out the size, scope and needs of the sector in Herefordshire.

"Today’s figures point to the creative industries, and specifically the talent we have nurtured within it, becoming a key driver for the UK's recovery from recession."

With Oscar fever around the corner and with British talent expected to shine once again this Sunday evening, new figures released today from NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts signal that the UK's creative industries will take centre-stage as a major, high growth contributor to the UK economy over the next five years.

NESTA's analysis suggests that between 2009 and 2013 the UK creative industries - which is responsible for films, music, fashion, TV and video games production - will grow on average at 4% - more than double the rate of the rest of the economy. By 2013, the sector is expected to employ 1.3 million people, likely to be more than the financial sector.

The optimistic medium-term outlook is primarily due to the opportunities for innovation as increasing numbers of creative businesses take advantage of digital technologies to develop new business models. This is illustrated by the digital distribution model which has been exemplified by the success of ‘iTunes'.

By 2013, there may be as many as 180,000 creative businesses in the sector, compared to the current number of 148,000. In the same year, the sector is expected to contribute as much as £85 billion to UK value added, up from £57 billion.

Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA's Chief Executive comments: ‘Today's figures point to the creative industries, and specifically the talent we have nurtured within it, becoming a key driver for the UK's recovery from recession.  However, we need to keep our eye on the horizon and drive forward 21st Century business models which are key to the future success of this sector.'

Today's figures also show that although gross value added (GVA) in the sector is likely to drop sharply in 2009, perhaps as much as 6 per cent, reflecting the general economic environment, the sector will quickly recover to show stronger than average growth from 2010 when it is expected to rise back to 3 per cent. The creative industries currently account for 6.4 per cent of the UK economy.

Source: NESTA 

Light House is now offering structured and bespoke continuous professional development in High Definition production techniques, which will enable UK based filmmakers and broadcast engineers to widen their skills base as well as allowing independent production companies to access this knowledge transfer at a competitive rate.

Mon 18 & Tues 19 May, 10am-4pm.

This 2 day workshop will consist of:

• Operation of Final Cut Pro and Avid HD post production suites
• How HD can affect editing styles
• Colour correction
• Exploration of the characteristics of the various HD tape formats

Applications for this workshop must be submitted by Friday 8 May.

Please note, this workshop is only open to applicants who have some professional experience of working in the film & TV industry and are heavily subsidised by Skillset.

Course costs: £105 + VAT, including lunch in Lock Works cafe bar at the centre.

2009 Chamber Awards: Now Open for Entries

The 2009 Chamber Awards, which celebrate the success and achievements of businesses around the UK, are now open for entries.

• Awards are provided in the following categories:
• Business of the Year.
• Award for Innovation Through Technology.
• Most Promising New Business.
• Entrepreneur of the Year.
• Achievement in International Business.
• Award for Excellence in People Development.
• The Green Award.
• Excellence in Customer Service.

Entry is exclusive to UK Accredited Chamber of Commerce members and winners may be requested to participate in post event publicity.

The overall winner will receive £50,000. Previous winners have experienced year-round exposure from participation in the awards programme, including appearances on TV.

The 2009 closing date for receipt of applications is 26 June 2009.

http://www.shropshire-chamber.co.uk