The Apprentice

This post has nothing to do with Lords, Sugary or otherwise.

Since January I've been part of the Skillset Apprenticeship in creative and digital media and working with Pencoed based production company It's My Shout Productions - It's going really well. This is the first time that this scheme has been run, and I really feel that it is the best opportunity that I've had of getting into the industry properly.

Below is a press release from Skillset with a photo of all the apprentices. I'm the one with the bright red nose due to a particularly nasty cold that has left me talking like a Dalek!

This does not stop me from working on projects like Overdrive, so keep watching for more stuff from me soon!

Skillset Cymru launches Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media Industries at the Senedd

The apprentices... from left to right, Alyn Luker, Ephraim Lewis,
Amanda Evans, James Morgan, Huw Parry, Roanne Bardsley,
Iwan Thomas, Leyla Pope, Me, Liam Williams and Rebecca Davies

Skillset Cymru held a reception to celebrate the Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media at the Senedd this morning (Thursday, 10 February).

The event was addressed by Lesley Griffiths AM, the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, and Chair of Skillset Cymru, John Geraint.  A selection of apprentices who are working with some ofWales’ biggest media companies also gave their view on this new scheme, which is forging a new direction for apprenticeships in Wales.

Lesley Griffiths described the Apprenticeship as an important boost for the Creative Media Industries in Wales and a great opportunity for young people interested in forging careers in this field.

“It is particularly pleasing to launch this initiative during Apprenticeship Week Wales when we are promoting the value of apprenticeships for both employers and individuals.

“The Welsh Assembly Government’s Delivering a Digital Wales strategy highlights the role of the creative industries sectors in developing a thriving and competitive digital economy. To achieve this, we have to ensure employers have access to the skill sets they require and initiatives like this from Skillset Cymru support the ongoing success and growth of this dynamic sector.”

The Apprenticeship is a brand new way for young people to find their way into the exciting world of the Creative Media. Roles are available in a range of areas within creative media including Production, Interactive Media, Camerawork, Editing for Sound and Video, Interactive Multi-Media, Web Authoring, Animation and Digital Content.

There are currently 11 young people from South Wales taking part in the 11-month programme at some of Wales’ most exciting media companies, including ITV Wales, Ceidiog Cyf and CC4. The Apprenticeship, which leads to a Level 3 Certificate in Creative and Digital iMedia, is also set to be rolled out in North Wales during forthcoming weeks.

The Minister also announced that one of the apprentices currently on the programme, Huw Parry, was the 1000^th apprentice recruited through the Welsh Assembly Government’s Young Recruits Programme. The Minister visited Huw at his workplace, multimedia production company Telesgop, in Swansea yesterday.

Chair of the Skillset Cymru national board and creative director of Green Bay Media, John Geraint, said: “These Skillset Apprenticeships present an excellent opportunity for the Welsh Creative Media Industries. They will open up a whole new pool of young local talent, allowing businesses to grow in a targeted and affordable way, while creating the next generation of Welsh Creative Media professionals.”

The Apprenticeship is part of a project which is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) programme that also receives additional support from the European Social Fund.

For more information about the Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media, visit: www.skillset.org/walesapprenticeship.

Originally intended for facebook

To those who are in the group "save Top Gear" I would say that as a TG fan and a telly person that although it's a great thing, sooner or later they will run out of ideas and the whole thing will die a slow death. Already they are beginning to struggle to be fresh and entertaining. It will end one day - don't think that this is nasty BBC taking away what you guys like, it's more the producers running out of steam - This is why Dr Who took a year off with only 4 specials this year. In other words a campaign to save a TV programme, wether public owned or not, is futile I'm afraid.

Wonder why it did that...

Not for the first time, Livestream baffles me somewhat. The player on the front page wasn't working earlier, yet it works now. How odd. I haven't done anything to it to make it work or not work.


Stopped off in a radio studio earlier and managed to avoid getting on the air myself, but it's something that I may be doing more of in the near future, particularly with the addition of a couple of cameras to the studio


I've actually been in Cardiff today in a production office logging rushes, after 45hours of working in a supermarket, it's a relief to be back doing a proper job, albeit for no money! I feel as if I've got two jobs at the moment, One I like but doesn't pay me, the other I hate but it does pay me... the conundrum is that I can't get rid of the one I hate. I know I haven't actually told you where my unpaid work is yet: All in good time though.


A fantastic Christmas present would be something a little bit more permanent though.


So, sorry for the confusion earlier. Carry on!

New projects, New Directions?

About time for an update. Even though once again I find myself heading for work in Sainsbury's over christmas I'm still trying to get into the television business. It's just that I may have to find new and interesting ways of doing it.

So, Having been to a roadshow with the BBC's commissioning editor speaking, I am now working on 2 new documentary style programmes and updating R.S.T-UK with a new look and title. That's the idea anyway, hopefully someone will like them!

It occurs to me that I've never actually put any services that I can offer on this site. Prehaps it's time that I did!

Incidentally for any Motorsport website editors or broadcasters reading this, I have worked out how much it costs to offer a video news reporting service from all the rounds of the WRC to include interviews from mid day service, the end of day press conference, coverage of the ceremonial starts and finish, and anything else I can point a camera at.

We can dream, can't we?

Why give up now?

Last night, I got very depressed. This happens.

For some daft reason I've got lots of work on the go, and not being paid for any of it! I got chatting to a camera man last night [at a radio concert ??] and he basically confirmed that yes, there's plenty of companies doing things out there... and no, they're not taking on.

Add to that applying for a placement that I knew that I could do, but being turned down for not having the right degree. I've never even heard of a BA in Interactive Digital Media, so good luck to that company if they're trying to get someone with one of those to do high definition web based videos for them : Something I've been doing for ages.

Anyway, got back from the concert, which was fantastic, as usual and well worth a listen when it comes onto BBC Radio 3, and sulked for a bit. Wondered what my next move was... considered giving up on television and video altogether. Watched a few silly videos on youtube (Alex Budovsky's animations are great if you're in need of a giggle, look them up), then realised that I needed to prepare a video for the Cadets tonight. So fired up Final Cut, and found the autotesting video that was part of RST. Set to work, and by the end of it all (01:30 this morning) wondered why I ever considered giving up something that I do enjoy, paid or not, and today I'm working on some new treatments to send off. Hopefully one of them will turn up trumps. Onwards!
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Quick question for any Mac Users reading this... Has your browser started acting funny? I think the latest version of Flash is causing some problems with it, as whenever I visit a site using flash (or try to upload something), it crashes on me. I thought it was just a safari problem, but firefox is also doing the same thing. Is it just me?

Information gained.

I said something ages ago about the nearby Valleywood studios...

... Well, Not sure what it is yet, but there's a lot of activity going on up there now. Prehaps someone's moved in and are producing something good...? Anyone got any information?

And with that, I'm off for a week. I'm going to Goodwood for the fantastic Revival meeting. See you when I get back

Warning to reality TV show contestants

... and it's a warning that everyone in broadcasting is aware of by now : Don't forget that your audience could be antyone and everyone. Including government officials:

A Leicestershire 73-year-old who wowed audiences by breakdancing on Britain's Got Talent has had his benefit stopped.

Fred Bowers said the allowance he received for a leg injury has been suspended while the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/8103153.stm

the moral of the story is that if you're doing something that you shouldn't in front of a diverse audience, don't be surprised if someone, somewhere has some kind of objection.

I want... Information.

Driving between Treforest and Bridgend gave me a good glimpse of the new "Valleywood" - or Dragon International film and TV studios, near Pencoed. A whole 5 or so miles away. Drive past the site today and you'll see 4 TV studios all there, with their shiny offices attached, apparently all fitted out [but not necessarily kitted out] and just waiting for someone to move in.

Which by the looks of things, no one has.

So... why not? I can't find a website for the studios, I can't find a phone number, and I sure as heck can't find any information as to who actually owns the studios, who is running them, or if they are going to be let out to any production companies any time soon.

You can probably understand my fustration. Here's 4 brand new facilities and no one is using them - when by now there could be at least 4 potential employers practically on my doorstep!

Does anyone actually know who owns the place? Has there been problems financially? When is something going to happen!?

Similarly, every time I go down to Llandow I see two great big aircraft hangers, apparently sitting dormant. It occurs to me that with a bit of work you could have a studio/exhibition facility, half an hours drive from Cardiff... Think of what you could do with them.

Welsh international Motor and Motorsport show anyone? One hall full of the latest road cars and bikes, the other full of race, rally, and competition machines, the circuit buzzing to the tune of demonstrations... and the rest of the week the hangers become studio space for films and TV shows. I could personally do RST in there, and move outside onto the track for the track test segment.

There's huge potential around here, and it's not being realised. No wonder I can't find a job... no one is taking the chances that are clearly on offer!

Anyone got a spare £2m? I want to buy two aircraft hangers (!)