Blogs
June 2011
Great Speakers are the Key…
We are really pleased that Lord Puttnam of Queensgate will be opening the conference on Wednesday 6th at 6pm in the Sheffield Memorial Hall. A passionate advocate of innovation in education and with a record of huge success in the film industry, David Puttnam is the one of highest profile speakers to ever attend the CMC. Our Creative Keynote this year will be given by Michael Acton Smith, CEO of Mind Candy, and creator of the hugely successful Moshi Monsters. As Moshi moves up to 50 million registered users worldwide, and goes truly transmedia, Michael will explore the pitfalls and challenges along the way to global success. Rory Sutherland will close the conference with a provocative and agenda-setting presentation. Rory is Chair of the Institute…
Hands Across the Sea…
It’s not just about content of course. A good conference also needs plenty of opportunities for networking. Regulars at the CMC will know we always try to provide that, but this year we have also worked with partners to extend the range of delegates attending the event and enhance the business development potential. UK Trade and Investment have built two official delegations or “inward trade missions”. They’ll be attending on the 6th and 7th July and are keen to meet broadcasters, producers, interactive companies, content distributors, and people with IP and ideas. The Chinese delegation of 15, comes from the national broadcaster - CCTV Children’s Channel, Beijing’s KAKU Channel specialising in animation (General Manager Mr. Shuai Min, pictured…
Workers’ Playtime…
The CMC Wednesday Workshops have become a popular fixture in the Conference calendar thanks to the generous support of UKTI. This year they are booking up fast. You can book one when you register, but it’s also OK to go back to the booking system and add a workshop, after you’ve booked your main ticket. There’s a small additional charge to cover the lunch you’ll be given on arrival so that we can start promptly at 1 pm. And after that it’s a packed four hours of expert advice and hands on participation – because in our workshops everyone gets down to it! There are four topics to choose from – including co-production, project development, creative techniques and everything you need to…
On the Way to the Forum…
With so many delegates registered it was inevitable that the popular Pizza Express evening (switched this year to Thursday night) would book up quickly. It’s the biggest space in central Sheffield but it still can’t hold everyone. Undaunted, your socially minded CMC team have booked an alternative – the Forum Barbecue. The Forum restaurant is just across the road from Pizza Express at 127 Devonshire Street, and will accommodate another large party within shouting distance of the Pizza group. It’s the same fixed price deal, with a barbecue menu and two free drinks – you can download the menu and it’s easily booked on our registration page.
We’re Getting Animated…
How cool is this? A crazy animated promo for the CMC devised and created by our friends at Animated Yorkshire. It’s a big collaboration and carries several of the animation styles you’ll see at the Conference in our introductory interstitials. Big thanks to everyone who made this happen and to Animated Yorkshire. It epitomises how the CMC is still your conference. We always say it’s put together “by the industry, for the industry” and it couldn’t be more true. We’re indebted to our sponsors who represent every sector of the industry at all levels, the Advisory Committee of 24 individuals who work all year round to build the content, over 30 volunteer producers working on individual sessions, a team of bloggers who report it (last year’s team pictured), and…
Location. Location, Location
One of the amazing things about running events nowadays is the power of the registration and management software to show you things you could never have hoped to understand so clearly in the past. I drop into the registration system every so often, not just to check on ticket sales (though that is always heartening) but to check out who is coming, which sections of the industry they are from and to try to figure out for the session producers where their interests might lie. But the fun bits of Eventbrite are things like the whizzy charts and a great section which lets you track registrations on a world map. That’s a real revelation, and literally symbolic of how widespread the…
May 2011
Timetable and Speakers Online
The full timetable for the Conference (July 6th - 8th) including descriptions of most of the session content, PLUS an impressive and growing list of contributor biographies, is now available on the CMC website . You can plan your days at the CMC around a fantastic range of content. There are more sessions than ever, including five “Meet the Commissioner” events, five research sessions, creative masterclasses and screenings, and business, policy, strategy and creative strands. We are incredibly grateful to the small army of Volunteer Producers working away at preparing this content, with the able help of Advisory Committee members as Executive Producers on each session or workshop. The range and scope is greater than ever, and if you haven’t registered yet, it’s worth…
Joe Godwin gets the Keys to Salford
They’ve moved in… It rained a bit… But spirits are not dampened at BBC Children’s as the “Salford Experience” begins. We’re really pleased to announce that Director of BBC Children’s, Joe Godwin, has agreed to be interviewed at CMC in July on his view of the future from Salford Quays. Joe will explore the ways in which the move north opens doors to new relationships with in-house producers, the audience, and external suppliers in "The Salford Key " on Thursday 7th at 11 a.m.
“Thinking Differently” Goes International – China Delegation Heading for Sheffield
The CMC have worked with UK Trade & Investment to host its first ever official international delegation at the Conference in July when we welcome around 15 producers, broadcasters and interactive companies to Sheffield, from various locations in China. The delegation will include some key figures in Chinese kids’ content, such as the Deputy Director of Programme Content for the CCTV Children’s Channel (Mr. Ma Zhiyuan - pictured), and the Assistant Editor in Chief of CCTV.com, the General Manager of the Beijing KAKU Children’s Channel, and representatives from Tencent, Sina and China Youth. The delegation will be visiting a series of cities on a whirlwind tour of Britain, organised by UK Trade and Investment. But their main focus will be on the…
UK Animation at Annecy
UKTI has announced that Alex Williams from Gravy Media will be the speaker at the UK Animation networking event at Annecy, 7pm on the 8th June. For all those planning on attending Annecy, this presentation and the networking event will be well worth a visit.
Annecy Programme Announced
Our good friends René Broca and Christian Jacqemart who organise the professional conference at the Annecy Animation Festival have announced the programme for this year:Pre-production and post-animation: making the most of the production chainTuesday 7th June, 9:30am-12:30pm, Chambre de métiersSpeakers: Andy Blazdell (Celaction, UK), Thomas Dorval et Florent Heitz (HLC Production, France), Bruno Gaumétou (Néomis Animation, France), Jean-Pierre Quenet (Gaumont-Alphanim, France), Arnaud Réguillet (ETS/Toon Alliance, France). Moderator: Marie-Pierre Journet (MoonScoop, France). Studios strategiesTuesday 7th June, 2:30-5:30pm, Chambre de métiers Speakers: Petter Lindblad (Copenhagen Bombay Productions, Denmark), AK Madhavan (Crest Animation Studios, India), Anthony Roux (Ankama Animation, France), Jean-Michel Spiner (2 Minutes, France). Moderator: René Broca (consultant, France). Feature films: four case studiesWednesday 8th June, 9:30am-12:30pm, Chambre de métiersSpeakers: Enzo D’Alò (director, Italy) for Pinocchio ;…
CMC ’11 Keynote Speaker Announced
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate C.B.E. is to give the opening address at the Conference this year - on the evening of the 6th July. Due to the expected demand this will take place at the Sheffield City Hall Memorial Hall - just a short walk from the Conference centre at the Showroom. David Puttnam has a thirty-year history in film-making, and more recently has been a passionate advocate of digital innovation in education. He sees the UK as uniquely placed with its skills in kids’ entertainment and interactivity to develop into a world powerhouse in new ways of approaching learning for young people. With new decisions about film funding under discussion, the future of the creative industries under pressure, and debate growing…
April 2011
Upcoming Events
ENCOUNTERS FESTIVAL 2011 - CALL FOR ENTRIES Submissions up to 30 June. Festival dates 16 - 20 November 2011 http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/submissions.html Encounters is one of the best-known showcases and meeting points for emerging talent, and is now the UK’s leading gateway to the world’s most prestigious short film awards. A hotbed of talent development, the festival presents a rare and excellent opportunity for industry and creatives alike to meet new people, benefit from peer-to-peer exchanges, and develop new collaborations. Year on year filmmakers and industry figures return to Encounters to soak up the buzz and excitement of the festival, hoping to see the next best thing in short film, and participate in first-rate panels, discussions, and workshops. Throughout the week, the…
February 2011
Children’s and Young People’s Media in Africa
A University of Westminster Industry Event Date: Saturday, March 12, 2010 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone RoadLondon NW1 5LS(Nearest Tube Baker Street)For more information click here: http://bit.ly/erT0E9The conference includes a panel on Young People’s use of Social Media in the Egyptian and Tunisian Pro-Democracy protests…The University of Westminster’s Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) through its media centres – the Africa Media Centre, Arab Media Centre and Media Policy Group - is organising an Africa media conference on Saturday 12 March which will debate how young people used Twitter and other media in the Tunisian and Egyptian pro-democracy protests in January/February 2011. The keynote speaker is Dr. Oluyinka Esan, University of Winchester. Author of Nigerian Television: Fifty Years of…
January 2011
BAFTA film event 21st January
The CMC supports kids’ media events at BAFTA… Friday 21st January3.00pm at BAFTA in the PrincessAnne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, London W1. Is something rotten in the state of Children’s Cinema? Join BAFTA for a lively discussion about children’s cinema in the UK, asking why we don’t seem to share our Danish cousins’ confidence in a children’s market. What can the UK learn from the Danish model and what are the opportunities for UK and Danish filmmakers to work together to produce diverse and challenging cinema for children? The panel of UK and Danish filmmakers, producers and distributors include Tom Harper (The Scouting Book for Boys), Rhidian Brook (Africa United), Lizzie Francke (UKFC) and Cameron McCracken (Pathé) as well as Danish Filmmaker Charlotte Sachs Bostrup (the Karla film series). For full panel and more…
December 2010
Summer Conference – Dates Announced 6 – 8 July 2011
The Children’s Media Conference 2011 has confirmed its dates as Wednesday 6th through to the afternoon of Friday the 8th July. The Conference will take place in Sheffield. Delegate passes will go on sale in the New Year – so save the date in your diary for this un-missable event in the kids’ media calendar. The theme of the Conference is Thinking Differently. Once again the emphasis will be on innovation - in creative content, business planning and strategic thinking. Now’s the time for your input. We want to hear your ideas for conference sessions, and we’re looking for volunteers to produce them – always a great job that puts you at the heart of this unique event created “by the industry, for the…
Vision + Media – Meet the BBC Children’s Commissioners
Monday 24 January 12.00 - 3.00pm Vision+Media offices, Salford Booking: to register your interest please contact Maureen Walker at Vision+Media MaureenW@visionandmedia.co.uk Following the success of the Salford Seminars in spring 2010, The CMC is producing new events for Vision+Media in Salford. The first will kick-start 2011… Meet The BBC Children’s Commissioners will provide a comprehensive guide for producers on the current commissioning policies, processes and needs of the CBBC and CBeebies channels and their associated interactive services. Kay Benbow (Controller, CBeebies) and Damian Kavanagh (Controller, CBBC) will outline their current plans and requirements and take questions and short individual meetings. The event will help existing producers and producers new to the children’s broadcast scene find their way around the BBC commissioning…
Leeds TV Club – Meet the BBC Children’s Commissioners
Monday 24 January 5.00 - 8.00pm, Mint Hotel/City Inn, Leeds. Click here for map Bookings: http://tvclubjanuary.eventbrite.com Cost: £10.00 Yorkshire and North East based producers will be able to meet Kay and Damian on the same day, as they dash across the Pennines to Leeds for an evening TV Club event, hosted by Screen Yorkshire. Following the success of two previous TV Club events featuring Richard Deverell (Chief Operating Officer, BBC Manchester Salford Quays) and the man who initiated the move of BBC departments to the North, former Director General, Greg Dyke, TV Club is now hosting two of the most influential people from the re-locating BBC Children’s department - CBeebies Controller, Kay Benbow and CBBC Controller, Damian Kavanagh. This an opportunity to meet the Commissioning Heads of BBC Children’s and…
CMC Encounters More Success
The CMC produced a two-hour seminar as part of the Animated Encounters Short Film Festival in Bristol. Staged on the 19th November at the Arnolfini Gallery, the event was hosted by animation producer Robin Lyons - to whom a big thank-you! The topic was preparing for the various animation marketplaces - Annecy, Cartoon Forum and MIPTV/MIPCOM - and the approach was through three outstanding case-studies from Snapper Films, Gravy Media and Brown Bag Films, and expert opinion and advice from Miles Bullough (Aardman), Richard Rowe (Cartoon Network), Alison Stewart (CBeebies) and Nathan Waddington (Planet Nemo). Thanks to everyone who contributed so willingly. Over 150 animators, producers and students attended and the feedback was enthusiastic. UK Trade & Investment sponsored the event, as part…
Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for 2011
The CMC wish all our subscribers and delegates a very happy Christmas and a successful new year. To keep up the CMC conversations and networking, feel free to join our Facebook and LinkedIn groups, or subscribe to our Twiitter feed. And please pass on this mail to anyone you feel will benefit from being part of our Children’s Media Community. They can then subscribe to this e-bulletin on our website www.thechildrensmediaconference.com and keep up with the latest news on the Conference and related events throughout the year.
November 2010
Animated Encounters – Preparing for Market – Final Speaker Line-up
Friday 19 November 2.30 - 4.30pm at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol The speaker list has been confirmed for “Preparing for Market” the CMC produced conference session at the Animated Encounters Festival in Bristol - supported by UK Trade & Investment. Session tickets are available for £6 from the Arnolfini Gallery. Encounters delegates have free entry to this and a range of other screenings and sessions. To become an Encounters delegate or day-delegate book here. This session will provide a comprehensive guide for animators and animation producers preparing for the international markets, including Annecy, Mipcom and Cartoon Forum. It will include information on the help available from UKTI and PACT for market attendance and the broad topics covered will also include…
Asian Opportunities
Trade delegations - December 2010. UKTI are supporting two trade missions in December, aimed at opening up creative industry opportunities in Asia. Some last-minute places are still available. To apply contact the UK Co-ordinator Johanna Bolhoven 6 & 7 December: The UK/China Animation Forum, Beijing, China A delegation of 10 - 15 UK animation companies will take part in presentations, panel discussions, networking events and one-to-one meetings. UKTI will provide UK digital animation businesses with a package of market entry support, including pre-market training and advice, introductions to Chinese businesses and the organisation of company visits. 8, 9 & 10 December: The Asia Television Forum in Singapore This the most significant media-content market in Asia. Again market entry support will…
Children’s Media in Print
Recent months have seen the publication of a number of books on Children’s Media themes - here’s a round-up: Professor Jeanette Steemers Creating Preschool Television - A Story of Commerce, Creativity and Curriculum Published by Macmillan Steemers has published the findings of her research into the ecology of pre-school production. Focusing on the UK and US, this book shows how the pre-school television sector has shifted from a small localised industry to a complex, commercially-driven global business. It covers topics such as the contemporary pre-school market, the development and production process, players in the production sector, ancillary rights and retail, policy interventions, funding and the crisis in advertising and what happens to little kids’ TV in a multiplatform world. The…
Preparing For Market – the CMC Session at Animated Encounters
Friday 19 November from 2.30 - 4.30pm at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol Session tickets are available from the Arnolfini Gallery Encounters delegates have free entry. To become an Encounters delegate or day-delegate book here. A must for animators: The Children’s Media Conference is producing a two hour guide to everything you need to know when preparing for the international markets, including Annecy, Mipcom and Cartoon Forum. The session is hosted by:Tony Collingwood - Writer/Director, Collingwood O’Hare Entertainment Expert panelists are:Sarah Muller- Head of CBBC Acquisitions and Drama DevelopmentMiles Bullough- Head of Broadcast, Aardman AnimationsNathan Waddington - Director of International Sales and Co-productions, Planet NemoRichard Rowe- Director of Acquisitions & Original Series Cartoon Network, CN Too, Boomerang, Cartoonito EMEA Plus there’ll…
CMC Delegate Survey 2010
A big thank you to all our delegates who filled out the CMC online survey last July. Here are the headline results: 92% rated the Conference as excellent / good. 97% thought it was good value for money. 90% thought the session content was excellent / good. 99% said they would come again. 77% found the conference a good place to do business and 54% said they started discussion about possible deals for later follow-up. The main reasons for attending are: 87% networking, 66% conference content, 41% looking for potential partners. Delegate diversity is also growing year on year. The sectors represented were: 33% Indies, 32% Terrestrial TV Broadcast, 28% Interactive Media, 24% Writers, 18% Education, 17% non-terrestrial broadcast, 14%…
VLV Children’s Event
1 November from 6-8pm at the National Liberal Club, One Whitehall Place, London SW1 For further information, or to book, call 01474 338711 / 338716 or email Linda.Forbes@vlv.org.uk; or visit the VLV website. Media-consumer body, The Voice of the Listener and Viewer, are staging an evening discussion with Joe Godwin, Director of BBC Children’s, entitled “Children at the Heart of the BBC’s Mission”. The discussion will be chaired by Professor Jeanette Steemers, University of Westminster, with panel contributions from Professor Máire Messenger Davies, University of Ulster and Anna Home, Chair of Save Kids’ TV and the CMC. Registration for the event opens at 5.45 pm. Ticket prices including VAT: Students - £7.50 Academics/Freelancers - £20 VLV members - £12 Corporate - £25 Event description: “More…
LIMA Licensing Essentials and Winter Warmer
2 December, CBI Conference Centre, Centre Point, London WC1 - all day event Now in its seventh year, the Licensing Essentials Course run by CMC supporters LIMA, offers access to the latest thinking, best practice and new trends in the licensing business. Real knowledge and vital facts about licensing are clearly set-out through interactive seminars, case-studies and presentations delivered by experts. Plus there’s the chance to network with up to 150 licensing professionals and forge valuable partnerships and contacts at the Winter Warmer evening reception. With licensing fast becoming a vital revenue stream for TV producers, this course puts you on the inside of the licensing business. Find out more at www.licening.org/uk/winterwarmer And to book, call Saphia Maxamed on 01908 802863
July 2010
Media Education Conference
If you teach about media with any age-group, or have an interest in media education, this is an opportunity for a reduced delegate rate at an important event. MLC 2010 (Media Literacy Conference 2010) takes place from the 19th - 20th November at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London. Early registration is available until 23rd July. Choose any 6 of 25 professional development workshops. Topics include television, radio, film, computer games, social media, archive film, animation, virtual worlds, alternate reality games, Web 2.0, GCSE, A Level, English, Literacy, cross-curricular and practical production work. You can also attend any of the 20 research sessions to hear about teaching and learning about media in primary and secondary schools, including new evidence on learning progression,…
Turner channels want in on the live action
From Broadcast - 8th July 2010 - by Will Strauss Turner Broadcasting’s new chief content officer, Michael Carrington, is making the inclusion of live-action programming a priority for his predominantly animation based channels Boomerang and Cartoon Network. The former CBeebies controller told delegates at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield that Turner had “evolved to a point where the viewers expect live action”. “We’re just entering this world. Gameshows sound a bit dull to us, but boy-skewed live-action comedy we’re desperate for, especially things we can fast track.” Carrington said he was “talking 26 x 30-minute shows” and highlighted classic Australian children’s comedy Round The Twist as the type of series he would like to emulate. He also pinpointed Total…
BBC Children’s to target teens with extra budget
From Broadcast - 8th July 2010 - by Will Strauss BBC Children’s plans to use some of its recently approved extra budget to try to attract more teenage viewers to its CBBC channel. Joe Godwin, director of BBC Children’s, told delegates at the Children’s Media Conference in Sheffield last week that if the BBC Trust approves current proposals to extend the broadcasting hours to 9pm, the channel will look beyond its regular six to 12 year-old remit and commission content that appeals to young teenagers. The move comes as the BBC Trust backs plans to close teen strand BBC Switch. “Extended hours and extra money will allow us to better serve the top end of our audience,” Godwin said. “We…
