Blogzene

Author Archive

Final Cut Pro is the industry standard software for film and video editors

Teesside University has recently became an Apple Authorised Training Centre for Final Cut Pro. The School of Arts & Media is delivering five courses in the latest version of the industry standard video editing software between February and July 2010. Subsidies are available for eligible North East-based SME and freelance businesses.

Final Cut Pro is the first choice software package for professional TV and film editors. Version 7 provides better integration with Apple’s other Pro applications than ever before with improved codec support for editing HD, DV and SD video formats. It also boasts new presets for devices such as iPod, Apple TV, and Blu-ray discs. Over four intensive days, this course aims to develop a professional competence in both post production craft and an understanding and operation of Final Cut Pro 7 software.

All delegates attending the Teesside course will be given the opportunity to obtain an Apple accredited certificate for the latest version of the package, while also obtaining 20 University credits in ‘Post Production with Final Cut Pro’. The cost of the Apple exam and Final Cut Pro 7 handbook is included in the fee.
Cost per person: £830.00
Subsidised cost per person: Up to 90% discount (based on successful Teesside University and Business Link application)

For further information regarding eligibility and course dates contact James McDermott on: 01642 738 089 or Email: samwfd@tees.ac.uk

Teesside University is set to deliver a series of innovative courses aimed at professional actors and film directors. The first of these is Acting for Green Screen – a course which will teach actors how to perform in the virtual environments that have become the norm in today’s Hollywood blockbuster movies.

Led by award-winning director Malachi Bogdanov ( Assoc Director English Shakespeare Company, Wales Theatre Company, directed over 70 professional theatre productions) and Special Effects Technician Mark Buschbacher (Casino Royale, Da Vinci Code & Harry Potter), the course will prepare the delegates for working in modern film industry environments and situations.

Ewan Mcgregor found acting in virtual environments daunting. North East-based actors can learn how it's done at Teesside University in March.

This University accredited three day intensive short course offers a unique opportunity for professional actors to work in Teesside University’s industry standard High-Definition sound stage – the only one of its kind available to actors in the north of England, to develop skills in Green Screen Performance, increasing their employability and enhancing their career options.

Acting with an imaginary character in an imaginary location is a daunting prospect for any actor and a technical discipline is required that is not usually supported by conventional actor training. High profile actors like Ewan McGregor and Gwyneth Paltrow have admitted to finding it ‘very, very hard’ and ‘daunting’ when working with this media. Acting for Green Screen has been designed to offer actors the opportunity to experience firsthand, the challenges and demands of this genre, and to enable them to develop the skills required to achieve convincing and accomplished performance in an environment where nothing is as it seems.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ronak Singh's 'Bride & Gloom'

Ronak Singh is screening three of his films at the Arc, Stockton early next month.

The Thornaby-based filmmaker is screening the Barnardo’s funded Innocence and the BME Network funded No Honour No Choice, alongside his self-funded film  Bride & Gloom.

While Ronak’s significantly developed his writer/director skills in the last couple of years he continues to film in the region where he matches local talent with professional actors. In Bride & Gloom east meets west as a young Indian bride finds herself in the room of a nervous, asthmatic white groom. It stars Coronation Street’s Poppy Jhakra and Mark Stobbart (55 Degrees North & Auf Wiedershen Pet) and features Middlesbrough born actor Bill Fellows.

A trailer can be seen here

The film showcase is free to attend  and takes place on Monday 1st March from 7pm. To book your place contact Wendy Shepherd of Barnardos SECOS project on: 01642 819743 or Email: wendy.shepherd@barnardos.org.uk

Teesside University has announced details of its Spring University programme and as usual there are a whole host of creative courses on offer:

Design
Introduction to Digital Photography
Introduction to Graphic Design
Introduction to Interior Design
Introduction to Product Design
Introduction to Web Design

English
Introduction to Creative Writing
Regional Writing

Fine Art
Exploring Galleries
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Painting
Looking at Modern Art

Read the rest of this entry »

Reader’s of the last instalment of Blogzene will no doubt have seen the Remember my Face video.

Director Tom Marshall made it for a national competition and is asking for support from readers of this blog. It’s been shortlisted from over 250 entries into the final 12 in reed.co.uk’s Short Film Competition. The brief was to make a short film of no more than three minutes long, under the heading ‘workplace’.

A bit like the X-Factor, Remember my Face needs as many votes as possible to get through to the final round of the competition which offers the winner a ten grand prize.

To place your vote, click here

…And good luck to Tom who is the subject of our regular ‘Creative Perspective’ feature next time on Blogzene.

Keith Moss is a self-taught photographer who has been working in the business for over 20 years. His work covers everything from fashion, product and wedding photography through to highly collectable fine art prints.

Starting out in his native Yorkshire, he relocated to the North East coast which is the subject of many of his stunning black and white landscapes. Off the back of exhibiting and selling this work around the globe, he recently became one of only five industry ambassadors for Ilford, the world’s leader in black and white film.

Sharing his knowledge and skills with others is really important to Keith. As well as being a DigitalCity mentor – where he works with up and coming businesses – he’s set to deliver a series of industry masterclasses for Ilford around the UK. This is preceeded by the unique ‘Shoot fashion’ workshop he’s delivering at Teesside University with fashion designer Kate Fearnley this month. The event is aimed at photographers wanting to break into the fashion industry and will culminate in a live shoot where they’ll be able to photograph models wearing Kate Fearlney’s latest collection.

Keith Moss is a very busy guy - but he’s as honest and down to earth as he is talented. In this interview I ask him how he is able to compete with those in London when others struggle,  if his lack of academia has caused him any problems – and throw in the inevitable ‘film or digital’ question for good measure.

To visit the Keith Moss website click here

To listen to the interview click below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The next in Teesside University’s series of One North East and Skillset funded workshops for recent entrants to the creative media industries is ‘Shoot Fashion with Keith Moss and Kate Fearnley’.

Led by former Vogue and Wella photographer Keith and internationally acclaimed fashion designer Kate, this workshop is ideal for anyone who is wishing to establish themselves as a fashion photographer.

Fashion photography may be one of the most exciting industries to work in but it’s a highly competitive one that can be extremely difficult to get into. So, how does an aspiring photographer break in to the industry? And when they get there, what is their role – and what are they expected to do? Who else will they work with and how does he/she interact with the many models, stylists and make-up artists who are all essential parts of the process? Leading to the next question: How do they go about recruiting these people in the first place?

Finally, how does the fashion photographer achieve the expectations of the fashion designer while appealing to the tastes of the designer’s audience? And how do they ensure that the image that appears on the billboard or in the magazine looks like the one that they and their client had in their heads?

All of these questions (and many more) will be answered in this practical workshop led by Keith Moss. Keith who has worked at the top of his industry for over 20 years, will be joined by renowned fashion designer Kate Fearnley who will give a unique insight in to the mind of the person who creates the clothes and buys the photography.

The myths of the industry will be dispelled through candid, ‘behind the scenes’ discussions with professional make-up artists, stylists and models who are all highly important contributors to the creation of great fashion photography.

This will be followed by a live shoot where (with their own cameras) the participants will have the rare opportunity to photograph the models wearing Kate Fearnley’s latest collection, supported by a team of stylists and make-up artists. Keith and Kate will give technical and creative feedback to the delegates as they develop the skills needed to become a successful fashion photographer throughout the shoot.

The Shoot Fashion with Keith Moss and Kate Fearnley workshop takes place at Teesside University from 9.30am – 4.30pm on Tuesday 23^rd February 2010.

The One North East funded workshop is open to recent entrants to the photography industry who have an interest in working in fashion. If you are interested in attending, please send a brief biog/CV and web link to your work to James McDermott at: j.mcdermott@tees.ac.uk with ‘Shoot Fashion Workshop’ in the Subject box by midday on Friday 12^th February. For further information call James on: 01642 738 089. Please note that as with all Skillset Sustain funded events, delegates MUST be working in the North East-based media industries to qualify for this ‘no cost’ event.

Teesside University’s School of Arts & Media is delivering its highly acclaimed Video Journalism course early next month – and there are subsidies for SMEs, registered freelancers and individuals who qualify for a training fund aimed at guiding businesses through the recession.

The course was originally delivered to Trinity Mirror and Newsquest North East employees in response to the changing roles of the conventional print journalist. With PR and advertising businesses also disseminating more information through video and on-line platforms, a similar course was delivered to businesses in early 2009. While the Video Journalism course is ideal for those working in the publishing, PR and advertising industries, it is equally suited to anyone who wishes to shoot, edit and upload high quality video content onto their business website.

The accredited four day course covers the following subject areas and much more:

• Camera Techniques
• Intro to editing – Avid/Final Cut Pro
• Interview Skills
• Shooting Interviews and sequences
• Uploading files to the internet

Successful participants will be awarded 20 University credits. These credits can count towards further study such as Foundation Degrees or BA (Hons) courses. The Video Journalism course is being delivered at Teesside University on March 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th.
Cost per person: £1,190.00
Cost for eligible SMEs: £120.00*
*Subject to successful ECIF and Business Link application (see below). Assistance is provided by Teesside University and BENE.

For further information contact James McDermott on: 01642 384 087 or email: j.mcdermott@tees.ac.uk

Read the rest of this entry »

Kitch-en Gallery has recently moved from Middlesbrough to Newcastle. To celebrate the move up north, the gallery has announced details of a relaunch’event which will consist of a whole weekend of exhibitions, activities and entertainment from 4th – 6th March.

The relaunch will feature the work of both old and new Kitch-en resident artists, including the likes of Alexander James, Jess Douglas, Craww, Ben The Illustrator, Phlegm and Jam Factory.

A preview evening takes place at the Gallery – which is based on Ridley Place – from 6.00pm – 8.00pm on Thursday 4th March.

For further information visit the Kitch-en Gallery website