BSMA News and Events

Opportunity with Wonky Films

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:26:40 GMT

We are interested in creating a dynamic animation series that can be efficiently personalised and targeted at an individual/segmented audience level across different media. Research could involve the development of a test series that is adapted/ optimised over time as data is collated relating to a number of 360-related areas such as:

AUDIENCE
Does technology allow us to segment an audience in new and more targeted ways? e.g. by media mix, daily digital habits, how personalised they like their content, social behaviour, adoption of new technologies etc.

MEDIA MIX
What media/technologies are used in which combinations and in which ways by which people? Can we find new ways of integrating these together? e.g. using 2D picture codes on mobiles that can be recognised by webcams to trigger online content in meaningful new ways.

DYNAMIC CONTENT
How can you create dynamic content that can be adapted efficiently to target different audiences through different media?

PERSONALISED CONTENT
How much detail are different types of audience willing to share/give in return for a more personalised experience? e.g. using APIs to personalise entertaining content through social media sites.

LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT
What inspires or enables people to interact with/share/generate/adapt/utilise content? e.g. testing different approaches to encouraging viral & new social behaviours

VALUE OF CONTENT
How do you put a value on content and add value to content?

Please contact Daniel Cox for an informal discussion dcox@bournemouth.ac.uk

http://digital-entertainment.org/wonkyfilms.html

Apply for a fully funded Doctoral Studentship – Graduate Animator

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:42:33 GMT

We are interested in engaging with an animator graduate with a First or Upper Second Degree in a related area, for a series of development projects. A background in storyboarding, character design or illustration, 3D (Maya) and 2D After Effects would be advantageous.

Applications are invited for a Professional Doctorate (ProfD) in the Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE), a collaboration between the University of Bath and Bournemouth University, with Happy Hour Productions. This 4 year studentship, fully funded by the EPSRC, offers the opportunity to conduct research in an industrial context.

Based in Bristol and London, Happy Hour Productions http://www.happyhourproductions.co.uk/ is one of the leading TV, commercial and corporate film production companies in the South West. Producing national commercials and promotional films for some of the UK's biggest brand names.

75% of your time will be based in a company engaged on research projects. You will be supported by access to options from a suite of Master's programs from both universities. The taught program will be negotiated by you, your academic supervisors and the host company so it can be tailored to your particular research needs. Successful applicants will receive their tuition fees, a tax free stipend of at least £14,790 and dedicated funding for equipment and conference travel. This studentship is available to UK nationals and EU citizens who fulfil the EPSRC eligibility criteria. Please read http://www.digital-entertainment.org/info-applicants.html carefully.

Please contact cde@cs.bath.ac.uk for more information OR contact dcox@bournemouth.ac.uk for an informal discussion around the project

http://digital-entertainment.org/info-applicants.html

BU Postgrads win awards at Landcrab Fim Festival 2010

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:16:33 GMT

Congratulations to all the directors, producers, editors and anyone else from BU postgrads who won awards at the Landcrab film festival in early May:

DUEL (Abdul Ghannam dir and prod James Christopherson) for Best Narrative and Best Dialogue
CASES OF DETECTIVE POLICEMAN ( dir Will Hitchins, prod Padraic O'Sullivan, prod Camilla Findlay) for Best Actor, Will Hitchins for Best Director and People's Choice Award for Best Film by popular audience vote.
SPIN (Hanna Hargrave prod and David Klein dir) for Best Sound Design.

Animation Graduate Wins Two Game BAFTA's

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:31:45 GMT

For the second year running, a BSMA BA (Hons) Animation Production graduate is celebrating success at the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards. James Norman, who graduated in 1998 and is now lead motion capture animator on the development team at Rocksteady Studios Ltd, won the Best Game and Gameplay awards for Batman: Arkham Asylum. At last year’s awards ceremony, Francis Pang, another Animation graduate from the University College, won the BAFTA for Artistic Achievement for his work on Little Big Planet.

The video game awards, now in their fourth year as a stand-alone ceremony, were created to honour the greatest achievements in gaming each year. The Gameplay award is judged on a game’s ability to captivate and engage a user’s attention and provide a truly compelling experience, which Batman: Arkham Asylum achieved by bringing the hugely popular DC Comics superhero to life.

James commented “It's been an extremely exciting time for Rocksteady Studios Ltd. following the recent great success of Batman: Arkham Asylum. The team has worked extremely hard together over the last couple of years to produce a great title that delivered to both Batman fans and gamers alike.”

“I can honestly say that my time at the University College prepared me well for my early animation career in terms of focused team work and learning how to work within a multi skilled team. Back then we were lucky enough to have BAFTA as the venue for our end of year show. I remember the large display of awards they have on show there, and at the time only dreaming that I'd one day be part of a team on the receiving end and actually get to hold a couple of them... they're nice and heavy!”

Pete Symons, BA (Hons) Animation Production course leader at the University College, commented “Staff and students from the University College are delighted by James’s success and congratulate him and the development team at Rocksteady Studios Ltd. This is the second year running that Animation alumni have won awards at the BAFTA ceremony and it continues a very successful year for our graduates.”

This article was taken from: http://www.aucb.ac.uk

Four Student Animation Films Selected for Annecy Festival

murray@bsma.ac.uk (Murray Weston) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:16:30 GMT

The Annecy International Animation Festival has selected four of the AUCB's BA (Hons) Animation Production 2009 graduation films for the Annecy ‘Graduation Films’ competition. This is an outstanding result for the AUCB course.
The selected films are:
BROKEN WAVE (Directed by Chris Allen), LULLABY (Directed by Nick White and recent winner of RTS Students Television Society Awards 2009, Southern Region, Undergraduate Animation category), PARADIS (Directed by Adrian Maganza), and
TRAIN OF THOUGHT (Directed by Ben Thomas and Leo Bridle and recent winner of Animex 2010, Experimental Animation category and also winner of 1st prize in the Super Shorts category at Skepto Film Festival, Italy).
Pete Symons and Anne Terkelsen of the AUCB said:
"Annecy International Animation Festival is the big animation event of the summer where thousands of industry professionals, students and animation enthusiasts come together for a week in Annecy, France to celebrate animation from all over the world.

Educational institutions are limited to entering 10 works, which makes it even more wonderful that a total of four productions have been chosen from the AUCB. This is the first time in several years that we have had entries accepted into the official competition and we are all thrilled. Especially since this year is Annecy’s 50th anniversary promising an even bigger event than usual with even more people in attendance."
For further information on the Annecy Festival go to: http://www.annecy.org/home

Grierson British Documentary Awards 2010 – call for entries

murray@bsma.ac.uk (Murray Weston) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:01:48 GMT

The Grierson British Documentary Awards are the premier awards in the UK for documentary film, and the nine competitive categories which are now receiving entries for 2010 include a Best Newcomer section which carries a £3,000 cash prize that goes to the director. Murray Weston, Co-Director of the BSMA, is a trustee of The Grierson Trust and will be happy to advise Bournemouth alumni and students considering entering this scheme - murray@bsma.ac.uk

The Grierson Awards 2010 are open to documentaries made anywhere in the world.
All entries must have had their first UK public screening between 1st May 2009 and 30th April 2010. In the case of entries for the UK Film Council Best Cinema Documentary category, the film must have received its first theatrical screening within the qualifying period. Details of how to enter are to be found here and the terms and conditions of entry are to found here.

Grierson Award Categories
Shell International Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which reflects the Grierson tradition of social or political documentary on a contemporary theme.

Best Documentary on the Arts – a single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, on an arts subject.

History Today Best Historical Documentary – a single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, on a historical subject.

Best Science Documentary – a single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which addresses any aspect of science, including natural history, the environment, health and medicine.

Most Entertaining Documentary – a single documentary or an episode from a strand or series which brings style, elegance, wit or irony to its subject, however weighty. Entries can be on any subject and in any format, including factual and reality based programmes.

Best Drama Documentary – a documentary or factual drama that exclusively or predominantly uses drama to illustrate real events, historical or contemporary, based on factual evidence.

Envy Best Documentary Series – a finite series with a single overall theme, planned by an individual or a team. *
*Entrants must provide two episodes from the series along with short synopses of each of the episodes in the series.

UK Film Council Best Cinema Documentary – a documentary that has had a UK theatrical release within the qualifying period.

Best Newcomer – the first documentary from a new director to receive a public screening or broadcast. The entrant may have worked in other areas of the industry in any capacity other than sole director, or may have directed work that has not received a public screening or transmission. This award includes a £3,000 cash prize for the winner. All entries must be supported by a CV or résumé, which includes all previous production credits, and the names of two referees.

The Trustees' Award
The Grierson Trust may also present The Trustees’ Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the art or craft of the documentary. The recipient of this award is chosen solely by the Grierson Trust at its discretion.

Further information on The Grierson Awards Scheme 2010 from:

   Grierson 2010
   28 Sallows Road
   Peterborough
   PE1 4EU

   tel: 01733 891878
   e-mail: awards@griersontrust.org.uk

Award-winning Screen Test for BU graduates

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:02:51 GMT

A group of BU graduates, led by director Jon Scorer, won 'Best Film,' Best Documentary' and 'Best Sound' for their short fim REACHING ALBION at the National Student Film Festival held in Bristol in late February. REACHING ALBION is a documentary production which focuses on the lives of migrants living in Calais, Northern France, who are trying to make their way to Great Britain in search of a new life. The film tells the migrants story from their point of view.

The film, which is now avaliable on Vimeo, was created by Scorer and his fellow graduates Jack Chute (camera); Josh Marks (sound - who was one of BSMA's Crossover New Entrant Participants); Laura Atkinson (editor); Josh Lawson (colourist) and David North (post-production-sound).

Held in Bristol, the Screentest Festival is a three-day event run by students, for students, which celebrates the very best in student filmmaking from around the country.

REACHING ALBION won Best Documentary, Best Cinematograph and Best Sound

Earlier this year, REACHING ALBION also won 'Best Undergraduate Factual' at this year's Royal Television Society (RTS) regional awards for the Southern region of the UK. The film is automatically entered for a national RTS award to be annouced in May.

AUCB Eight Week Summer School in 16mm Film Directing

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:07:07 GMT

This is an intensive eight week course designed specifically for filmmakers who want to learn to direct a professional crew and actors. You will shoot a 16mm sync sound film or video, either from your own script or one provided.
Through a series of professional-level practical workshops, you will learn all aspects of film production, culminating in you directing your film on location using HD video or 16mm Arriflex SR, sound, lighting and grip equipment.

Films are made to the highest possible production value within the time and you will be assisted by producers, directors, script writers and cinematographers throughout the 8 weeks. Previous films from this course have been accepted into international film festivals while others secured international TV distribution contracts.

The course is for people either working in the creative industries looking for a career move or students wishing to fast-track their film education.

Course dates: Monday 26th July - Friday 17th September 2010

Course fee with film: £3950

Course fee with HD video: £2950

To book a place on the above please contact the short course office by phone or email.

Phone: +44 (01202) 363222 or + 44 (01202) 853608

For more information www.filmcourse.co.uk FilmDirecting-summercourse.pdf

This article came from: http://www.aucb.ac.uk/courses/specialistsummercourses/filmdirecting.aspx

Kawser Quamer is going to Cannes to pitch as a Content 360 Finalist

chloe@bsma.ac.uk (Chloe) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:07:26 GMT

Kawser Quamer - Content 360 finalist will promote her project during a series of pitching sessions in front of a panel of key decision-makers in Cannes, France. Kawser got this opportunity through Bournemouth Screen and Media Academy's Crossover Cross- Platform Scheme for New Entrants into the media industries, supported by Skillsets TV Freelance Fund. Overall, there were 150 entries from all over the world!

Another two Crossover New Entrants got selected through the finals including:

Jamie McNaught
Chris Eva

The Content 360 initiative also includes a dedicated pavilion for networking between digital creators and the international TV industry executives attending the MIPTV featuring MILIA exhibition.

For more information about the content 360 Festival: www.miptv.com/content360

Planning for 3D Week in Bournemouth November 2010

murray@bsma.ac.uk (Murray Weston) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:41:32 GMT

The Bournemouth Skillset Media Academy is planning a short 5 day season of events on the production, distribution and exhibition of 3D film, television and photography to take place in the week of 15th - 19th November 2010.

This year, 2010, has seen a sudden increase in activity around recording, distributing and exhibiting 3D moving images. Cinema releases of successful productions AVATAR, ALICE IN WONDERLAND and CLASH OF THE TITANS in 3D versions have been key to this surge of profile. Meanwhile, 3D television services, such as Sky Sports, are now operating in the UK, initially for live non-theatrical screenings in pubs and clubs (http://3d.sky.com/pubfinder/). There are also live premium rate sports 3D services being delivered into cinemas. Much of this activity has been technology-driven but there has also been an underlying incentive for film companies to revive cinema as a premium rate experience and to protect valuable content from piracy. 3D production serves both purposes.

However, the quest to record and deliver realistic 3D images is as old as photography itself, and Victorian entrepreneurs, such as T R Williams of The London Stereoscope Company, produced outstanding examples of 3D photography which have recently been re-visited and revived for publication by Brian May and Elena Vida via http://www.londonstereo.com/. The London Stereoscope Company website, apart from covering archive issues, also points toward modern techniques in 3D stills photography which are receiving increased attention. New digital ">software techniques for stereo pairs, the further development of lenticular cameras and the widespread use of the 3D VuCAM are all part of the story in 2010.

In 3D film production a new single lensed camera has been produced by Sony as a prototype to shoot 3D at 240 fps. For video production there is a wide range of new 3D camcorder equipment being released by various companies – Sony, Toshiba and Panasonic.

The Bournemouth Skillset Media Academy is therefore planning a week of events aimed at students, alumni and the interested general public, to explore 3D in photography, in film and in television.

Leading producers of film and television already agree that ‘this time’, following various false dawns, 3D is very likely to become established in mass entertainment and information media. Most are already aware that shooting successful and effective 3D images requires considerable planning and adjustment of technique for direction, lighting, editing and on-screen graphics production.

A recent article in the Royal Television Society’s journal Television entitled Less is More for 3D (Television, RTS, February 2010 Vol 47/2, pages 20–21) was written by Gordon Jamieson in discussion with Gerry O’Sullivan (Director of Strategic Product Design for BSkyB). The article flagged new guidelines for producers and directors wishing to shoot for 3D which are being developed by BSkyB.

There are hot-selling books on the market (see 3D Movie Making: Stereoscopic Digital Cinema from Script to Screen by ">Bernard Mendiburu pub: Elsevier/Focal Press) to assist the budding 3D producer/director planning to engage with what is rapidly becoming a new set of disciplines.

During one week this November we aim to deliver workshops, screenings and special presentations to address production, distribution and exhibition issues which are particular to 3D work.

Mark 15th - 19th November in your diary for 3D Week and bookmark www.bsma.ac.uk to receive news of events as these are confirmed.