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Welcome
to November's Issue of the Newsletter for members of "The
Creative Networks"
'Creative Networks' at *Birmingham City University'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.
Birmingham City University is the new name for the former University of Central England in Birmingham. For further details please visit: www.bcu.ac.uk/namechange
In This Issue:
1. COMING UP -
November's Creative Networks Event - *DONT MISS OUT*
2. Event Reviewed
- October's Creative Networks Event
- Creatives' Cash Challenge
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I've got the ideas, now I just need the money!
:: Details of the Funders |
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:: Summaries of the Creative Cash Challenge Pitchers |
3. The Music Network - Monthly Networking Event held at tic
4. Flip Animation Festival - 1-3 November 2007
5. Gigbeth Music Festival 2007 - 1-3 November 2007
6. Birmingham City University at Music Live - 2-4 November 2007
7. Event Reviewed - TIC Education Day as part of the Black International Film Festival 2007
8. Event Reviewed - Cinematic Short Film Festival 2007
9. i4 Skills - New Courses NOW Available |
...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
creativenetworks@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 - November's Creative Networks Event *DONT MISS OUT* |
| Thursday
29th November - From 6.00pm ‘til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The Collaborative Networking Event for Creative Industry Professionals
Make it with Marketing!
Boost your business with an effective sales and marketing strategy.
If you’re thinking of launching your own business, or would like to get your existing venture flying even higher, November’s Creative Networks event will provide the sales and marketing boost you need.
We have recruited a panel of leading sales and marketing professionals to help you with practical ideas for promoting your business and selling to customers.
Many sound business ideas have fallen by the wayside by not getting the commercial actions right. Grasping and addressing these fundamental concepts will give your business a fighting chance of survival and growth!
This event is free, if you would like to join us, please email creativenetworks@tic.ac.uk, or phone 07969 226 693. Alternatively, you can register online on the Creative Networks portal www.creativenetworksonline.com.
You’ll be very welcome.
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| 2. Review of October's Creative Networks Event |
Thursday 25 October - From 6.00pm ‘til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
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This month we received sponsorship from Advantage Creative Fund who were on our panel and from Business Link who held advice surgeries prior to the event.
Over 100 people attended this month’s Creative Networks event – Creatives’ Cash Challenge. A panel of business experts offered funding opportunities to three companies who had progressed (from an initial 19 entrants) to the final stage of making their pitch in front of the invited audience.
Also, after the main attraction and as part of the week’s Black International Film Festival, there was a free film screening in the IMAX Cinema.
This was the 36th Creative Networks event held in a row, so there was reason to celebrate since it is now officially our 3rd birthday!
As usual the evening provided an opportunity to talk, chat and network with other individuals and companies representing the creative industries across the region.
As established last month, there was the opportunity for everyone to use our new ‘post-it board’ system in order to exchange ideas and contact details for collaborative projects. As well as a physical presence at the event, the ‘Post-it-board’ can also be found on our new and improved website www.creativenetworksonline.com along with a forum where your expertise can be exchanged.
NOTE: If you would like to pitch your own company in this way and get you message across to all the attendees at CN (as well as getting a mention in our monthly newsletter) then please contact Scarlet on 07969 226 693 or drop her a email at creativenetworks@tic.ac.uk
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Mike Arch
Rex Bird
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Mike Arch and Rex Bird
Company: Advantage Creative Fund
phone 0121 345 4525
email info@advantagecreativefund.co.uk
website www.advantagecreativefund.co.uk
address PO Box 6613, Kings Bromley, Burton on Trent DE13 7ZD
Advantage Creative Fund can invest from £10K to £250K in YOUR company.
ACF can invest in creative sector businesses including software, design, music, film, television, arts, other intellectual property based businesses, and more. This is the unique opportunity you have been waiting for, to get directly in front of the funding decision makers.
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address 69 Aston Road North, Birmingham B6 4EA
Aston Reinvestment Trust is a community development financial institution whose remit is to fill the gap between bank lending, and grant funding. ART lends between £10K to £50K.
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Paul Trigg
Company: Media Vault @ TIC
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email paul.trigg@tic.ac.uk
phone 0121 331 5400
web www.mediavaultonline.co.uk
address Technology Innovation Centre, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG
New funding is NOW available so that Media Vault continues to support the region’s existing and start-up media businesses with subsidised access to its content creation and distribution facilities based at Millennium Point. Up to a value of £2.5K, subject to eligibility.
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| Summaries of Creative Cash Challenge Pitchers |
So with everyone in place, the ‘Creative Cash Challenge’ got underway. The ‘rules’ allowed our three lucky pitchers to give a five minute presentation before being subject to an intense ten minute grilling from our panel. Once the time was up, the panel of judges each gave their verdict with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down indicating whether the funders would back the candidates with hard cash! |
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Jon Allen
Company: FRONTUP
Proposition: Internet T-Shirt sales of sport specific T-Shirts
The first person to venture into the spotlight was Jon Allen from Front Up, an online T-Shirt seller who specialises in urban Rugby fashion. With a detailed business plan and a firm understanding of his target audience, Jon gave a solid presentation. However, because the products Jon sells are predominately in the retail market, the panel all felt they were unable to fund his proposition. Unfortunately for Jon, it was thumbs down from each of the four members of the panel. Jon gave an excellent presentation and was urged to persevere; his efforts gained a huge round of applause from the audience.
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Samuel MacKenzie
Company: CPN Publishing
Proposition: Book publisher
Next up was Samuel Mackenzie from CPN Publishers. With over 55 titles and 4 ready to print, Samuel stepped up to the stage with the hope of securing funding to enable him to print many more of his range of book titles. Requesting £70k of investment, Samuel intended to deliver more of his products to his existing supply lines, both here and in the USA. His restricted cash flow cannot finance the requirement for printed stock that’s needed to meet potential orders and therefore current production has slowed.
The panel’s response was to ask Samuel more about his business in order to determine how many books he was currently selling. With only five minutes to put ideas across, it’s not easy to put together an appealing pitch and provide full financial and marketing information. Because Samuel did not provide enough detail in this area, once again our judges gave a unanimous thumbs down.
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Paul Colbert
Company: Ventura Productions
Proposition: 3D Short Movies
The final pitcher was Paul Colbert from Ventura Productions whose cutting edge exploration into the 3D filming market and enthusiasm for new technologies made for an entertaining and crowd pleasing presentation. Looking for a whopping £250K in funding, Paul intended to develop a 6 minute promotional piece that would not only show off the new technologies he is working with but also be a promotional piece for the Birmingham area. With numerous years in the industry and an eye on the developing market for new cinema technologies, Paul saw the cash on offer as a long term investment. However, the panel saw things differently and their response was to ask if the market really existed yet and therefore, what revenue could be generated in the short or medium term?
Most importantly, what profit could be made from the proposed promotional piece?
Even though the venture would promote our region, the judges were looking for tangible profits and growth – so three of them gave the thumbs down. Paul Trigg, representing Media Vault, gave a thumbs up since this project exists to develop new media technologies with the creative industries across the region. |
Overall the evening was a huge success and whilst none of the pitchers received the funding they would have liked, the evening highlighted how many ideas are being explored by the members of Creative Networks. It’s difficult to pitch what you hope will be a successful business, especially in front of serious investors and an audience who have the same aspirations. But everyone demonstrated a positive response and there was plenty of further discussion after the close.
A huge thank you must go out to Jon, Samuel and Paul for being willing to participate, it takes guts to stand up and put your ideas across in such a public forum. Well done guys, you may not have succeeded this time but it’s just the start, we anticipate you’ll reach your goals in the future and look forward to collaborating with you in those endeavours.
Thanks to our sponsors, funders and judges. |
| Event Feedback - Find out what some of our attendees had to say... |
"My company has benefited from Creative Networks as I have expanded my Network, improved my business acumen. We have also been encouraged to be more Media savvy."
Ali Rice - Rice Design
"It is always good to be around other people doing creative activities. Keep up the good work!"
Joy Roxborough - Island Joy
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The Music Network leads a monthly networking event at the tic for all music related businesses from the West Midlands region.
Running successfully for over five years, their meetings have proved inspirational in the support, development and promotion of thousands of music related activities.
If you have news to report, events to promote, points for discussion or a pitch to make, the Music Network will be useful for you.
They offer access to contacts, opportunities, help, advice and guidance - and even free tea and biscuits.
The Music Network is a voluntary, not for profit, social enterprise organisation seeking charitable status. Meetings take place on the last Thursday of each month, 4-6pm at Birmingham City University's Technology Innovation Centre (tic), Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG.
email info@birminghammusicnetwork.com
web www.birminghammusicnetwork.com |
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| 4. Flip Animation Festival: 1-3 November 2007 |
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The Flip Animation festival starts 1st November!
Festival passes are now on sale at www.flipfestival.co.uk.
Group booking is available for parties of 20 people and over, contact the team for more details email flip@light-house.co.uk.
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| Sherbet Retrospective |
Friday 2nd 7.00 - 9pm |
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Sherbet is a BAFTA winning animation production company producing ground breaking visuals for high profile TV commercials, TV series, experimental independent films, music promos, TV and online graphics. This event will showcase some of their award winning work followed by a Q&A with some of the staff and directors. More.
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| Flip Festival 2007: Exhibitions |
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This year the festival will have several exhibitions surrounding animation. At Flip 07 you will be able to see Kinetic sculptures, international participatory art projects; models from films such as Mars Attacks and The Corpse Bride and finally Fine Art Video Animation at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
For the full listings go to the exhibitions page of the Flip Festival website - www.flipfestival.co.uk |
| Trunk: Music |
Friday 2nd 9.00 - 10.30pm |
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TRUNK Animation Studio is an award winning mixed media production company, using everything from 2D and 3D computer aided techniques to stop frame and manipulated live action. This screening will feature the studio’s music video collection which will be looped in the cinema and available for drop-in with drinks and chat. |
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| 5. Gigbeth Music Festival 2007 |
Thursday 1st - Saturday 3rd November
From 2007, Gigbeth moves to the first weekend of November, to coincide with Music Live – the national music exhibition held annually at the NEC. Music Live attracts over 25,000 visitors to the City who, before now, have never been offered any form of evening entertainment as part of the weekend. The collaboration with Music Live has already raised the profile of Gigbeth and as a result a number of new partners have come on board.
Gigbeth will run from Thursday 1st-Saturday 3rd November 2007.
Gigbeth will open on Thursday with the conference, held in the Radisson SAS hotel. Here delegates will enjoy a range of key speakers covering the most important music industry issues; which will then be followed by lunch. After the conference, an Opening Ceremony will take place on Digbeth High Street. The ceremony will include a very special performance on the main stage, as well as a fire display and street entertainment.
The Gigbeth weekend will see a range of musicians performing in the selected venues. The diversity of music ranges from pop, rock, hip hop and R’n’B, to jazz, choral, gospel and bhangra. Performances from young musicians will also take place under the Gigbeth ‘Platform G’ scheme; which gives talented 15-19 year olds the opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians.
As well as the conference and gigs, a range of other activities such as special seminars and workshops will take place during the weekend.
If you are planning to attend just one of Gigbeth’s amazing 45 gigs make sure you get your ticket in advance to avoid the queues and ensure you don’t miss any of the amazing acts at this year’s festival!
As Gigbeth is a festival you will not be able to buy tickets on the door, all on the day sales must be bought at the general box office – regardless of the gig you will be attending.
The General Box Offices are located at South Birmingham College and Digbeth Coach Station (a maximum 15 minute walk from all Gigbeth venues), and will be open from Wednesday 31st October 12noon.
We anticipate queues at these Box Offices will be large – therefore our advice is get your ticket from the Rotunda this week or this very website and collect in the fast-track queue on the day. Or you will need to make sure you leave plenty of time to get your tickets on the day!
For more information visit www.gigbeth.com
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| 6. Birmingham City University at Music Live |
Birmingham City University aims to ‘strike a chord’ with prospective students at this year’s Music Live event
Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) will be exhibiting at this year’s Music Live event, which will be taking place at Birmingham’s NEC between Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th November 2007.
The TIC will be situated at stand C35 (near to the Seminar Area) and will be demonstrating its core capabilities in the areas of music, sound and multimedia technologies.
Visit www.musiclive.co.uk for further details about this event. |
| 7. Event Reviewed - TIC Education Day |
TIC delivers Education Day programme as part of the Black International Film (BIF) Festival 2007
As part of V Television’s inaugural 2007 BIF (Black International Film) Festival, Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (tic) hosted an Education Day on Thursday 25th October at Millennium Point, with the aim of stimulating a greater understanding of the changing nature of technology: from past to present, in addition to introducing attendees to the dynamic world of Interactive Media, encompassing film, sound and multimedia technologies.
The full day programme, scheduled from 10.00am – 5.30pm, was attended by over 60 young people, aged between 16–24. The day was split between technology-focused activities at Thinktank, Birmingham’s Science Museum of Discovery, whilst specialist media-related taster seminar/workshops sessions organised by Stuart Coburn, Mat Randall and Sandeep Chahil took place after 1.00pm for those wishing to gain a greater understanding of the ‘media toolbox’ and courses designed to help creative businesses succeed. These sessions were delivered in the TIC boardroom.
Film Screening at the IMAX Cinema
The evening concluded with tic’s monthly Creative Networks event which, in supporting the BIF Festival, included a special screening in the IMAX Cinema of ‘Blazed’, an award winning, locally produced film courtesy of Maverick TV, Hi8us and Screen West Midlands.
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| 8. Event Reviewed - Cinematic Short Film Festival |
‘Side Dish’ of the day at Cinematic 2007
The animated film, ‘Side Dish’, by Director Leigh Hodgkinson, was voted the ‘most innovative film’ at the Cinematic 2007 short film festival. Leigh also claimed the ‘best animation’ award for her second entry, ‘Flighty’.
Cinematic was the fifth annual short film festival organised by Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC). The event was supported by IMAX Cinema Birmingham and Birmingham’s New Technology Institute (NTI). Established to encourage innovation in short film-making, this year’s event showcased 34 films, short-listed from a record 130 entries.
The winning film, ‘Side Dish’, was created as an accompaniment to the song of the same name by the group ‘Psapp’. The enchanting animation tangles interior and exterior decor, as a girl prepares a romantic meal in a garden. Leigh’s animation category winner ‘Flighty’ is a witty take on speed-dating, featuring butterflies with just two weeks to live!
As Apple’s Accredited Training Centre in Birmingham, NTI is providing a training place on the ‘FCP101: Introduction to Final Cut Pro 6’ course to Cinematic’s winning director.
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The ‘best student film’ prize was won by co-directors Debbie Steer and Lucy Elliot. Their offbeat drama, ‘Grandma and the Monster’, was inspired by Japanese ‘Kajiu’ monster films, Manga animation, linguistics, sculpture and fashion photography. Debbie and producer, Jonathan Addy, were presented with a selection of Apple training books from TIC and prize sponsor NTI Birmingham.
Photo: Debbie Steer and Jonathan Andy
receive the award for 'best student film' from Neil Emery (left), of prose sponsor, NTI Birmingham, and the chair of the judging panel, Mike Burch (right). |
Three further category winners also received awards. The drama category was won by Flemming Jetmar’s film ‘Drop’. His action-adventure film deftly depicts one man’s survival from a tornado as just the beginning of a perilous ride. Luke Dosey’s film ‘i’ won the category for experimental films, with a snapshot of a human eye during a terrifying moment.
The documentary film category went to Edward Brooke-Hitching’s film ‘The Watchman’, which follows the deeply moving story of Eastbourne window cleaner, Keith Lane. After his wife committed suicide, Keith started twice daily patrols of the Beachy Head cliffs in order to talk-down would be jumpers.
A text voting system enabled the festival’s audience to vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ awards. The winner on night one was the animated film ‘The Monster, the Penguin and the Giraffe’. Directed by Lou Wilde, the film explores the vivid imagination of children by bringing their drawings to life. The best student film winner ‘Grandma and the Monster’ also won the audience vote on night two.
Summing up Cinematic 2007, Festival Director, TIC’s Stephen Gordon said: "It was a tough task for our judges to pick winners. The production values of entries gets ever-higher and film-makers are constantly finding new and intriguing ways to interpret our desire to encourage innovation in short film-making. A noticeable trend in this year’s selection is the director’s decision to eschew dialogue in favour of compelling visually-led narratives – the kinds of stories that only film can tell!"
Further information on Cinematic can be found at www.tic.ac.uk/cinematic or www.myspace.com/cinematicfestival |
LOW COST Short Courses Currently Available
i4 Skills courses at Birmingham City University's Technology Innovation Centre (tic) provide a low-cost way to realise the full potential of your creative talents.
| Enterprise Courses |
Course Start Dates |
Days and Times |
Market-Led Diversification for
Media Business |
10th January 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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6th March 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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1st May 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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3rd July 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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Business Essentials for Media
Start-Ups |
6th December 07 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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7th February 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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3rd April 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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5th June 08 |
Thursday x 3 (9.30 - 17.00) |
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| Technical Courses |
Course Start Dates |
Days and Times |
Introduction to Website Design
and Production |
12th November 07 |
Monday and Thursday evenings x 4 (18:00 – 21:00) |
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12th January 08 |
Saturday x 4 (10:15 – 16:00) |
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4th February 08 |
| Monday and Thursday evenings x 4 (18:00 – 21:00) |
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29th March 08 |
Saturday x 4 (10:15 – 16:00) |
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21st April 08 |
Monday and Thursday evenings x 4 (18:00 – 21:00) |
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12th July 08 |
Saturday x 4 (10:15 – 16:00) |
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| Further Website Design and Production |
30th November 07 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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2nd May 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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19th July 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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Introduction to Multimedia Authoring |
dates to be confirmed |
Thursday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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| Graphics for Web & Multimedia |
2nd November 07 |
Friday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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7th January 08 |
Monday and Thursday evenings x 4 (18:00 – 21:00) |
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26th April 08 |
Saturday x 4 (10:00 – 16:00) |
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20th June 08 |
Friday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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| Introduction to 3D Modelling |
13th May 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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8th July 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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| Multimedia Scripting |
31st January 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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| Introduction to Computer Animation |
11th January 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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11th April 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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| Desktop Publishing |
1st April 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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10th June 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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Introduction to Digital Photography and Image Manipulation |
20th November 07 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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26th February 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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8th July 08 |
Tuesday x 4 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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Camera, Sounds and Lights |
25th April 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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6th June 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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Digital Video Editing and Production |
30th April 08 |
Wednesday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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21st May 08 |
Wednesday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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11th June 08 |
Wednesday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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2nd July 08 |
Wednesday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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Broadcast Editing |
16th May 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
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27th June 08 |
Friday x 3 (09:30 – 17:00) |
All courses are delivered at Millennium Point in Birmingham City Centre.
For more information or to book a course phone 0121 331 6400 email course.enquiries@tic.ac.uk or visit www.i4skillsonline.com. |
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© Technology Innovation Centre (tic) 2006
Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG
phone 0121 331 5400 fax 0121 331 5401
email enquiries@tic.ac.uk www.tic.ac.uk
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