Bringing the talent to Soho….the VFX and Animation Showcase

By Saint John Walker, on July 25th, 2011%

The Skillset VFX and Animation Showcase on the 14th July attracted over 300 quests, many from the UK’s animation and VFX companies, to view talent from Skillset’s seven great accredited courses, and a number of guest courses from our media academies. . . . → Read More: Bringing the talent to Soho….the VFX and Animation Showcase

Leave a comment   Animation, Facilities, Higher education, Media Academies, Skillset   , , , , ,  

Why we need to be STEAM driven

By Saint John Walker, on December 29th, 2010%

Over the last few years the acronym STEM has increasingly entered debates within the collective creative industries, and also at Skillset. Maybe now is the time to be promoting STEAM with the powerful addition of Art, and the way it harnesses multidisciplinary innovation and what’s more, adds huge economic value. Will our future students make the right choices in the new education marketplace presaged by Lord Browne? . . . → Read More: Why we need to be STEAM driven

2 comments   Creative media, Games, Higher education, Media Academies, New Technology News, Qualifications, Skillset   , , , ,  

Greenscreen with Envy

By Saint John Walker, on June 30th, 2010%

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 . . . → Read More: Greenscreen with Envy

2 comments   Creative media, Higher education, Media Academies, Skillset

THE BRITISH FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES – DECLINE OR OPPORTUNITY

By Fiona Kilkelly, on January 27th, 2010%

As you’ve probably have seen from our recent press activity, the Lords Communications Committee’s report on the state of the UK Film and TV industry was out this week. Not only was it a fine report, it had a lot of very good things to say about the importance of training and skills for the . . . → Read More: THE BRITISH FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES – DECLINE OR OPPORTUNITY

One comment   Creative media, Higher education, Media Academies, Skillset, TV

DOES THE MILK ROUND STILL DELIVER? The demise of the degree show and why we should do something about it

By Saint John Walker, on August 16th, 2009%

Hundreds of shows. Who can visit them all?

Producing relevant talent is just one aspect of the work of Skillset academies and accredited courses. Another is to interface and stay in dialogue with industry, and to feed back knowledge collected this way into the teaching system. In order to make this happen and lure industry into these relationships, the university needs to promote the work of its students, who are after all the output of this endeavour.

In the past it was enough to set up a shop-window and invite people to look in. On creative media courses this traditionally takes the form of the degree show, an annual rite of passage for the student, and an opportunity for industry to recruit or at least to get a drink of wine and informally network with the host institution.

But maybe now is the time to examine the degree show from industry’s perspective. A degree show is an excellent vehicle for students to test out their presentation skills, and an opportunity to take stock of their personal development, and even to learn from peers.

But as an opportunity for industry, it is increasingly anachronistic Continue reading DOES THE MILK ROUND STILL DELIVER? The demise of the degree show and why we should do something about it

2 comments   Creative media, Higher education, Media Academies, Skillset