Enterprise. #MediaEnt

My Enterprise pitch was on Monday afternoon, and I am going to talk about my experiences of the whole process here.

On beginning the Enterprise unit, I felt a little confused about what I would have to do, but this was soon clarified. I began to use Twitter for market research into my idea and to gain interest. I was indecisive about which idea I wanted to use, but I understood that no matter what buisiness plan I was to put together, it would still apply in some way to my buisiness model. The first media idea I had was to have an independent production company which specialised in Media Production in the local area, and the second was a local media production company which was a non profit organisation helping to bring media production the local area. I settled on my first idea, as it could give me more mileage, and was easier to put into a three minute pitch. The reasons for this are: The weaknesses was really only one or two points, funding and opportunities, whereas the non profit organisation had a lot more weaknesses, namely in the funding area, as well as running costs, how I can run it after the initial set up, how to keep it fresh and who my client base would be. The process of doing a pitch really began when I had eliminated any doubts from my mind as to the best strategy, so I could really focus on an end product, as I had no clarity, up to week 5. I don't feel that I would have been able to perform well in the pitch, had I still had mixed feelings about an idea. Now, my company even had a name, which it had never had prior to pitch day. The only problems I was having now, was putting it down in such a way, that I could pitch without the use of Power Point, which would usually help me to speak for longer periods, but as this pitch was only three minutes, I was confident that I would be ok.

The Pitch.

While I felt supremely confident heading into the pitch, I knew that with a little tweak here and there from how I had performed in my Action Learning set, then I could get up to the 2 minute thirty mark, possibly 3 minutes. It has always been important to identify the weaknesses and threats, so that when pitching, you can be more confident of an idea with fewer weaknesses. On the subject of weaknesses, it is important to me, that if there are weaknesses, you know what they are, and state how you are going to eliminate them over a period of time, whether it be 3 months, or a year. This is something in which I briefly mentioned during my pitch, but as I was concious of time, I wanted to make sure I got everything in, and as a negative, I missed out my Market Research, and I should have given more detail to my current weaknesses, some of which were discovered through market research. The strengths of my idea were that I had a clear idea where I wanted my Enterprise buisiness to go, and When I wanted to get there by. I also spoke about the future goals in the short term, medium term and long term. I feel that I was clear and concise in getting my information across and did well selling myself as a current student with new ideas and that I was in the process of gaining a degree. The feedback I got was generally positive, although there were things I could improve on, such as "more detail in the Market Research and when saying I was getting a degree, why didn't I sell it, that I'd be awesome, I'm getting a first".  Other than that it was a pretty good performance. I mentioned a competitor to me in the pitch, Hello Hello Pictures. They produce a wide array of media ranging from short films and music videos to image design and audio work. These are based in the West Midlands also and are my biggest rival to date, given they only formed in latter 2011. The reason they are my rivals, is because my content would be short films, music videos, and as I have a current involvement with radio, I could do Radio work and promotion too. My next steps on my journey, are to form an even clearer vision, plan out a business plan in which my weaknesses mentioned above are addressed, and to begin gaining content for my portfolio. I would hope to accomplish this by the end of December 2012.

Checking In, one more time!

This has been one of the most enjoyable shoots I have been a part of, in my small media career. Professional throughout, and really well thought out, in terms of locations, story and structure to the schedules.

This stems from cast and crew to the facilities we were filming in. The staff of the hotel we were using, were very patient, and very accomodating. I want to here, [and have in person thank[ed] everyone for their hospitality, generousity and dedication. Appreciate, that we went into a working, hotel with legitimate people checking in (and out) of it while we ran about with a camera, some sweaty men, (and occasional females) lights and a microphone(s) on a pole. Some sight right? Well you'd be right! Unfortunately, due to copyright reasons [camera shy people] I cannot show you, so you will just have to trust me!

Trying to remember everything I did, is difficult so I won't mention individuals, as I Will have missed a few off, and that isn't fair ! :p It was great to work with new people, and also get to see people I worked with years ago back here. Full of awesome!

So much I could write here, but I will not.

Simply put, here's to Checking in , which will be viewable in 2013!

Matt. x

 

Issue of Debate #4 - BBC Birmingham

The factual production from BBC Birmingham, is in the summer months, relocating to Bristol.

Production work in BBC Birmingham currently takes place at The Mailbox. Programmes produced include output on both television and radio. Before The Mailbox, these productions took place at Pebble Mill.

The decision to move the production from Birmingham to Bristol, among other places, certainly on one hand creates a lack of employment opportunities in my area, but on the other hand, could open up a new opportunity to gain employment. With this coming out of the area, it could gain me employment with the job cuts closer to home, but also one on hand, could make the job market even more competitive.

Some radio and television products which will remain in Birmingham, include Midlands Today and Countryfile. For radio includes The Archers and BBC WM. 

Issue of Debate #3 - Twitter Interactivity.

The interactivity of Twitter, has helped reinvigorate the Television industry. A few years ago, viewers were not able to discuss their thoughts on a television show, as it was airing, but Twitter has allowed users of the social networking site, to share their opinions, by creating hash tags, or using ones provided by the programme in question. A popular one I have used in University, is #Drama, for the Television Drama module, and #Docs for the TV Documentary and features module in Semester one.

This allowed me to intearct with other members of my tutor group while watching in the comfort of my own home, and the following weeks scheduled class, saw us able to elaborate on what we liked about the programmes we had watched. Twitter can also be a bad thing for television, as over exposure to it, and forcing it down peoples throats could have an effect where people may not want to watch that particular TV show. An example of this, is recently on WWE Raw every week promoting Twitter, and a month ago, it was overkill, mentioning twitter at every opportunity. Luckily it has died down now, but Twitter is still seen with on screen graphics promoting various things to do with either the current show, or upcoming shows of WWE television.

Another example, where Twitter can help television programmes is on shows such as Unreported World. Unreported World is now in its 23 series, and has been widely watched throughout its run, and due to its unique nature of a different person doing an episode each week, adds a sense of danger, to me , that if they were in another place that they may not be as safe, as an "undercover, unreported" world. Twitter certainly opens the eyes to the world of the dangerous nature of some of the places, and the awful stuff which is happening.

Issue of Debate # 2 - Reality Programming.

Now, I'm a fan of some reality shows, such as 24 hours in A&E, but I am not a fan of TOWIE or Big Brother. I understand the requirements for shows like TOWIE and similar shows (Geordie Shore, Desperate Scousewives), as they focus on a normal person in an everday situation which we can all have experience with. I don't really understand why a show such as Big Brother is as appealing as it is. Let us all, as a nation, sit on the settee and watch a bunch of people doing exactly the same.

24 Hours in A&E.
This show is broadcast on Channel 4, and it was filmed 24/7 for 28 days. The episode I am basing this review of was originally broadcast on Channel 4 at 9 pm on the 27th June 2012. The first 2 minutes of an episode, introduce the viewer to what they will see in the upcoming episode, and is edited together really effiently, and quickly, to symbolise the buisiness of the hospital and the urgency of the jobs by the talking heads in the introduction monologues. What also helped the following three minutes, was the case of a man who had a finger laceration, and you can feel the vulnerability and fear that he was a burden keeping the nurse from a more important medical case. You can also see the plights of the staff, as one of the doctors is quoted at 06:20 "Why is this person in A&E, she's got a cold". We then meet "Malcolm" After this, we get a close up of the red Phone ringing, which is probably a cut away added in editing, which then takes us onto the next case, that being of "a 93 year old man, who was knocked over just outside" named Earnest. For the next ten or so minutes, we are taken between the two cases, and briefly introducing another case, Sean who "hurt his shoulder on the way to work". After the break, we meet a mother and son , who are in A & E because the son fell on the stairs and had lingering rib issues and pain. The format for the rest of the show is the same, to keep each case in the forethough of the viewers' and also to keep it fresh enough it feels different.

In this show you can really feel for some of the characters, which have been well selected by producers, and probably, are from a selection of characters, but some might not come across well on camera, or in working with them, they get a sense of the character in their job.

TOWIE.
This show is broadcast on ITV2. It is filmed a few days in advance of it being aired, and an exert from the episode Series 5 Episode 10 is the basis of this review. The show was originally broadcast on ITV2.
It is a groundbreaking scene between Arg and Gem. After some previous tomfoolery and shenanigans both finally come clean with each other about their feelings for each other in a controlled and unrealistic way.


With Big brother, the format is always the same, and always disappoints so many people, yet there are always people who claim to love it, then be the first to complain about it. While I loved the idea of Big brother, in its infancy, I have grown to lothe all the television time it had gotten across the summer, although with the revivial on Channel 5, it is only on Television for an hour or 2 every night instead of 24/7 coverage, so I can understand the recent surge in viewers. I may even begin to watch it myself, if it continues to be a limited format.

In conclusion, I think if you think of a reality genred programme, it will be more successful if you follow the lineage of 24 Hours in A & E , although shows like TOWIE are becoming more popular, with the likes of Geordie Shore, Desperate scousewives, and a rumoured show about Birmingham. I don't believe the format of Big Brother, which is a simplistic approach is a good long term approach.

Issues of Debate #1 - Copyright.

Copyright.

As a University Student, I have realised the importance of Copyright, and in the real world, it is a lot more complicated. Everything needs to be justified, and cleared before using a piece of music, and for costly sums of money. This doesn't mean things I have done, can't be published, but quite a lot of my previous work, before University has used content which should be cleared if I was to produce the same pieces, outside of education purposes.

Copyright causes a problem, at any stage of productions at any level, whether further education, higher education, or professional. For me the issue has been easier to deal with, as I know a musician who can produce copyright free music for me, for credit. As I gain more experience, and better quality productions, I would need more music, and we already have an agreement, in which, if they have to produce more than 10 songs, we would need to negotiate a fee.

I would be unable to Use a Johnny Cash song, in a tribute to Johnny Cash, or to give a drama more tension, as a background song, or perhaps an opening or closing credit song, without permission from the people that own the Johnny Cash estates, for example. Clearing copyrighted material for use in materials, whether non profit or for commerical purposes can vary. It can cost thousands of pounds for up to 30 seconds of music or video footage.

The reason for this, is the same as, on doing essays, or scholastic work, if using a quotiation from a source, or a person, I am to Harvard Reference it, to say where I got it from, this is the visual sense of the Harvard Referencing system.

To put it another way, if I had worked for hours, or in some cases weeks on a project, and if someone tried to pass it off as their own work, it would be disappointing. If I was to find someone had submitted a video on YouTube or Vimeo, that I had done, and passed it off as their own, I would have to prove that it was my creation, and I am the copyright holder. This could be a long process, but whenever I am involved with a piece of media creation, I always place on beginning and end credits which would say who did what on the production. This is a form of Harvard referencing, and will make it difficult for anybody to steal works I have been involved with.

Capital Theatre Fesitival.

Recently, I got a chance to help create a short drama piece, which had been writer on the Writers' Forum, and a piece called Drastic, written by Liz John. Several of the students in my groups were there, and the script was directing by Mim Gertchen, Sound was captured by Louis Stones-Racz and Chantelle Slowly, Camera and editing were taken on by Tom Thompson and myself.

You can see the finished article here.

This was an enjoyable experience and I am greatful for the chance to help out. I thought the location of the M.A.C (Midland Arts Centre), was ideally situated, and attracted more people than I thought would show up .

Overall, the whole experience was very rewarding, and one in which I would do again, if presented an opportunity to do so.

Road Diary #5

#Brain Storm. This opportunity came about very quickly, and suddenly, and I'm greatful of the chance.

Look , A picture of production ! I played an apathetic policeman and it was good to lend a "helping" hand. Well done to James Callaghan at the Basement in Dudley. Good story, and good crew which ensured everyone was comfortable and ok on set!

Just a quick entry this week, until Next time Stay awesome !


Matt.

Road Diary # 4

- Checking in Part one .

Wow, that's a long title!

Let me just say, what an absolute pleasure it has been, the last 2 shoots I've been on with the Checking in Crew! Fabulous stuff, has given me a chance to be involved with another side of the production. Clapperboard. This is important for synching video, and audio to make editing more simpler and fault free. It was a lot of fun, although next time, can I have a pen, it took me ages to get the chalk off me!

I also got to briefly appear the other side of the camera, which is important as well, as it gave me more experience in the acting field. Any experience I can get right now, is valuable, and will help in the longer term. You're all stars for allowing me an opportunity !

Until July, I'm checking out..... What?

Matt.

Film Review # 1

Moneyball.

This film, is based from a book of the same name (of a true story), starring Brad Pitt. This film takes you through the emotions of the plight of Billy Beane, in his task to make the Oakland Athletics World Series champions. His struggle to compete in the marketplace, due to lack of funds, forces him to tackle this task by  an unorthodox method, and applying stats from stats masters, including Bill James, to find the best value for money which other teams would look past when acquiring new talent.

The early part of the film, sees Beane, trying to negotiate a trade with another club, and while unsuccesful, he finds an interesting individual who analyses seemingly everything and works out a deal to take him with him to Oakland, who is on board with his new approach from the beginning, and irritates the rest of his front office team.

Without giving away too much, the story then picks up emotionally, when Beane is forced to begin trading players, to further enhance his "Moneyball" philosophy. These trades although unpopular, began to change the fortunes of the club, who would then go on a 20 game win streak, which is impressive, and rare in modern day baseball. This really put the team on the front foot, and got them back to the playoffs, which was the goal before the season began. Due to the impressive nature, in which the team achieved this, Billy Beane was offered a contract by the Boston Red Sox, to be their new GM and got the highest offer, although he declined this offer, and remained with Oakland, where he still is to this day, and has just signed another extension to keep him in Oakland, until 2017.

Not forgetting the way in which this was filmed, makes this a staggeringly brilliant piece of cinema, and a story in which left me wanting more at the end.

Road Diary #3

Well, as they say in showbuisness, you win some, you lose some. Just know, rejection doesn't bother me. It just makes me stronger. A better opportunity is around the corner. and of not, I'll go the other way, and go around that corner. Whatever, Bring it on Life! :)

So, No, I didn't get the BBC Placement, but today I had another interview, and I have others lined up in future dates, and I would like to thank the BBC for giving me the interview chance, although I know, I couldn't have done any more.

Interview today was for a job in the media office at university, I did all I could in that one too, but we will wait and see what happens with that one!

Onto other matters. I will be helping out on the set, or some capacity for Checking in, I can now confirm this!

Will let you know how I get on !

Fancy a Drink ?

Matt.

Road Diary #2

I've had an awesome week! It's amazing what happens, what doors open, when you say Yes. Looking forward to helping out on the set, and in the film of Checking In. Filming will commence April 2nd 2012. It's going to be a fun opportunity, so I look forward to being of assistance. Just a short entry for this week, expect longer ones during the Easter break!

:)

Stay safe,

Matt.

Road Diary #1 .

Hopefully, this should be updated more than my other one, and this will guide you all through my experiences on set , doing projects and things media related! I will still use my other blog, to let out some aggression occasionally, but from here on in, it's pretty much about my life as a media professional, or somebody close to it! So, I didn't get the Sky work placement :( but that's OK, it;s a learning experience and one in which I can learn from in order to further my own , very young career. Also to note, a project Ihave been working on since January, is unfortunatly not able to finish it, due to time constranits, whoever takes over, Iwill hope looks after it as well as I could. It's regrettable I can't finish, but these things happen, and I thank the company, UBM for giving me an oppertunity.
I am really enjoying #drama at BCU currently, and I have a feeling the second assignment, is going to be an awesome one!

For now that will be all, and I realise it's a brief look at the world of media, but my career is only just taking off.

Until next time folks!

Matt.