 |
 |
Welcome
to May'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 -
May's Creative Networks Event @ tic - EXPERTS ON EXPORT
2. Event Reviewed
- April's Creative Networks Event
| |
:: Tim Luft - "West Midlands ...Serious about Games "
:: Russell Butler - "What is Serious Games, Why it is Interesting & How to Implement it"
:: Paul Ranson - "An Insight into Serious Games" |
3. Upcoming Events
*DONT
MISS OUT*
4. Get
the most from your business with our latest i4 short courses
|
...we’d also like to hear from you!
Contact Mandeep Chana, The Creative Networks administrator
with any feedback, case studies, success stories, interesting projects, collaboration opportunities or news:
:: phone
0121 331 5400
:: email
mandeep.chana@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 - May's
Creative Networks Event @ tic *DON'T
MISS OUT* |
Thursday
25th May - From 6.00pm til LATE at tic, Millennium
Point
The
Collaborative Networking Event for Creative Industry Professionals
EXPERTS ON EXPORT
Step outside your shell, the world is your oyster!
Come along for free hot food, networking, pitching opportunities and the chance to hear how your business can export its products strategically and efficiently. Insight news, views and links from business all around the world and also job opportunities.
This is a great opportunity to learn about projecting initiative, support and ideas from the West Midlands around the Globe.
“At the end of the day, much of the music business comes down to networking and relationships. Tackling a market like China on your own is a daunting task. Being able to participate in a trade mission makes a real difference.” Billy Grant
The Creative Networks event is FREE. If
you would like to join us, please contact Mandeep Chana
on email mandeep.chana@tic.ac.uk,
or call Ha Vu on phone 07967 706 445. You'll be very welcome.
Register on the Creative Networks portal www.creativenetworksonline.com and select the 'Business Profile' section to take the opportunity to showcase your media services and
projects on the Digital Asset Management (DAM) System.
|
| 2. Review of April's
Creative Networks Event |
Thursday 27th April from 6.00pm til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The tic welcomed over 100 businesses and creative professionals from across the West Midlands to the fourth Creative Networks Event of 2006. This warm spring evening at the tic gave them an opportunity to find out how they could get involved in ‘Serious Games’, a burgeoning sector of the creative industry in our region. Complimentary hot food and refreshments were served while the delegates took full advantage of the opportunity to network with fellow industry members before the talk on ‘Serious Games’ got underway.
The tic is committed to helping the West Midlands’ creative industry to diversify their products and services into the multitude of non-entertainment industries areas which require innovative media content, and the event's speakers gave a fine example of how this is already being realised.
|
| Summaries of the
Open Floor Pitches |
| There is always an opportunity for a number of delegates to stand up give a short pitch about their creative company in order to gain business and seek collaboration opportunities with fellow professionals. |
|
Chris introduced us to his rapidly growing company with a captivating showreel. Second Home Productions work on conventional video production as well as complementing a diverse range of projects with innovative audio visual support, one example being the production of the ‘Tornado Scene’ for The Wizard of Oz in the Birmingham Rep Theatre. The company have now moved into a 1500 sq. foot premises in Oxford Street, Digbeth, where they aim to support a range of local businesses including the West Midlands creative industry. |
|
Leofric Films are a vastly experienced film and video production company who are based in Coventry. Having recently had their content showcased on the BBC Big Screen in Chamberlain Square, the company is now involved in the development of a feature film and are looking to provide content in the corporate arena. Paul and his team are happy to talk to anyone who may be interested in using video to enhance their business for communications or otherwise.
The team also have many years of project management experience behind them and are actively looking to apply this expertise in the creative industry, so feel free to get in touch to discuss any projects you have in the pipeline. |
No
Image
Available
|
AMI Showcase and Launch
Contact: Justin
Justin stood up very briefly to tell us about a launch party taking place at The Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory on 14th May 2006. This evening will feature Cautious, Midlands Mafia, Inspector Hazard, Tynie, DT & Candyman and DJ Mixsa. The event will be tickets only. |
|
Brendan gave us a brief pitch to let us know that he is a screenwriter who is currently looking for projects in the region. He is vastly experienced with a proven track record in the creative industry. Brendan has recently been taken on by top London agent to script an animated feature and is currently open to other new commissions.
Netxtec also specialise in the following areas:
 |
Copywriting for marketing materials |
|
Technical writing |
|
Software engineering and Localization |
|
Teaching and training |
|
Web design and maintenance |
|
Model making (CDT background) |
|
No
Image
Available |
Steve Smith presented on behalf of Mark Pressdee who was unable to make this month's event. The Short Film Club, which is a very informal club and is a chance for filmmakers from Birmingham and the Midlands area to showcase any of their work. The evenings will be presented by Mark Pressdee and comprises a two hour showcase session of short films with free entry. Anyone is welcome and the event will take place in Birmingham Central Library Theatre. This is a good opportunity for local creatives to see each others work from within the region.
The club is funded by Birmingham City Council on a one year trial period. It will be held on a monthly basis on Wednesday evenings, the first one being on May 10th.
|
 |
Beatz.tv is an on demand rich media website which is dedicated to exposing the UK urban music scene. The site plays contemporary urban music and showcases both up and coming and established British performers. The company’s aim is to become the leading online outlet for UK homegrown street/urban music. Beatz.tv also film and produce music videos for exclusive play listing, programmes, artist cameos and adverts for businesses, artists and/or individuals.
The company also has qualified in-house cameramen, editors, web administrators and designers to produce high-quality media presentations and promotional tools, so if you’d like to find how beats.tv can help get you some exposure, then get in touch to find out more.
|
| Serious Games Guest Speakers |
|
West Midlands ...Serious About Games
Tim gave us an overview of the industry in the region and informed us how Serious Games can take the experience and skills of the video games industry and transfer this knowledge into non-entertainment products.
The West Midlands is fast becoming the leader in the UK Serious Games industry, having developed a plethora of content for education & training, military & defence, healthcare, corporate training and simulation.
‘Diversify The Games Industry’ has been set-up to capitalise on this wealth of experience through knowledge transfer, business incubation and games usability and testing. This is solely aimed at helping businesses to diversify and gain entry into this sector through professional support, brokerage, subsidised expenses for exhibition attendance, aid in seeking funding and much more. There is a small commission but this is purely sales based, so if your business doesn't profit, you do not pay anything.
|
 |
Russell Butler
Business Development Manager
Company: Pixel Learning
|
 |
email russell.butler@PIXELearning.com
web www.pixelearning.com
phone 02476 236971
What is Serious Games?
Why it is interesting and how to implement it.
PIXELearning are one of the pioneers in the West Midlands Serious Games industry, having been responsible for generating a huge amount of games based learning material. PIXELearning have a growing reputation, providing business education & management skills development, with a client portfolio including Coca-Cola, Edexcel, Scottish Enterprise, AWM and Coventry University. The company has made a £500k investment in games-based learning technology platforms, and has proven itself to be a lynchpin for Serious Games in the West Midlands.
Russell gave us a very insightful presentation on how Serious Games can benefit almost any business, regardless of Industry sector.
For example, companies who are reluctant to put inexperienced MBA graduates in charge of their accounts can test aptitude using a no risk games-based simulation to discover whether or not they are up to the task. Games can also be used as part of a company induction for new employees, removing the need for staff resources for the entire process.
The amount of learning applications are huge, with markets in education and training, defence, healthcare, corporate training and simulations. Businesses are being encouraged to diversify into this market and take advantage of the huge number of opportunities that exist.
|
 |
Paul Ranson - Director
Company: Aqua Pacific
|
 |
email paulranson@aqua-pacific.com
web aqua-pacific.com
phone 01926 339100
Insight into Serious Games
Paul is a veteran of the games industry, having worked for many of the major players in the industry over recent decades. The company has created 50 commercial video games in 7 years, and 4 Serious Games in the last 4 years. Aqua Pacific offer credible interactive experiences, not just edu-games, and pride themselves on creating content that engages the ‘lost’ Playstation 2 generation.
As a case in point, we were shown the fine example of ‘English Taxi’. A problem existed where Chinese students in the UK had excellent written English but poor verbal communication when they visited the UK. The aim of this games was to provide a engaging way for Chinese young people to learn English whilst promoting the culture. The player had to drive the passengers to their destination, listening to conversations and spoken instructions along the way. The game took around 10 months to complete from start to finish and 150,000 copies were distributed free of charge through the British Council in China.
Paul informed us that not all games cost millions of pounds to make, and there is a cluster of companies based in the West Midlands creating content for far less than that. The evenings closing message was that there is a market out there for companies in the creative industry who wish to diversify their product. Serious Games need creative content, so product diversification away from the entertainment industry is something that should be considered by all creative enterprises.
|
| 3. Upcoming Events *DONT MISS OUT |
| Serious Games Event - 5th / 6th June 2006 Birmingham ICC, Birmingham UK |
An event aimed at the corporate market to investigate the benefits of Serious Games amongst organisations which have either commissioned or are considering using a SG application.
With up to 500 delegates from Europe, Asia and the US, the content will have two streams;
1) For developers looking for ideas, partners and potential sales
2) For potential commissioners looking at the why, how and who they can meet within this new, innovative sector of games development. Visit www.seriousgames.org.uk for more information.
Enquiries to:
Dan Licari email d.licari@cad.coventry.ac.uk or
Sarah Barsby email s.barsby@cad.coventry.ac.uk
|
| Summer Showcasing Event - Steering Group |
This month’s Creative Networks also hosted the second meeting of the Summer Showcase Steering Group.
The Steering Group had representatives from the following sub-groups: Music; Film & Video; Performing Arts; and Design & Interactive Media, providing the opportunity for Creative Networks members to plan and organise the potential showcase event taking place in Millennium Point late this Summer.
There were a number of people who attended the Steering Group meeting who had not previously signed up to the group, and other members that had previously showed interest in being involved, but who have not managed to make the last Creative Networks event.
If you are still interested in joining the steering group, and would like to attend a meeting on Thursday 11th May from 6pm - 7pm to progress the development of the event, could you please send your contact details and area of interest to Scarlet Scardanelli ASAP via email to scarlet.scardanelli@tic.ac.uk or call 0121 331 7568
|
| 4. Get
the most from your business with our latest i4 short courses *DONT MISS OUT |
|
I4 Skills
UCE Birmingham’s Technology Innovation Centre (tic) is offering West Midlands creative professionals a valuable range of training courses.
Co-financed by the Learning Skills Council and European Social Fund, these courses are FREE to those meeting the eligibility criteria.
The courses are designed to further develop and build up the management and marketing skills of those working in interactive and screen-based media businesses. Each course comprises of 3 full, tutor-led days of activity.
COURSE DETAILS
Start
With Success
Theme – Business Essentials for Media
Start-ups
This course is aimed at new and recently established
creative professionals requiring business support,
particularly in terms of marketing and financial strategies, in
order to help ensure long-term sustainability. Formal
delivery is made through a series of seminars, workshops
and activities on subjects such as:
|
Business Planning |
|
Marketing |
|
Pitching skills /
Sales tactics |
|
Managing and working
within a team |
|
Health and Safety |
|
Financial Planning |
|
Networking and partnership
skills |
|
Managing clients and
their expectations |
The key here is to get you started in business and help you produce your own showreel using our facilities.
Forthcoming
'Start With Success' Short Courses:
These courses start at 9:30 and finish approximately 16:30
...HURRY AND BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY
| i4 Management - Start With Success |
| Course Dates |
|
| Course 1 |
22nd, 23rd and 24th May |
| Course 2 |
5th, 6th and 7th June |
| Course 3 |
24th, 25th and 26th July |
| Course 4 |
14th, 15th and 16th August |
| Course 5 |
25th, 26th and 27th September |
| Course 6 |
16th, 17th and 18th October |
| Course 7 |
20th, 21st and 22nd November |
| Course 8 |
4th, 5th and 6th December |
Take a look at what one of our attendees said about the April Start With Success course: "Can I say first and foremost a heart felt Thank You.
The course was so beneficial to me personally and the tic has made me realise my own potential and promise. All of those who took part in the managing of events, with whom I’ve come into contact, are a welcoming beacon, to myself and to others able to recognise it."
Joseph Burgundy - Scriptwriter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market
Maker Skills
Theme –
Market-led Diversification for Media Business
This course is aimed at helping well established
creative professionals diversify
their market portfolio. Formal delivery is made through
a series of seminars, workshops and activities on
subjects such as:
|
Market Knowledge |
|
Seeking Commissions
& Finance |
|
Language & Communication |
|
Media Needs & Intervention |
|
Sales Tactics |
|
Diversification |
The
aim of the learning programme is to help you engage
with new markets and seek projects (or paid employment).
Forthcoming
'Market Maker Skills' Short Courses:
These courses start at 9:30 and finish approximately 16:30
...HURRY AND BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY
| i4 Management - Market Maker Skills |
| Course Dates |
|
| Course 1 |
15th, 16th and 17th May |
| Course 2 |
12th, 13th and 14th June |
| Course 3 |
26th, 27th and 28th June |
| Course 4 |
3rd, 4th and 5th July |
| Course 5 |
17th, 18th and 19th July |
| Course 6 |
21st, 22nd and 23rd August |
| Course 7 |
18th, 19th and 20th September |
| Course 8 |
23rd, 24th and 25th October |
| Course 9 |
13th, 14th and 15th November |
| Course 10 |
11th, 12th and 13th December |
For further details and to book a place on the courses above, please see contact Dave Taylor, Paul Trigg or Stephen Houston on phone: +44 (0)121 331 5400 email: dave.taylor@tic.ac.uk
paul.trigg@tic.ac.uk or stephen.houston@tic.ac.uk
Or visit
the i4 Skills website at www.i4skillsonline.com to reserve a place online. |
|
| ©
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
|
 |
 |
|
|
