The Word FM Team (Click to Enlarge)

This week there has been the culmination of an Internet Radio project by Holy Cross Primary School in Howden North Tyneside. There will be a podcast going live at 2pm each day so by the time you read this you may have only one more show to look forward to. However in the best broadcast tradition each show will still be there for that “listen again” function. You can find the shows here at www.wordfm.co.uk

Through Creative Partnerships the children have produced 4 Internet Radio programmes with help from Musician Phil Caffrey and Producer Steve Thompson. The four shows have been based on the theme of “Statements to Live By” and a different statement forms the basis of each show. (The picture shows just some of the team: around 40 children took part)

Tuesday: “I listen to what you say, I show that I am listening to you.

Wednesday: “I cooperate with others in work and play”

Thursday:  “I try to use words to make the world a better place”

Friday: “I try to appreciate the world around me”

These were preceded by a pilot show  on Monday 15th March with the themed shows to go live each day at 2pm for the rest of the week.

The Poster, click to enlarge

With the assistance of Northern Film and Media and the UK Film Council there will be a Fringe Animex event in Saltburn featuring community produced animations. This will take place at 7.30pm on February 11^th at Saltburn Community Theatre, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, TS12 1JW.

Featured this year will be World Première of “The Force is With You” which has been produced in partnership with the Institute of Digital Innovation, the Skinningrove Community, Whitecliffe Primary School and Redcar & Cleveland Community Safety Partnership. The school children will get their own matinee screening at 1.30 on the same date.

During a recent International workshop in Vienna one of scenes in “The Force is With You” was “voiced” using the services of some of the workshop attendees. The film clip below is a sneak preview of one of the scenes and a behind the scenes look at how it was put together.

Trouper 1 is played by Markus Petz from Finland, Trouper 2 by Thomas Chepaitis the Minister of foreign affairs of Uzhupis Republic (Lithuania) Arthur Vador is played by Steve Thompson and Barry Hunt the Mayor of Loftus is camera operator.

In the background is Laura Pakalne, Senior Officer in the Public Relations Department in the Ministry of Justice, Latvia who is most interested in our working with the British police and the movie production team on more collaborative projects. Markus has delayed his return to Finland to travel to Saltburn to assist with a hook-up with Latvia during the event on the 11^th. It’s quite possible that people all over the world will be able to participate in the event. More information on this will be released closer to the event. The primary site for any streaming or “back channel” activity during the event is www.saltburn.org.uk

As well as the evening event there will be a matinee for schools and its during the afternoon event that the team will be aiming to hook up with children in Latvia. For more info contact s.d.thompson@tees.ac.uk

Institute of Digital Innovation Xmas Card from IDI on Vimeo.

Jack Drum Arts is moving into a new base in a refurbished old dance hall in Crook in late spring 2009.

To celebrate this new phase in the company’s development, it’s producing two new shows aimed at the Early Years audience. The first one will celebrate diversity, inspired by the many interpretations of Cinderella around the world. The other is a re-telling of The Three Bears and looks at the contrast between the safety of the home and the wild outdoors.

The company is keen to to expand its pool of theatre artists and is particularly wanting to include people from diverse backgrounds who are interested in helping to shape the work, direct and design as well as perform.

The project will begin with an initial ‘Play Day’ hosted by CTC in Darlington on Wednesday December 3rd. There will be a further week of ‘playing’ and development from January 19th – 23rd, followed by a workshop programme in schools for one or two contracted artists.
The main performance ensemble will then be contracted for a period of 3-4 months beginning in April 2009.

Reasonable travel expenses for those attending the initial Play Day will be reimbursed.
(The Play Week in Jan and all subsequent work on the project will be subject to Equity/TMA rates.) Expressions of interest should include a one page CV detailing relevant Early Years experience and/or interest and be accompanied by a brief statement explaining what you could offer to the creative process.

Expressions of interest should reach Jack Drum Arts by no later than Friday 28th November.
For further info call: 01388 730574 or Email: info@jackdrum.co.uk

The four-day annual festival takes place each spring in ten downtown Madison theaters, all within walking distance. The Festival presents new American independent and world cinema (narrative, documentary, shorts, experimental), restored classics, and the work of Wisconsin filmmakers.

A programme of over 150 films and an attendance of 30,000 make it a lively event that’s become a major part of the state’s cultural calendar.

The 2009 Festival’s set to take place in April 2009 and is currently calling for submissions from filmmakers from around the world for the ‘Open Reel’ Category.

A Submission Form and Guidelines can be downloaded here

Deadline: 1st December 2008

This is particularly evident within the DDR team’s activities which aims to raise awareness of the Digital and Creative sector in the region, by engaging with communities, groups, education providers and businesses to promote digital inclusion and raise aspirations. An aspect of the education strand aims to incorporate employer engagement in contributing to upskilling the region’s practitioners with up-to-date and relevant sector insight, with the added potential that the DDR will broker a mutually beneficial relationship between creative businesses and local schools and colleges.

If you are running a North East based business in this sector and are interested in forging relationships with schools and/or colleges, the DDR team would like to hear from you. Whether your skills lie in offering active workshops in specific skills required in your sector, or being a confident speaker regarding entrepreneurial skills required for the digital media sector – or even leading a one off masterclass on new and exciting software. There is a small bursary available which can cover time spent planning and delivery, together with the offer of extensive support in preparing for such an audience.

If you would like to talk further regarding the DDR strategy or regarding the opportunities available for networking within education please email Elizabeth Shaw on: e.shaw@tees.ac.uk

Codeworks’ next Think and a Drink event will focus on ideas generation. It will look at the ways new ideas can be generated for businesses and the tools and models that can be used to help.

The event will start with a talk from an expert in the field, before businesses split off into five groups to put what they have just learnt into practice. The five groups will explore ideas in the following areas:
• Social networking
• New applications for mobiles
• Location technology ideas
• New ideas for video usage on websites
• Ways to deliver healthcare solutions via telecommunications

Each group will have a professional facilitator to help with the idea generation. Codeworks and sponsors the Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI) will be looking for any viable ideas that they can help people take forward.

Read more! »

Photographer Phil Dixon has spent many years working in a Young Person’s Secure Facility and his latest exhibition ‘Money Well Spent’ is his visual statement about the residents’ experiences. Phil’s work explores the impact of institutionalisation and its effects on young people’s lives. It addresses how both the vulnerable and perpetrators of anti-social and criminally orientated lifestyles co-exist.

The photographic collection which takes place at Darlington’s Decisive Moment Gallery, raises the debate ‘could the money be better invested in the communities that spawn these problems?’

The exhibition takes place at the gallery from 29th November to 24th January 2009. For further information on the Decisive Moment Gallery click here

The IDI’s Steve Thompson is leading a community film project about Skinningrove Jetty. The film’s a virtual production with many of the particpants coming from different parts of the world.

Steve’s currently looking for camera crew, actors, helpers and editors to work on the film in a voluntary capacity. The film will be premiered at Saltburn Community Theatre on 5th February as part of the International Animex Festival. A promo movie can be viewed by clicking on the Youtube screen above.

For further information please visit the WIKI page where you can join the production e-list. As well as being able to access the production schedule, members will be able to debate and have an input into the script.

Alternatively, please contact Steve Thompson on 01642 384 567 or Email: s.d.thompson@tees.ac.uk

Working in partnership with the Laing Art Gallery and Tyne and Wear Museums, the debate is being held in conjunction with two major exhibitions which are currently being held at the Laing Art Gallery: ‘High Wire’ by Catherine Yass, and ‘Elevation: Visions and Realities of Modern Architecture’.

The debate will feature an array of high profile guest speakers with those confirmed to date including David Clouston (Silverlink), Newcastle City Council Regeneration Director David Slater and artist Paul Noble. If you’re interested in discussing why the city is the way it is and want to have a say in its future, you’re welcome to take part.

Admission to the debate is free but all places must be booked in advance (maximum of two places per person).

For further information about the event contact Northern Architecture on: 0191 2602191 or visit the website

As usual it’s looking to represent filmmaking of all levels and invites work from amateur, student and professionals. The showcase is always diverse with comedy, drama, music video and animation work all having been shown at recent events.

The idea behind Concept is to encourage the region’s thriving film industry to meet and exchange ideas. Each filmmaker introduces their short film – with the networking session that follows providing the opportunity for the audience to discuss their work with them.

The next Concept Film Night is taking place in the University of Teesside’s School of Health Building on Wednesday 28th January 2009 from 7.30pm.

To submit your work please send it on DVD, along with a synopsis and biog to Scott Watson at the following address: Concept Film Night, The Institute of Digital Innovation, Phoenix Building, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA.

Please note that films must be no longer than 15 minutes in length, though showreels or trailers of longer features will be considered.

For further information Email: scott@thedigitalcity.org or call: 01642 384 332.

Submission deadline: Friday 19th December