News & Events
Liverpool Screen School News
Calling all filmmakers!
Nokia and MOFILM, the online film contest community, in conjunction with Shooting People, have put together the Minimo Workshop series showcasing mobile film. This is your chance to find out more, join in and have some fun and potentially win a trip to the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival in June. This one-off workshop is free to attend, but you must register by Monday the 17th of May at http://minimoliverpool.eventbrite.com as places are limited.
The workshop will be held at the Art and Design Academy, LJMU, on Tuesday 18th May, from 1 - 4pm
Screen School students win BBC competition
To coincide with next year's move to Media City, Salford Quays, the CBeebies department of the BBC ran a competition for all media students from northern universities and F.E. colleges.
The brief was to develop an original concept for a new programme targeting four to six-year-old children which would initially appear as an animated feature on the CBeebies website.
Two of the three entries which were shortlisted came from the Interactive Media Department of LJMU's Screen School and one of these, The Adventures of Doodle Dan, went on to win the competition.
The winning team of four students, Jonathan Wharmby, Pei Sze Wong, Nicholas Thomson and Stephen West, will now be invited to work with an animation production company from the north of England to produce a two-minute animated episode of their winning proposal. This will take place shortly after they graduate and the final production will appear in August.
Announcing the winning entry, Sarah Colclough, Executive Producer, commented on the outstanding quality of ideas and the presentation of work which was typical of all the entries which came from LJMU.
Peter Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Ineractive Media, said: "I’m extremely proud of the fact that two of the three shortlisted teams for this competition came from the Liverpool Screen School. I think our students have demonstrated their quality, determination and professionalism when faced with a brief from such a high profile client as this. I’ve every confidence that they will continue to thrive in the very competitive and exciting sector of Interactive Media for which our programme of study has prepared them.”
Screen School students go to Cannes
Four lucky students from Liverpool Screen School will be heading off to the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival next month to work with MOFILM, worldwide distributors of creative mobile content. MOFILM works with numerous global brands, such as Pepsi, Nokia, Samsung and Kodak, and helps aspiring filmmakers to create videos or short films for these brands and for social causes.
MOFILM has worked with leading filmmakers such as Kevin Spacey, Robert Redford, Isabella Rossellini, Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon, Clive Owen and Jon Landau in promoting aspiring filmmakers. MOFILM are also main sponsors of London Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, & Shanghai Film Festival and partners with GSMA Mobile world congress and Cannes Lions.
While at the festival at Cannes the Screen School students will be filming interviews of Jon Landau the producer of Avatar and Chief Marketing officers from MOFILM brand partners such as Coca-cola, Nokia, Lego, Budweiser and others and they will enjoy a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the best creative minds in the world, and some of the most influential people in marketing and advertising, globally.
Andy Baker, MOFILM CEO commented, ‘I was really impressed by the enthusiasm and capability of all the Screen School students we interviewed for this project. This is a great opportunity, and I know they will make the most of it.’
Dominique Dickie, one of the four students selected to go to Cannes, said after the interviews, ‘I'm so excited about getting one of the placements, I feel like I've won the lottery.’
The Liverpool Screen School has been working with MOFILM for sometime now, to create a new UK-wide student short film competition which will be launched this Autumn, with roadshows across the UK, leading brand sponsors and advertisers, and culminating in an annual festival and awards evening, to be held here in Liverpool. For further information please contact Mary Taylor, m.taylor@ljmu.ac.uk
News Update
5 Live from LJMU
BBC Radio 5 Live at the Art and Design Academy for the Grand National
LJMU were delighted to welcome the BBC Radio 5 Live team to the Art and Design Academy last week. The station showcased many of its key programmes in front of live audiences and used the ADA as a base for the build up of atmosphere and key interviews around the Grand National.
The following shows were broadcast directly from the Art and Design Academy:
Thursday 8 April - Meet the BBC Racing Team
Chaired by Mark Pougatch with guests including Clare Balding, Cornelius Lysaght, John Hunt and Luke Harvey.
Friday 9 April - The 5 Live Debate
Presenter Mark Pougatch with a panel of experts.
Saturday 10 April - Colin Murray's Sports Preview Show
Colin Murray with special guests from the world of racing, including Mick FitzGerald and Tony McCoy. Perry Groves and Pat Nevin also joined Colin to discuss the week's football stories. It also included ‘Fighting Talk’ – the topical sports comedy show.
The station also launched a search to find Liverpool's next budding
Alan Green or John Motson, as would-be commentators got the chance to be trained in the craft by Radio 5 Live's football commentary team.Radio 5 live Commissioning Editor Jonathan Wall said: "The Grand National is always a really special moment for BBC Sport and this year we've brought large parts of Radio 5 Live to Liverpool to really experience the magic of the occasion."
Kate Williams, Radio 5 Live's Liverpool Project Manager said: “The logistics of trying to plan an event like this while the Grand National is on have been fraught with difficulties. The Art and Design Academy is a new purpose-built building in the heart of Liverpool's creative quarter and we really think it's a great place to broadcast from.”
Talking to the Conference team, Ann Farragher, Head of Marketing at Radio 5 Live & 5 Live Extra, commented: “As you know, everything was also turned around at very short notice and I have to say it was the service you all provided that made me change venues in the first place. I knew from the first phone call that the level of professionalism would be outstanding and I was not disappointed. It was a pleasure working with you all and please pass on my thanks to the security, technical and cafe staff who all contributed. I only wish we were doing events in Liverpool all the time!"
Graduate receives BBC Innovation Award
Liverpool Screen School celebrated student success for a second year running at the recent BBC ‘Connect and Create’ conference as Dan Bate, a graduate in iMedia from LJMU, won the BBC Partnership Award in Innovation.
A BBC initiative which links students with staff at the BBC in Manchester and with those departments in scope to move from London to MediaCity, Connect and Create aims to identify the best talent from the region and to put those students in the best possible position in time for the BBC’s recruitment push later this year. .jpg)
The Innovation Award recognises work which demonstrates the interdependence of content and technology to reach out to new audiences and communities.
Receiving the award, Dan commented: "I'm thrilled to win this, as the competition was so strong. It's really encouraging to know that the skills and knowledge I gained from my time at LJMU are recognised and valued by the industry."
Dan’s winning entry provides the user with a virtual writing desk to explore artefacts from the Second World War, to uncover a personal story, providing a snapshot of life on one day in August 1940. The piece sets one individual’s experience against the backdrop of world history and invites the user to learn through exploration. Using traditional media sequences of sound, animation and text, the work delivers a story in an interactive and non-linear way, engaging the user and delivering history through narrative, encapsulating perfectly the BBC North's vision, ‘To innovate, inspire, surprise: always
‘Behind the Scenes’
self-employment and working freelance event for Liverpool Screen School
Students taking part in the ‘speed dating with industry’ session
The Business Development Centre’s Student Enterprise team has delivered its first dedicated event for the Liverpool Screen School, to help students explore all aspects of self-employment and working as a freelance.
Over 50 students were provided with inspiration to consider self-employment, work as a freelance and to learn how to “get a foot-in-the-door” with prospective employers, through a series of keynote talks and activities during the event.
Two keynote speakers – Ed Pugh, freelance media consultant and Ngunan Adamu, LJMU alumnus and BBC journalist – set the scene for the day using practical advice and anecdotal experiences of the media profession, with the key theme being that students need to consider the ways in which they can stand out from the crowd. Ngunan also spoke of the many opportunities that lie ahead with the BBC’s impending move of a number of its departments to MediaCityUK at Salford.
Industry experts were also invited from the subject areas covered in the Liverpool Screen School including television production, independent film, journalism (particularly broadcast and sport), and PR.
The experts introduced themselves to the student audience and the students took part in a targeted ‘speed dating’ session so they could find out more about how to break into their chosen profession. 
Alumni Q&A panel (L-R: Judith Jones, LSS Academic Manager; Paul Riordan; Marie Hardy; Chris Day)
During the afternoon, the students received practical advice on surviving as a freelance, in a session delivered by media consultant Moira Kean. This was followed by a Q&A panel with alumni Paul Riordan, Marie Hardy and Chris Day, hosted by Judith Jones, LSS Academic Manager. Paul, Marie and Chris spoke highly of the way that their LJMU degrees had prepared them for their working lives and shared their tips for success.
The event concluded with a joint presentation from Student Enterprise and the GDC WoW™ team on the support that is available for developing a business idea, working as a freelance and making the best possible impression with future employers.
Speaking after the event, Judith Jones said, “‘this was the first time that the Liverpool Screen School has worked with Student Enterprise on an event like this and I thought it was a great success. The students loved being able to talk directly to industry professionals and to receive lots of useful information and advice. The industry speakers have also been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of our students. We certainly hope to hold another event next year.’
Keynote speakers (L-R: Judith Jones, LSS Academic Manager; Ngunan Adamu, BBC; Ed Pugh, freelance media consultant)
A Screen School student also commented, “I just wanted to say big thank you for yesterday, I found it very useful and got some really valuable advice, and possibly even some work placements!” and one of the experts said he had had “a thoroughly invigorating and highly enjoyable day”.
Amanda Smith, Entrepreneurship Champion within the Business Development Centre, said “Behind the Scenes was a truly inspirational and well received event - a fantastic opportunity for students to gain some behind-the-scenes knowledge of this industry and an essential event for those looking to enter the creative/media industry. The industry experts spoke openly and honestly regarding the ups and downs of the industry whilst offering good contacts and our Alumni guests also gave an account of their experience and how their degree has opened doors. They also gave a few tips and advice on how to enter and survive in this sector.”
LJMU would like to thank the following people for their support: Ngunan Adamu, BBC; Erica Clarke, Lime Pictures; Owen Cotterell, Mocha Productions; Chris Day, LJMU iMedia alumnus; Marie Hardy, LJMU Media Professional Studies alumnus; Don Jones, LFC TV; Moira Kean, freelance media consultant; John Maxwell, independent film producer; Sarada McDermott, Northern Soul film company; Shivani Mair, Creative by Nature Ltd and The Careers Surgery; Simon Malia, media professional; Stephanie Power, Power Productions; Ed Pugh, freelance media consultant; Paul Riordan, LJMU Media Professional Studies alumnus; Ian White, freelance drama producer.
If you would like the Business Development Centre to work with you to deliver a similar industry-focused conference for students in self-employment, please contact Amanda Smith, Entrepreneurship Champion on 0151-231 8091 or a.smith2@ljmu.ac.uk
If you are a student with a business idea and you would like support to develop your idea, please contact the Student Enterprise team on 0151-231 8060 or email startup@ljmu.ac.uk
This event was funded by NCGE (the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship)
Media Professional Studies
A group of Media Professional Studies students experienced a lesson with a difference when they went to watch a film at Liverpool One’s Odeon cinema which had 
been produced by graduates from their own degree.
Former MPS students Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, now filmmakers based in London, have directed a film about last year's reunion of the pop group Blur entitled 'No Distance Left to Run.'
The film was premiered in Leicester Square last week and is now out on world-wide release.
Head of MPS Trevor Long commented "When the boys got in touch about their film being on general release I couldn't resist taking current students to the local Odeon to see it. There can't be a better motivation for them than watching the work of graduates from their own course on the big screen."
Will and Dylan will attend a special LJMU screening of their film later in the year. 'No Distance Left to Run' completes a recent hat-trick of international film success for LJMU Screen School alumni.
Film Studies graduates Adam Wright and Hannah Quinn had their short film selected for the Cannes film festival and 2006 Film and Drama graduate Claire Foy has followed up her starring role in the BBC's 'Little Dorrit' by appearing alongside Nicholas Cage in her first Hollywood role in 'Season of the Witch,' which is out on general release in March.
Pictured, from right, are third year MPS students Sian Mansley, Emily Webber, Yassmin Hussein, John Clarkson and Victor Gould.
Journalism
Journalism students from LSS made a big impact with two research projects this month, in an ambitious public opinion exercise which converged all three levels to gather views from more than 600 people in the city. The JMU Journalism website (http://www.jmu-journalism.org.uk/) sent out two teams of students over the course of a week and asked questions about two very different topics of debate that are currently affecting the city.
One team spoke to 355 LFC supporters in a two-day period to ask whether they thought it was time for Rafael Benitez to leave the Liverpool manager's job. National newspapers and fan sites have run their own polls recently, though online voting is notoriously unreliable and can become hijacked by supporters of rival teams. 
JMU Journalism decided to find out what Liverpool fans really think by doing it the old-fashioned way, on foot in the city. The results, which were published as a newsflash on the BBC Sport website, were that 35% felt he should leave, while a majority of 53% thought he should stay, with 12% of supporters undecided.
http://www.jmu-journalism.org.uk/#/sport-110/4538355780
Another team raised public awareness about the risks of tanning and skin cancer by asking almost 300 people whether they prefer the tanned or natural look. The results of the street survey were fairly evenly split, with a majority of 52% preferring natural, compared to 48% who favour the tanned look. When broken down between the sexes, it emerged that a majority of women the students asked prefer tanned-looking skin (57%) rather than natural (43%). However, among the males, the preference was much more in favour of natural (69%) than tanned (31%).
The students then asked all those surveyed whether the 94% rise in Liverpool's skin cancer cases in the last six years came as a surprise. Around 48% said 'yes', while 52% responded that they were not surprised. The survey idea was sparked by Government plans to ban under-18s from using sunbeds, as the latest figures from Cancer Research UK show that half of all girls in Liverpool aged 15-17 regularly use them, while the city's skin cancer cases rise is more than double the national average.
http://www.jmu-journalism.org.uk/#/news-155/4535528658
Film
Research Seminars 2010
Monday 1 February 2010: Dr Lee Grieveson (University College London): "The Work of Cinema in the Age of Automotive Mechanization." More information
Monday 8 March 2010: Dr Catherine Grant (Film Studies for Free / University of Sussex): "Quote/Unquote? The 'Unattainable [Film] Text' in the Age of Digital Reproduction" More information
Thursday 22 April 2010: Professor Steve Neale (Exeter University): "Overseas Independents and Post-War Hollywood" More Information
