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Welcome
to February'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.
In This Issue:
1. COMING UP -
February's Creative Networks Event - *DON'T MISS OUT*
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:: Nick Broomfield 'Documenting In Style' - Acclaimed english documentary film maker, Nick Broomfield will explore his wide ranging experiences and deliver some valuable tips on succeeding in the film industry. |
2. Event Reviewed -
January's Creative Networks Event - The MIDEM Report
3. Media Vault - NEW EQUIPMENT - *DON'T MISS OUT*
4. The Music Network - Monthly Networking Event held at tic
5. IGNITE - Creative Photography
6. i4 Skills - Courses NOW Available
7. Index Vouchers - Further Funding for the 'Index Voucher Scheme' |
...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
creative.networks@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 *DON'T MISS OUT* |
Thursday
28th February - at tic, Millennium Point
5.00pm to 10.00pm
The Collaborative Networking Event for Creative Industry Professionals
Nick Broomfield
Documenting in Style
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Acclaimed English documentary filmmaker, Nick Broomfield, will provide the keynote presentation at this month’s Creative Networks. Nick will explore his wide-ranging experiences, share key learning principles and deliver some valuable tips on succeeding in the film industry.
After studying law and political science, he went on to study film at the National Film and Television School. Filming with a small crew, often just himself and one or two camera operators, Nick’s documentaries have a distinctive style and appeal.
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Famous subjects include Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, Margaret Thatcher and Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. Nick recently completed a drama called ‘Ghosts’ for Channel Four, inspired by the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. 
In a special pre-event screening from 5.00pm - 6.00pm, we will also be showing some of the best work from recent graduates of the Light House City & Guilds Film Production course.
If you would like to join us for this FREE event, please email creative.networks@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 January's Creative Networks Event - The MIDEM Report |
Thursday 31st January - From 6.00pm ‘til LATE at tic, Millennium Point
The theme of the 39th consecutive Creative Networks event was the World Music Industry's annual convention, MIDEM.
For those unable to get to Cannes for this year’s event, Creative Networks provided the full MIDEM low-down from Ninder Johal. Ninder is the Managing Director of the long established Nachural Records, the label behind the biggest Bhangra tune of all time, in terms of mainstream success, ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’, reaching No.5 in the UK charts and No.1 in nine other countries. Awards from MTV and MOBO followed.
In time honoured fashion, starting in the café at 6pm, the evening also provided an opportunity to talk and network with other individuals and companies representing the creative industries across the region.
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 an email at creative.networks@tic.ac.uk
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| Summaries of Open Floor Pitches |
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Creative Alliance is a group of arts professionals drawn together with one sole purpose; to develop new and emerging creative talent in the West Midlands.
Their combined specialist experience, skills, networks and creativity offer highly relevant showcasing opportunities and up-to-date business development advice and guidance.
Training is delivered with a practical approach, establishing the Creative Alliance as one of the most effective programmes for emerging creative professionals to develop creative ideas within business. |
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Harry Hemus is a self-employed digital media author, specialising in the development, creation and delivery of interactive techniques for documents and presentations.
The inclusion of ‘Rich Media’, whether streamed or embedded within such collateral lies at the heart of what he does!
His work is usually featured within the communications portfolio of large multi-national brands, who have replaced some of their web and email material with this approach.
Harry has spent time encoding media and developing scripts to enable the format to be used in ways that companies such as Adobe had not even considered.
The response from those who have seen the technology, suggests that there is further potential within the music and digital download fraternity, and as an ex Guitarist and failed Rock Star, he says “that would do very nicely thank you very much” |
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Based at the Birmingham Conservatoire, the Music for Media project aims to provide facilities and assistance to media and music professionals. This may range from working with a composer on a film score to editing and dubbing in the Music for Media lab.
Through the project you will have access to the latest equipment and software, including recording studios. They can put you in touch with composers, performing musicians and sound engineers working at every professional level.
As a centre of excellence, they also offer a range of training courses for freelancers and companies in the music and media industries. Courses include training in ProTools, MaxMSP, mastering and 5.1 mixing |
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Industrial Placements, tic
Contact: Chris Reynolds
email chris.reynolds@tic.ac.uk
phone 0121 331 5400
mobile 07973 960653
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All full time undergraduate programmes at Birmingham City University’s Technology Innovation Centre (tic) are available to students as three year, or four year Sandwich. The Sandwich option gives students the opportunity to work out in industry for a year between the 2nd and final year of the degree programme - for a period of normally between 10 - 14 months.
Year on year an increasing number of undergraduates are going for the Sandwich option, principally because they know that employers are now looking for graduates with both good academic qualifications and substantial relevant work experience. A significant number of students at the tic are enrolled on media related courses relevant to your businesses. You select students as you would any other potential employee and your successful candidate ‘hits the ground running’ and provides ‘added value’ to your business from an early stage in the Sandwich Year. To advertise for students for the Sandwich Year, please contact Chris as detailed above. All opportunities are advertised on our intranet and careers notice boards. |
| Guest Speaker – Ninder Johal – The MIDEM Report |
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Guest Speaker - Ninder Johal
email: info@nachural.co.uk
web: www.nachural.co.uk
Background
Special thanks are due to the Musicians Union for sponsoring this event and a warm welcome to the Music Network and the Ignite Photography group for using tic as a meeting point for their organisations and attending Creative Networks afterwards.
Bhangra has its roots in traditional Indian festival music and includes Dhol drums, which in Ninder’s band ‘Achanak’ are played by his son. He accompanied his father to our event and showed off his skills to a wildly appreciative audience.
Explaining his move away from conventional business into the record industry, Ninder emphasised that bringing about an increased awareness of Bhangra was far from easy. Having no understanding of the Music Industry - Copyright, Licensing, Distribution, MCPS or PRS, the band and management had to learn the ropes of the cutthroat music world very quickly. One way to try and gain experience was to visit MIDEM, with Ninder first attending the show back in 1994.
Having faith, but being told that his band and music ‘won’t sell’, Ninder was determined to find a niche in which to sell his music. With MIDEM being the music industry’s main staging ground for new talent, deals and distribution, it seemed the ideal place to showcase his work. Initially, he failed to make an impact in the UK but MIDEM proved that musical tastes can vary (and how, sometimes the UK fan-base can be wrong) - with Ninder’s songs being adored in Europe. A licensing deal soon followed, offered to them by an Italian distributor and the band were subsequently a huge success in Turkey and Germany.
Eventually the UK market caught on and one particular song moved from Germany to the UK where it gained airtime on Radio 1, while at the same time becoming No. 1 in Italy (knocking Ronan Keating off the top spot). With a chart position gained, the label established its reputation and within months Panjabi MC had a No.1 in nine countries. They spent a record 23 weeks in the German chart, there were even bidding wars for distribution deals across the rest of the world. Japan (the second biggest music consumer market in the world) embraced the track and the music buying public there made the song the main choice for mobile ring tones. Ninder pointed out that one should not under estimate the revenue that can be generated from this source; he received more revenue from this than from any other formats. The track even had success in the US, with Jay-Z helping Ninder break the difficult North American market.
Seeing their music becoming a hit worldwide, Ninder and Panjabi MC saw numerous revenue streams appearing from licensing, ring tones, downloads and sync licenses, with the track being used on memorable adverts for such products as Sharwoods sauce, and Peugeot cars. These deals also led to collaboration with Microsoft, with the track being used on Microsoft’s ‘Project Gotham Racing 3’ for the X-BOX games console. Ninder made the point that this illustrates how music sales encompass a far wider market than CDs and downloads, he will be attending the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco this month to further develop his interests in this area.
All this success came with the continued insistence that the track ‘wouldn’t sell’ and that there was no market for Bhangra music in western audiences. However, MIDEM and all the avenues the event opened for Ninder and his music, proved that there are ample opportunities for musicians, bands and music producers everywhere to develop and launch their products.
Ninder highlighted that the rise of new digital distribution channels necessitates the creation of new licensing frameworks, to manage and exploit these new opportunities. Several years after the introduction of legal music download sites, the industry is still grappling with the issue of digital rights management. The business model is changing by the minute (for more info visit http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/observermusic/), but Ninder’s contention is that Artists make money, not the record labels, so his message is to seize these growing opportunities for music distribution.
Ninder received rapturous applause from the audience, he was extremely entertaining and the evening was so valuable in terms of hearing how a leading figure in the music industry had succeeded – his tips, inside knowledge and first hand experience provided an informative lesson and above all an inspiration for all of us. Our sincere thanks to Ninder are repeated and he will be very welcome to address Creative Networks again whenever he’d like to. |
| Second Life Demo - Exploiting Virtual Worlds
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Prior to the speakers there was an opportunity to explore Second Life for our clients,who were able to see a demo, looking at how it's possible to exploit virtual worlds, either as content creators, for marketing purposes, or just as an e-Business tool.
Some of the Creatives who attended were interested in the use of Second Life as a tool that could be used for pre-planning location shoots. Others were interested in the convergence of Second Life with TV, e.g. streaming media and mixed media productions.
The demonstration showcased the work that has so far been completed for the IDM project ‘LiVE’ (Learning in Virtual Environments) – a virtual build of Millennium Point in Second Life. |
| Event Feedback - Find out what some of our attendees had to say... |
"Having attended Creative Networks for the first time and speaking with others I would like to express how pleased I was with the whole event. I found it to be a great opportunity to network with others and also I found it to be very informative. I made a few good contacts last night and I am meeting some of them next week so I would like to thank you for a well organised event."
Bal Kumar
Realtone Records - MD
"Doing a pitch I was introduced to a film/documentary maker who has since filmed a music video for us. Keep up the great work!"
Alan McGeachie
Lucid Solution
"We have made a number of good contacts and there is a potential collaboration on a documentary film."
Bradley Powell
Pro-Mo Media
"Meeting Photographers, Graphic Designers, the atmosphere is conducive to good cross communication. This is only my second time, but I can see the framework for good relationships forming. Thank You."
J P Ridgely
Creative Shows
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| Lastindependent.com Ltd
- Working The Room DVD and Download Video
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Around May 2007, we had decided that our next commercial video production would be aimed at the “Self Improvement” market. So it was with interest that around the same time we received an email from Creative Networks to advise that the May meeting would have a guest speaker who specialised in motivational speaking and Networking. This was the expert Rob Brown.
We decided this could be a perfect opportunity, so after checking Rob’s performance at Creative Networks we exchanged emails and another meeting was arranged where we explained the business model that we work to.
This involves Lastindependent.com Ltd teaming with a suitable professional and providing a script editing service to put their knowledge into a workable and shootable script. Then we provide the studio, camera, lighting and crew to actually shoot the video. Then finally we provide full post-production facilities and web design to market the finished product.
We shot the video in October 2007 using three camera and lighting assistants, an autocue and operator, makeup artist and ten extras to play the networkers. Plus of course myself (Kevin Powis) Directing and Rob Brown presenting.
Now the product is complete, we have gone initially for an Internet delivery using Digital Rights Management to protect the video which links directly to PAYPAL to accept orders and immediately unlock the video. A DVD is also planned for release within a few weeks.
The completed product can be found at the dedicated site:
www.workingtheroom.co.uk
We are really pleased to use Creative Networks, which is a great networking forum and we feel that it is very fitting that this product should be born out of the event and now –full circle- be promoted back to the networking group.
If the people who attend Creative Networks can watch the video course their networking skills will improve which can only make the whole event even better for everyone.
Kevin Powis
CEO Lastindependent.com Ltd
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| 3. Media Vault - NEW EQUIPMENT |
Funding is available from Media Vault which continues to support the region’s existing and start-up businesses with subsidised access to its content creation and distribution facilities based at Millennium Point.
Media Vault now has NEW kit: HD cameras and HD post-production.
Subsidised assistance (up to a value of £2.5K, subject to availability) is only available until the end of June 2008.
For further information contact Paul Trigg – email: paul.trigg@tic.ac.uk or register online at www.mediavaultonline.com.  |
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There are tenders on www.creativenetworksonline.com for you to apply for if you have the required skills! We are making an effort to have a continuous flow of job offers for businesses and freelancers working in the creative sector. We can offer state of the art Video and Internet facilities to assist with delivery of any of this work.
Through Media Vault there is the opportunity to receive either subsidised assistance (up to a value of £2.5K, subject to availability) or competitive commercial hire rates for equipment and facilities.
If you have any work opportunities you would like to post in the Tenders section of the CN Portal, please contact Scarlet Scardanelli on 07969 226693 or email creative.networks@tic.ac.uk. |
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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 5 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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A new group has taken us up on the offer of hosting their meetings at Millennium Point.
Ignite is a newly formed group of 14 photographers who aim to showcase their work to new audiences and start a new network for creative practitioners to link into.
If you would like to join the group, their meetings will take place on every last Thursday of the month from 4-6pm, prior to each Creative Networks event. Please contact annie@creativealliance.org.uk
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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.
| Courses |
Course Start Dates |
Introduction to Digital Photography & Image Manipulation |
26-Feb-08 |
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| Market-Led Diversification for Media Business |
06-Mar-08 |
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| DVD Authoring |
19-Mar-08 |
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Digital Video Editing & Production |
19-Mar-08 |
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| Introduction to Live Sound Engineering |
19-Mar-08 |
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| Motion Graphics and Video Effects |
20-Mar-08 |
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| Camera, Sound & Lights |
20-Mar-08 |
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Introduction To Website Design & Production |
29-Mar-08 |
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Desktop Publishing |
01-Apr-08 |
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Business Essentials for Media Start-Ups |
03-Apr-08 |
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Introduction To Computer Animation |
11-Apr-08 |
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Introduction To Website Design & Production |
21-Apr-08 |
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Graphics For Web & Multimedia |
26-Apr-08 |
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Digital Video Editing & Production |
30-Apr-08 |
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Market-Led Diversification for Media Business |
01-May-08 |
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Further Website Design & Production |
02-May-08 |
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Introduction to 3D Modelling |
13-May-08 |
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Broadcast Editing |
16-May-08 |
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Digital Video Editing |
21-May-08 |
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Introduction to MAX/MSP |
23-May-08 |
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Introduction to Sound Recording |
28-May-08 |
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Introduction to Sound Production |
29-May-08 |
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Business Essentials for Media Start-Ups |
05-Jun-08 |
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Camera, Sound & Lights |
06-Jun-08 |
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Desktop Publishing |
10-Jun-08 |
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Digital Video Editing & Production |
11-Jun-08 |
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Home Studio Design |
17-Jun-08 |
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Further Live Sound Engineering |
18-Jun-08 |
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Graphics for Web & Multimedia |
20-Jun-08 |
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Further Sound Recording |
23-Jun-08 |
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Further Sound Recording |
25-Jun-08 |
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Flash Video Development |
26-Jun-08 |
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Further Sound Production |
26-Jun-08 |
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Broadcast Editing |
27-Jun-08 |
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DVD Authoring |
30-Jun-08 |
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Motion Graphics and Video Effects |
01-Jul-08 |
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Digital Video Editing |
02-Jul-08 |
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Market-Led Diversification for Media Business |
03-Jul-08 |
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Further MAX/MSP FOR Audio DSP |
04-Jul-08 |
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Introduction to 3D Modelling |
08-Jul-08 |
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Introduction to Digital Photography & Image Manipulation |
08-Jul-08 |
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Introduction To Website Design & Production |
12-Jul-08 |
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Further Website Design & Production |
18-Jul-08 |
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. |
The 'Index Voucher Scheme' has recieved further funding. Please see below for more information and contact details.  |
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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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