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Welcome
to February's Issue of the Newsletter for members of "The
Creative Networks"
'Creative Networks' at UCE Birmingham's Technology
Innovation Centre (tic) is
about bringing together all parties involved in sound
and screen-based media in the West Midlands. 'Creative
Networks' seeks to promote both successful business development
and collaboration. It also seeks to contribute to the establishment
of a strong, long-term, sound and screen-based Creative
Industry in the West Midlands. The tic
achieves this through increasing knowledge sharing and use of innovative
technologies, creative practice and business processes.
Regular monthly networking events are held at tic.
They offer opportunities for individuals and companies
to network, make pitches and identify the resources they
are seeking or support for the projects they are planning.
Visit our online portal www.creativenetworksonline.com
for up-to-date news, funding, business support, training
and tender opportunities.
In This Issue:
1. COMING UP -
February's Creative Networks Event @ tic *NIK POWELL*
2. Event Reviewed - January's Creative Networks Event
3. Seven Films in Seven Days - Call for Crew
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:: Send your name around the country for charity |
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...we’d also like to hear from you!
Contact Scarlet Scardanelli, the Creative Networks administrator
with any feedback, case studies, success stories, interesting projects, collaboration opportunities or news:
:: phone
0121 331 5400
:: email
scarlet.scardanelli@tic.ac.uk
:: or
post to Technology Innovation Centre, Millennium
Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG
:: or online at www.creativenetworksonline.com |
| 1.
COMING UP - February's
Creative Networks Event @ tic *NIK POWELL* |
Thursday 22nd February - From 6.00pm til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The Collaborative Networking Event for Creative Industry Professionals
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NIK POWELL
Secrets of a Successful Producer
25 Tips for producing results in the media industry
In the late 1960s Nik Powell set up Virgin Records with Richard Branson. In 1982 Powell formed Palace Productions with Stephen Woolley and Exec Produced all productions, including Neil Jordan's award winning COMPANY OF WOLVES; Jordan's Oscar-nominated and Cannes award-winning MONA LISA; and his Oscar winning THE CRYING GAME. In 1992 Powell and Woolley formed SCALA Productions where they produced Terence Davies' THE NEON BIBLE; the Oscar nominated and golden globe winning LITTLE VOICE by Mark Herman; and Fred Schepsi's LAST ORDERS. Nik’s last film was LADIES IN LAVENDER, starring Dame Judi Dench. |
In April of 1996 he was elected Chairman of the European Film Academy and has since twice been re-elected.
Beside his appointment as Director of the National Film and Television School, he remains the Chairman and also a Director of Scala Productions. Additionally, he is a board director of the Northern Ireland Film and TV Commission & an elected member of BSAC & PACT Council.
From 5pm we will show short films featuring the highlights from Light House’s City and Guilds Film Production course. Speed Networking to take place in the canteen, proving a platform encouraging collaboration and integration.
The Creative Networks event is FREE. If you would like to join us, please contact Scarlet Scardanelli email scarlet.scardanelli@tic.ac.uk, or phone 07969 226 693
or register online on the Creative Networks portal www.creativenetworksonline.com
You'll be very welcome. |
| 2. Review of January's Creative Networks Event |
Thursday 25th January - From 6.00pm ‘til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The tic welcomed a mass of creative businesses and professionals from across the West Midlands to the first Creative Networks event of 2007. This month we were proud to welcome a bonafide music legend in the shape of Ranking Roger, courtesy of the Musicians Union. The Beat’s vocalist kindly offered to share his wealth of knowledge and experience which he has accumulated over several decades in the music industry.
Complimentary hot food and refreshments were served in the tic cafe while delegates took full advantage of the opportunity to network with fellow professionals before the main event got underway.
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| Summaries of Open Floor Pitches |
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Thursday 29th March 2007
From 2.00pm ‘til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
Steve spoke of an upcoming event, the LSC Creative Industries Forum and Advantage West Midlands Screen, Image and Sound Forum in conjunction with Creative Networks. Scheduled for Thursday 29th March 2007.
Time |
Event |
2pm - 5pm |
LSC Creative Providers Forum 2007 |
5pm - 6pm |
Networking, Food and Booze |
6pm - 7pm |
Screen, Image and Sound Cluster Forum (Presentations & Q&A |
7pm - 8pm |
Keynote Speaker - To be Confirmed |
8pm - 8.20pm |
Launch of Creative Birmingham Portal |
8.20pm - 10pm |
Creative Networks Informal Networking and Entertainment |
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The i4 Skills team are currently running two free business enterprise courses; Start With Success and Market Maker Skills.
Start With Success is aimed at newly established businesses/freelancers who are looking for business, networking and marketing advice, tips and tricks on getting started.
Market Maker Skills is aimed at established companies looking to diversify and find new markets for their products.
Funding for the courses was due to run out in December of last year, this has been extended until MARCH, so this is your last chance to sign up.
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Harness your creative talent with your own business
FREE 'START WITH SUCCESS' 3-DAY BUSINESS START-UP COURSES
i4 'Start With Success' will help you realise the full potential of your creative talents by starting and managing your own business in the screen and sound-based media industries. The course is also suitable for recent business start-ups requiring additional support to get their business going.
Start With Success Course Dates for 2007
Course 1: Tuesday 06/02/07. 13/02/07, 20/02/07
Course 2: Tuesday 27/02/07, 06/03/07, 13/03/07
i4 'Start With Success' will help you to:
- Understand the fundamentals of starting a business
- Prepare a basic business, financial and marketing plan
- Improve presentation skills for networking & pitching
- Develop your sales and client management skills
- Manage your time & creative projects more effectively
- Produce or develop your showreel
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Identify new markets for your creative media services
FREE 'MARKET MAKER SKILLS' 3-DAY MARKET DIVERSIFICATION COURSES
i4 'Market Maker Skills' will help screen and sound-based media professionals identify, analyse and engage with new markets for their creative media services, to secure project contracts and/or paid work.
Start With Success Course Dates for 2007
Course 1: Thursday 08/02/07. 15/02/07, 22/02/07
Course 2: Thursday 29/02/07, 08/03/07, 15/03/07
i4 'Start With Success' will help you to:
Review the market potential for media solutions in various industry sectors
Assess emerging markets that have media requirements
Develop business proposals and presentations for specific market sectors
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i4 Skills courses are FREE to those meeting the eligibility criteria. The courses are delivered by a series of seminars, workshops and activities over three full consecutive days (9.30am - 4.30pm), at Millennium Point in Birmingham City Centre.
These courses represent your FINAL chance to receive FREE training. After March 2007, these courses will still be available, but at a cost of £167
Co-financed by the Learning Skills Council and European Social Fund, i4 Skills training courses are run by UCE Birmingham's Technology Innovation Centre, in conjunction with Wolverhampton-based Light House.
To find out if you are eligible or to book a course, please contact the i4 team.
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The Musicians' Union represents over 35,000 musicians working in all sectors of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services for professional and student musicians of all ages, including: £10million public liability insurance; £1000 instrument insurance; contract vetting service; partnership agreements; rights protection; standard contracts; gig rates; career advice and legal advice.
Whether you work as a gigging musician, in studios, as a composer, or in the media, full time officials are there to represent and help YOU know your rights and secure the future of the music industry.
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Lucid Solution are an unsigned and unrestricted act from Birmingham. The duo comprises writer/composer/producer Terry Lewis a.k.a T-cell and lyricist/writer/performer Alan McGeachie a.k.a Kurly. The pair offer genuinely refreshing music as they mix real personality with various musical styles to suit different emotions, so you can always expect to hear something unique and original. Lucid Solution collaborate with various artists with different personalities, ideas and musical backgrounds showcasing how well differences can be blended together in an organic, clear and freeflowing way.
The duo are currently looking for collaborations with producers, artists and DJs, and are also seeking live events to showcase their talent. Please get in touch with Alan to find out more. |
| Ranking Roger Guest Speaker |
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The event's main speaker was Ranking Roger, one of Birmingham’s proudest exports. Being a punk rock fan as a teenager, he joined The Beat in late 1970’s. After achieving considerable worldwide success he has returned to Birmingham where he continues to enjoy writing and making music. Roger gave us a terrific insight into the enormous machine that is music industry.
Our guest speaker highlighted honesty as one of the most important traits for people who want to achieve sustainable success in the music industry. In the beginning, The Beat were attracting a lot of attention from the big record labels who saw the band’s innovative sound as having great potential for commercial success. It was around this time that the band met John Mostyn, a person who Roger cited as being one of the most honest people that he has ever encountered. John ardently looked out for the interests of The Beat ensuring that they didn’t get ripped off by the industry’s big boys, and this is something for which Roger will always be grateful.
It was declared that in all walks of life, we inevitably pass people on the way up the ladder in our career. Roger explained that the way in which we treat these people will ultimately dictate the manner of our descent when our time is coming to an end. People always remember integrity, and treating all who you meet with respect on your way to the top is not only the right way to do things, but it will go a long way to creating a sustainable career.
Networking was highlighted as one of the most important activities that a person can undertake as a musician. After The Beat’s debut single reached number 6 in the charts, a number of doors opened for the band giving them a lot of key contacts within major record labels. While Roger acknowledged that not all bands get an opportunity to network with record labels, he did stress that getting your name known in smaller circles is crucial because if no-one knows who you are, then you will always have a very small potential audience for your music.
While Roger admitted that nothing is more effective than organic face to face contact at events such as Creative Networks, he talked us through his experiences of the internet as a platform for meeting new people. Having signed up to MySpace just one week ago, Roger was amazed at the hundreds of people he has spoken to, ranging from lifelong fans to potential collaborators. He even invited aspiring West Midlands musicians to visit his page for advice and support on working in the music industry.
When taking questions from the audience, several people asked Roger what piece of advice he would give to unsigned bands when negotiating with record labels. In response he highlighted that although lawyers are expensive, it is important to seek professional legal advice before signing any contract with a record label. He believes that The Beat was blessed with the protection and experience that John Mostyn had to offer, and firmly believes that The Beat would not have achieved worldwide success without appropriate advice and representation from the outset. |
| 3. Seven Films in Seven Days - Call for Crew |
SEND YOUR NAME AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR CHARITY
There is now a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers in the West Midlands to receive UK-wide distribution in return for helping to spread the word about diabetes. The challenge of Balance: shoot seven films, of seven different genres but one common theme, in just seven days.
Four of these films are live-action 5 minute shorts in the genres of horror, rom-com, thriller and drama. A fifth is a 15min musical, and another is a documentary on the whole process. After just one week of production, these films and an animation will go on to be screened in aid of Diabetes UK, and finally given national distribution via the charity.
All proceeds go to charity, so everyone including the producers will be voluntary - but this is an excellent chance to send your name and your work around the country. They are currently still seeking talented and committed DOPs, gaffers and/or sound technicians, with some knowledge/experience of working with DVCAM.
Production commences week beginning Monday 16th April until Sunday 22nd April 2007. You don't need to be available ALL the days; but the more you can make, the more credit you can expect to receive. In addition, you will be required to arrange a pre-production meeting with the director. The films will be shot on location around Birmingham and the West Midlands. Reasonable travel expenses will be covered and provisions for lunch will be provided.
If you're interested, please send a brief covering letter clearly stating your experience, availability and level of commitment, along with your CV, to Chip via crew.balance@yahoo.co.uk |
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Technology Innovation Centre (tic) 2006
Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG
phone +44 (0)121 331 5400 fax +44 (0)121
331 5401
email enquiries@tic.ac.uk www.tic.ac.uk
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