News

BAFTA launch for new degree

East 15 Acting School attracted support from some of the biggest names of stage and screen at the launch of its new MA/MFA in Filmmaking at BAFTA last month.

Held on the eve of the British Academy Film Awards, the event began with a speech from Stewart Till CBE, Chair of the UK Film Council, former Chairman of United International Pictures, and a graduate of the University. As Vice-Chairman of the leading film industry training body, Skillset, Stewart Till welcomed East 15’s initiative in creating a course that is relevant to the digital age of independent filmmaking.

More words of support came from Erich Schultz, Director of the London Independent Film Festival, and one of the UK’s leading film directors, Mike Newell.

The course, which will equip students with practical, professional experience in developing and producing projects from the storyboard to the final edit, also received praise in recorded messages from industry professionals not able to attend. Award-winning writer and director Mark Herman said: ‘East 15’s new MA/MFA in Filmmaking is a fantastic initiative and a valuable addition to the UK’s independent film industry. I believe this course can only add to East 15 Acting School’s exceptionally high standard of training.’

Introducing independent filmmaker Vito Rocco as the Head of the course, East 15’s Director, Leon Rubin, explained: ‘This course is the next step in our quest to deliver programmes that address emergent needs in live and recorded performance. The team we have brought together to support this programme are able to share a wealth of experience from within the industry as practitioners as well as trainers.'

Leon Rubin (left) and Mike Newell

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New studio for talking news

The Colchester Talking Newspaper Team, which records its weekly bulletins at the Colchester Campus, has marked its 1,800th edition with a move to a new sound-proofed studio in the Rab Butler Building.

The first issue of the Colchester Talking Newspaper was produced on campus in July 1973. Once a week volunteers record readings from the local newspapers which are then copied and posted free to the visually impaired.

The Colchester Talking Newspaper Team in their new studio

For more than 30 years, the team has recorded the tapes from a small, window-less production studio on level four. However, following the 1,800th recording, the team moved into the new studio.

Bob Finch, Director of Colchester Talking Newspaper said: ‘Having been involved for the past 20 years, and in the last recording at the old studio, I have to say I shall not miss the old place at all. What we have moved into is fabulous and it will give us the opportunity to move our recordings into the digital age.

‘At present about 160 people in the area receive the news on tape. Soon they will have the option of CD, memory stick or internet download. The opportunities provided by this new facility will without doubt improve the quality of our product.’

There are currently 85 volunteers on the team. They form one of more than 500 local talking newspaper teams in the UK. The Colchester Talking Newspaper group, co-founded by Phil Brew from the Department of Language and Linguistics, was a leader in the transition from using reel-to-reel to cassette tape.

 

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University signs deal with green printers

In line with the University’s continued commitment to improving sustainability, one of the country’s leaders in environmentally-credible printing has signed a new five year contract to supply print and design.

The Pureprint Group is a market leader in providing sustainable printing solutions. The company has been awarded Carbon Neutral status and in 2008 received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development. They are committed to preventing pollution and continually improving their environmental performance in line with the University’s own Sustainable Procurement Strategy.

Deputy Director of Estate Management (Purchasing) Keith Mason said: ‘The contract has been signed following a thorough evaluation of tenderers.'

‘Pureprint will provide the University with a key supplier for print and design and will support the Printing Centre, while minimising the impact of print production on the environment.’

A new procedure has been established to assist staff to acquire print and design and to rationalise the University supplier base, with the aim of achieving the best value for money. The University Printing Centre will manage all the print and design work and requests for promotional gifts, and out-source to Pureprint specialist jobs such as the Undergraduate Prospectus.

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New journal for Essex students

A new student-led academic journal aims to provide current students with valuable early experiences of academic publishing and the peer review process.

Estro is the creation of its two Executive Editors Katy Dillon, a second-year BA English Literature student, and Matthew Bennett, a PhD student from the Department of Philosophy. The online journal has also been developed thanks to Luke Whittington, a second-year Computer Science student.

The first issue of Estro will be published online on 1 May and there is still time for entries to be considered by the deadline of 20 March. It will be published bi-annually in November and May.

Matthew explained the aim of the journal: ‘This is a multi-disciplinary journal, run by and for Essex students. It is dedicated to the publication of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate writing, creating accessible and engaging content for a non-specialist student readership.’

The Editors are looking for two types of submission. The first, academic papers, should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words and written by current students, undergraduate or postgraduate. They can relate to any subject area studied within the University. They also invite less formal articles of between 500 and 1,500 words that don ot constitute original research but relate to the academic experience. These could include reviews of books or accounts of study abroad.

For further information, including how to submit an article, see: http://www.essex.ac.uk/journals/estro/index.html

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Also in the printed March edition of Wyvern:

• Signing up to save energy
• Harvard professor's public lecture for new Centre
• Hobbes translation launched
• Alumnus award for fairtrade pioneer