Skillset Blog

Greenscreen with Envy

June 30th, 2010 by Saint

When times are tough, some actors have to swallow their pride, close their eyes and take the cheque. Never work with animals? Depends if the price (artistic or remunerative) is right.

James Stewart co-starred with Lassie in The Magic of Lassie (1978) whereas Clyde the orangutan took the cheque and decided to team up with Clint Eastwood twice, in Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can (1980). Charles Grodin, a student of Lee Strasberg (the father of method acting) had the slobbering and eponymous St. Bernard Beethoven (1992) upstage him, but became a household name.

No-one could accuse Noel Clarke of needing the cash or the kudos but he too gets upstaged in Skillset’s new promo, not by an animal this time, but rather by a giant CGI tick symbol.

I’ll explain. I’m talking about the new promo for Skillset’s “Pick The Tick” campaign which features Noel on a green-screen laden Sound Stage desperately trying to learn his lines. He nervously rehearses “Skillset is the industry body that supports skills and training” under his breath and tries to impress the crew with pretentious badinage that explains why the film is being made.

Clarke, star of Kidulthood and director of Adulthood, not to mention a role in Doctor Who, brings a level of aspirational urban cool with him. Here’s a role model for a new generation of film makers, talking about training.

Some would say there is a slight dissonance of an obviously self-made man (who studied on that old industry bugbear- a media course) – promoting a kitemark of quality training for creative media; but I’m sure Noel’s ambition would have seen him choose a course and university that had the strongest links with industry in his day. And that’s what the Tick is all about. You can see the video here.

Now to me the interesting thing here is of course the recognition that vfx has very much arrived in the public imagination. We all know what a green screen is for, even if we don’t know why it’s green. We even accept the role of the vfx supervisor, sitting at his laptop, behind the camera, as in this promo. The video playfully references the idea of precious or overbearing actors being replaced by a more malleable and accommodating CGI, and these days we can all enjoy the joke.

By stealth this video also alludes to a new priority within Skillset’s Film, TV and Animation departments. We have a programme to help the UK’s nascent vfx degrees get tooled up to industry standard; a TV bursary scheme to allow tv sector freelancers to get access to Escape Studios’ online vfx courses; and bursaries for editors to enable them to take on more advanced vfx-heavy projects. Also, as new vfx courses emerge, we’ll be building a framework to accredit the best. As a frustrated and defeated Noel storms off in the video, it’s worth remembering the Tick symbol is not to be feared, but celebrated. It’s as friendly as canine talent like Beethoven and Lassie, but without the slobbering.

Noel’s done his bit. Now here’s YOUR homework:
http://www.skillset.org/funding/individuals/VFX_Bursaries/ (till 30th Sept 2010)
http://www.skillset.org/funding/individuals/film_bursaries/
http://courses.skillset.org/pick_the_tick/what_is_the_tick

Posted in Media Academies, Skillset, creative media, higher education | No Comments »

News Rewired: What next for the niche?

June 25th, 2010 by suzannek

Here’s an outline of a presentation I gave at news:rewired today on what’s next for the niche.

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media. We work with our industries as well as education, training providers and accreditation bodies to identify current and future skills gaps and shortages for existing workforce and new entrants and to plug those gaps.

We work with the Advertising, Animation, Computer Games, Facilities, Fashion and Textiles, Film, Interactive Media, Photo Imaging, Publishing, Radio and TV industries. It’s a big part of the economy, with over 25,000 companies. Despite the recession, it also has a substantial workforce: half a million people are employed in the industry, with a further 130k employed in Creative Media occupations in other industries. (Source: Skillset’s Strategic Skills Assessment for the Creative Media Industries, 2009)

As we have worked across the creative media sectors, we’ve seen the different industries increasingly draw on the skills and knowledge of each other. Today’s programme reflected this. Just take the mobile session: a traditional interactive media platform that is now relevant across publishing and broadcast. How far will this disruption to traditional business models and roles go? What impact will convergence platforms and technologies have on the skills of the workforce? I want to take you through a model we’ve developed at Skillset to understand these issues.

Digital has had an increasing impact across the traditional work flows in all sectors. Each of our sectors is on a journey: from traditional media modes of working to a ‘digital cloud’, where traditional boundaries don’t apply. Each is in transition, learning from the existing model of business, but needing to map a way forward.

Impact of disruptive technology

(Source: Fiona Kilkelly, Skillset, 2010)

We want to understand:
What core, traditional skills will we take with us?
What new skills from other sectors will we need to acquire?
How will we go about our business in the digital cloud and who will we be working with?

What core, traditional skills will we take with us?
There are seven key areas of competence relevant to the practice of journalism identified in the recently merged broadcast and print National Occupational Standards for Journalism, developed in conjunction with employers, freelancers, BJTC, NCTJ, PTC and other industry bodies, published in February and now available online.

Journalism NOS

What new skills from other sectors will we need to acquire?

Core ‘craft’ skill
Platform specific specialism: audio, video, stills, text.
Additional technical knowledge or expertise from other sectors (e.g. non-linear narrative, data & infomatics, mobile etc)
Broad skills and knowledge to utilise (e.g. Agile project management, business models, managing conversations)
Most important, reader/customer/consumer in mind at all times: what they want, how they want it and when & where they want it.

It also applies to all levels: you need flexible & adaptive management, visionary creative leadership and collaborative working.

Pick n Mix skills

How will we go about our business in the digital cloud and who will we be working with?

That’s a lot of skills and knowledge for one person. We are starting to see emerging networks of individuals working collaboratively, pooling knowledge, skills and resources. e.g. Help Me Investigate, They Work for You, Talk about Local network. Adam Westbrook’s Next Generation Journalist ebook is a handbook for getting started.

There are opportunities for industry that may be beyond the scope and scale of even large multi-nationals. Alliances and partnerships need to be formed – across technical and creative sectors. The IFNC and subsequent local TV pilots, are emerging examples as is the development of computer games in educational publishing.

It’s an exciting time. NESTA analysis for 2009-2013 points to growth as businesses take advantage of digital technologies to develop new business models. Recessions tend to play a role in triggering new business start-ups. Whatever your size, whatever your niche, it’s no longer enough to just have the core skills. We’ll all have to think – and work – differently to get the right mix.

One final request.
Whether you agree or disagree with what I’ve said today, make sure you have your say and help shape our thinking. Take our Workforce Survey. It should take approximately 15 minutes, but will feed into our work for the next couple of years.

Thank you.

Tags: #newsrw, journalism, news:rewired, niche, Publishing, skillse, skillset
Posted in Interactive, Publishing, Skillset, creative media | 2 Comments »

UK Publishing Equalities Charter: have your say

May 13th, 2010 by suzannek

On Tuesday 20 April 2010, version II of the draft UK Publishing Equalities Charter was launched at London Book Fair by industry speakers including Simon Juden (Publishers Association), Bridget Shine (Independent Publishers Guild), Viv Bird (Booktrust), Shreela Ghosh (Freeword) and Jacob Sam La Rose (Flipped Eye Publishing).

The launch provided an excellent opportunity for those in the industry to find out more about the Charter, speak face to face to the core group that have been developing the Charter as well as providing vital feedback, comments and suggestions.

We are keen to involve all parts of the publishing sector in the development of this Charter and would like to invite you to take part in phase II of the consultation. This is your chance to have a say on how you can improve the Charter. You can take part in the consultation by reading the draft and the supplementary Q&A and emailing any comments to shelina.permalloo@booktrust.org.uk by Monday 14 June 2010. Please note that comments will be collated at the close of the consultation and not reflected on the draft until then.

We are asking publishers, trade associations, booksellers and other organisations related to the publishing industry to pledge their support for equality in publishing by becoming a signatory to this charter. Please circulate this consultation call wherever possible to your members (where applicable), colleagues and any other contacts, whether via email, word of mouth or by e-newsletter.

NEXT STEPS
1.    Read the draft version II of the UK Publishing Equalities Charter
2.    Read the supplementary information Q&A document
3.    Respond to the consultation by no later than Monday 14 June 2010.

All responses to consultation should be emailed to shelina.permalloo@booktrust.org.uk

If you have read all the information and would like to become a signatory to this Charter.

1.    Visit www.dipnet.org.uk
2.    Click on the link ‘Become a Signatory’
3.    Provide the name of your organisation and provide key contact information
4.    Confirm the actions you will champion for 2010/2011 (see ‘suggested actions’ for more information)
5.    Upload your logo

After completing this process, you will be sent a confirmation email stating that you have been uploaded onto the system and will be informed of the official launch date of the Charter. When the Charter comes into effect you will automatically be recognised as a signatory to the Charter and you will have 1 year to champion the actions you have specified.

If you have any questions related to the UK Publishing Equalities Charter please do not hesitate to contact Shelina Permalloo, Development Manager at DIPNET shelina.permalloo@booktrust.gov.uk

The UK Publishing Equalities Charter has been devised by a core group comprising the following organisations:

equalities charter logos ipg skillset artscouncil syp dipnet

Tags: arts council, books, dipnet, diversity, diversity in publishing network, equalities charter, equality, independent publishers guild, publishers association, Publishing, skillset, society of young publishers
Posted in Publishing, Skillset, diversity | No Comments »

London Book Fair 2010: How to Get Into Publishing

May 4th, 2010 by suzannek

This April saw the annual key trade fair for the book and journal publishing industry - the London Book Fair. Hit hard by the ash spewing out of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, it was sad to see so many empty stands. Literary agents, editors and sales people alike reported many cancellations. Most tried to make the best of it, following up by phone and using the free time to walk round and have conversations they would not normally be able to.

However, there was one part of the Fair that still thrived, fuelled by the students and booksellers who want to get into the publishing industry.

The Society of Young Publishers has developed a strong partnership with the Fair’s organisers. They now run the careers drop-in surgery, a full day where one room is reserved for experts from industry, recruitment, careers advisors and publishing studies courses to sit at tables and provide one to one advice to those looking for guidance on how to organise their CV, what job they should go for or which kind of publisher might suit their aspirations and skills best. Both Louise and I spent a couple of hours there and it was very rewarding to meet the publishers of the future.

They also run a seminar programme which included sessions on ‘How to Get Into Publishing’ and ‘How to Get Ahead in Publishing’, which are notoriously well-attended. I was asked to speak on the panel at the first session. My remit? To explain what skills publishers look for in new recruits, based on our research with industry.

The panellists' view of 160+ people who want to get into publishing.

The panellists' view of 160 people who wanted to get into publishing.

Once I’d got over the fear of presenting to an audience of over 160 people (one of the largest for the whole event) it was more a question of keeping to time as I rattled through nine skills that publishing companies have repeatedly said they look for in new entrants. I tried to include likely scenarios that someone fresh out of college might have that demonstrate the relevant experience, knowledge and skills.

There were some particularly thoughtful and challenging questions to the panel at the end around unpaid work experience, age discrimination and breaking out of the negative cycle of getting experience to get into the industry. I’ve included our guidelines on work placements here and a link to Diversity in Publishing Network’s draft Equalities Charter here. Both are projects that have the potential to address the issues raised in the long term if we can gain enough industry support.

My slide presentation can be found below. I hope you find it useful and I’d welcome comments on any of the points raised.

Suzanne kavanagh skillset lbf10 syp how to get into publishing

View more presentations from Suzanne Kavanagh.

Posted in Publishing | 4 Comments »

Calling all professional and aspiring writers and literature workers

March 9th, 2010 by suzannek

ccskills

Are you professional or aspiring novelist, poet, writer, translator, critic, editor or agent? Our sister Sector Skills Council, Creative and Cultural Skills, is running an open consultation on their Literature Blueprint.

The Blueprint is a UK-wide workforce development plan for the literature sector developed in conjunction with Arts Council England. It will analyse the skills needs of the literature sector and propose key actions in response.

Creative and Cultural Skills are inviting writers, literature development workers and others across the literature sector to contribute to the new plan to develop the skills needs of the industry.

If you are working in the sector, make sure you have your say. Download the Literature Blueprint here. Comments should be sent to: engagement@ccskills.org.uk

Deadline for feedback is Friday 19th March 2010.

Posted in Interactive, Publishing, Skillset, creative media, higher education | 2 Comments »

Reflecting the market? Diversity in Publishing Network Equalities Charter

March 8th, 2010 by suzannek

DIPNET

By 2011, just 18% of Britain’s workforce will be white, non-disabled, under 35 and heterosexual. But does the publishing workforce reflect this?

We have been working with the Diversity in Publishing Network and a number of other partners to develop a framework for UK publishers, irrespective of size, to promote and enhance equality throughout the sector. The Equalities Charter is about taking manageable, positive and practical steps towards achieving equality in publishing.

We are keen to involve all parts of the publishing sector in the development and we’d welcome your thoughts on how the draft Charter can be improved.

You can take part in the consultation by clicking here to read the draft (posted on the Publishers Association website). Email your comments to shelina.permalloo@booktrust.org.uk by Friday 12 March 2010.

Please note that comments will be collated at the close of the consultation and not reflected on the draft until then. After the consultation period has ended the Charter will be amended and will be launched at the London Book Fair in April.

The Equalities Charter has been devised by a core group comprising ACE (Arts Council England), DIPNET (The Diversity in Publishing Network), the IPG (Independent Publishers Guild), Skillset, the SYP (Society of Young Publishers) and the PA (The Publishers Association).

We are asking publishers, trade associations, booksellers and other organisations related to the publishing industry to pledge their support for equality in publishing by becoming a signatory to this charter. Please circulate this consultation call wherever possible to members, colleagues and any other contacts. And tell us if you would like to become a signatory to the Equalities Charter.

Posted in Publishing, Skillset, diversity | No Comments »