News Highlights of 2011
Winner of the Film Nation Shorts Competition
|
Two TV Production graduates of 2010 and former interns at Solent Productions have won the latest round of
the Film Nation: Shorts Competition in the category Best Documentary or Experimental (20–25 year olds).
Jon Lovell-Knight and Stephen James Salesse recieved their award during the Film Nation awards ceremony
on 25 October 2011 hosted by TV presenter Rick Edwards.
The Great Wight Attack
www.filmnation.org.uk/watch/film/great-white-attack|
See also
www.london2012.com/get-involved/cultural-olympiad/film-and-digital/film-nation-shorts.php|
Duke of Edinburgh visits Model Ship Handling Centre
|
Recently the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Warsash Maritime |Academy|'s new manned model ship handling centre – one of only five in the world. The new site on Timsbury Lake, near Romsey, enables officers to practise complex maritime maneuvers in complete safety, making it a key training tool for the shipping industry.
The Duke took a tour of the lake aboard the ‘Challenger’ - a scale model of a cross channel ferry. Back on shore he watched delegates in other manned models undertake a range of ship handling scenarios. Afterwards he inspected the new classroom and workshop facilities where he met staff and students. His visit was documented by Solent Productions. The recorded footage| was edited on the same day to be used for the evening news on BBC.
Southampton Solent University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Van Gore commented: "The University is honoured and delighted that the Duke of Edinburgh has visited our new world-class ship handling facility for the global maritime industry."
After an investment of 2.7 million by the Warsash Maritime Academy - part of Southampton Solent University| – the new centre was officially opened at a special ceremony that was presided over by the University’s Chancellor, Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead.
ITV4 Revolution Cycling Series
|
A series of the current Revolution cycling highlights programmes| is aired on ITV4. The titles for the series were conceived, shot and produced by Solent Productions. Solent Productions also made the graphics beds.
We pitched for the work on Friday 14 October, got the commission on 17 October and the titles shoot was on Friday 21 October. The titles were delivered to the client on 28th.
Credit to Jamie Boxall (editor) and Craig Lees (camera) from Solent Productions for producing such good looking work. Thanks to Tony Wade and Nic Britt for their help with the studio lighting and thanks also to Laura Hawtin, Film and TV undergraduate, who was our runner for the day.
3D Orchestra – Industry Collaboration with Sony Professional Solutions
Southampton Solent University are currently involved in a multiple-camera 3D production filmed 'as live' for
Sony Professional Solutions. The production is an experimental exercise for cost effective multiple-camera stereoscopic 3D acquisition using a large number of standard 2D High Definition broadcast systems. The production involves many different departments all coming together including FCIS, MarTec, Solent Productions as well as providing substantial applied research for Solent’s Research and Enterprise department.
Solent Productions’ Craig Lees is heading up the project with Sony’s Andy Buckland with help from FCIS Technical Instructor and DOP Nic Britt, FCIS Associate Lecturer Mark Bloor, 5.1 Sound recording by Dr Chris Barlow and his team of MarTec undergraduate Sound Engineers, Senior Lecturer of Outside Broadcast Tony Wade aiding a number of his Media Technology students that specialise in Outside Broadcast and Josh Batson,
a FCIS student working on the Motion Graphics.
“Everyone has really pushed themselves for this project from every aspect from sound, vision, engineering, motion graphics and collaborative support from industry in the form of Sony Professional Services. We are attempting to do the impossible. I think we are up to ten 3D camera acquisition systems now, with many of these systems featuring two cameras each”, says Solent Productions’ Craig Lees. “It’s going to be a devil to direct and post but I can’t wait until it’s finished and watch it all back on the University’s very own 3D Digital Cinema and Sony’s 4K Digital Cinema at their Headquarters in Basingstoke.”
Paralympics 3D
Craig Lees from Solent Productions has won funding to deliver a series of workshops and the production of a short film about the 2012 Paralympics in 3D from Screen South / Creative England. The workshops are to train disabled filmmakers upon how to shoot and edit in 3D and who will then be making a 3D film about participants of the Paralympics.
Craig Lees, Associate Producer of the University’s production company, Solent Productions, won the funding and will begin ramping delivery of the workshops and the productions from early 2012.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for filmmakers with disabilities to learn a completely new media practice in a growing area and then put their new skills into practice by making a short under the trainers guidance.” Any interested filmmakers with a disability please contact Craig at craig.lees@solent.ac.uk|
Merchant Navy Welfare Board
|
In the past Solent Productions has produced a radio ad for the Merchant Navy Welfare Board. Now Solent Productions have been commissioned by the charity to produce videos for their new Seafarer Support website. The resultant work has been well received by users of the site and can be seen at www.seafarersupport.org|
Cinema Ad for Southampton Solent University
|
Craig Lees of Solent Productions took the lead in producing a digital cinema ad for Southampton Solent University| which was shown in 8 cinemas in South East England during the autumn half term school holidays.
The production of the ad presented many technical challenges as the footage used was shot on a number of different formats and the final video file had to be produced in a format suitable for cinema projection.
Recent Solent graduates Jamie Boxall and Liam Camps worked on the post production. The final sound mix
was completed at De Lane Lea in London.
National Health Services videos and podcasts
|
Solent Productions has undertaken a great deal of work for the NHS| over the last year including producing a suite of videos about Enhanced Recovery for distribution to patients and junior doctors; educational podcasts aimed at health care professionals; filming conferences and seminars for dissemination via the web and making a training dvd for pharmacists.
Graduation Ceremonies at SSU
|
Southampton Solent University’s Chancellor, Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead, and the Chair of the Board of Governors, Grahame Sewell, presided over the graduation ceremonies of almost 2,500 students from Southampton Solent University.
The 10 graduation ceremonies at Southampton Guildhall were again filmed by Solent Productions and a supporting team of students. The videos were also immediately made available to the graduates’ friends and relatives all over the world on a live webcast.
Professor Van Gore, Vice Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, says: "The Graduation ceremonies| are the highlight of the University’s year, when we celebrate the achievements of our students and our staff. The academic knowledge and 'real world' skills gained at Solent University are crucial to the individual and the British economy. Warmest congratulations to everyone who graduated this year."
The University also presented honorary degrees to academics and professionals| who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of expertise.
Glastonbury 2011 DVD Highlights
|
Solent Productions organised the work experience for 31 students at 2011’s Glastonbury Festival|. This include OB coverage of two stages, the production of two documentaries and daily news videos for the Festival’s website.
A DVD of highlights| of all the work done by students and staff has now been produced and has been sent to Michael Eavis and other festival organisers as well as all those involved in the production from the University.
Ben Challis, Executive Producer, TV for Glastonbury Festivals had this to say about the work of Solent Productions and the University at the Festival: “I am delighted to be able to commend the students we have had filming at the Glastonbury Festival from your TV Production and Outside Broadcasting courses at the University over the last four years. As you know, the filming, editing and production crews in our ‘Dance Village’ have become an important part of the main Dance East stage set up, filming some major artistes in the last four years.
But in addition, the on-site news gathering crews have also been important to the Festival, not least for providing the on-site reportage for the Friday night news feed for UK and international broadcasters, and we cannot thank you enough for the short films you have produced for us, especially those featuring some of the less media visited areas of the site and in particularly the ‘green’ films produced in advance of the Festival last year to promote our ‘leave no trace’ message. I know our web site manager has been extremely pleased with the finished films which have received substantial numbers of views on the site.
The fact that a second stage, Leftfield, asked for Solent to provide a second OB unit in 2011 to film artistes and speakers including Tony Benn speaks for itself.
The students who undertake the live stage filming have almost all produced excellent quality footage and the short film crews and news gathering crews have been excellent at responding to briefs and meeting often tight deadlines. As an added bonus, the small team of students who work on the performers and copyright clearances have been very professional and competent.
I am also delighted that footage shot by your students has been used by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and international news services like Reuters and Associated Press. That is a real ‘feather in the cap’ for the university and all of the students involved.”