How important is having computer and media skills?

A recent research from The Prince's Trust shows that having computer skills is crucial for securing employment. 

The results show that 10 % of the young people cannot send their CV online and are embarrassed by their lack of computer skills. 17% admit they do not apply for jobs which require basic computer knowledge and believe they would be in work today if they had improved these skills. 

We can confirm that, judging from our own observations. After Media and Computer Skills courses we ran in Rowhedge, Jaywick and Tiptree, supported by TCHC, Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund, some of the people started a new job just after the course and most of them felt more confident using internet and new technology:

"As I had no previous  knowledge, I found the photography and filmmaking really useful. Also the session on social media - no prior experience of Facebook or Twitter. 

It has given me the confidence to move out of my comfort zone and try doing something very different." Ian, Colchester, Essex

We live in a society that increasingly becomes more and more digitised. Our lives are centred around technology. Therefore improving on your computer literacy can not only help you in your career, but also in other spheres of life. 

We, Signals Media Arts Centre, are embracing new technology and innovation and this is why we are offering more new and exciting courses and workshops in Colchester aiming at improving your computer and media skills. 

Three-session Web Design Course - £110

We are running this course twice this year. Choose from these dates:

Wed 24th, Thurs 25th and Mon 29th April 2013, 6 - 9pm and 

Mon 11th, Wed 13th and Thurs 14th November, 6 - 9pm. If you are looking for some tuition in designing your own website, our 3-session course is just the ticket. Our professional web designer has tons of experience in creating beautifully crafted websites using the free online software 'Wordpress'.

NEW - Spring Photography - £25

On Friday 3rd May 2013, 10am - 2pm we introduce our new Spring photography workshop.It includes outdoor shooting guided by Nick Wood from Unshaken Photography and then back to Signals to learn how to perform basic adjustments to your photos using Photoshop. You can either bring your own camera or use one of our Canon Digital SLRs. Suitable for adults and families. 

Photoshop 1 - £25

Wed 15th May 2013, 6 - 9pmAn introduction to the basics of Adobe Photoshop. Bring your own photos in on a memory stick and we'll show you how to digitally enhance them. Basic computer literacy is essential. If you have Photoshop loaded on your laptop bring it along for a discounted price. 

Photoshop 2 - £25

Wed 22nd May 2013, 6 - 9pm Following on from the Photoshop 1, this workshop is designed for those who have a basic knowledge of the software. Transform your photos using layer masks and other features to further manipulate your images.

Practical Filmmaking - £75

Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd June 2013, 10am - 2pmExperience all the excitement of film production on this intensive course. Designed for those looking to gain practical filmmaking experience. Learn the principles of storytelling, film language and video production. Get to grips with writing, directing, producing, sound recording and post-production whilst producing a short film. This course will provide you with the basic skills you will need to make your own films. 

All the courses will take place at Signals in Colchester. 

For more information on these courses and all our others please visit our website or keep an eye out for our course brochure with listings of everything coming up over the next few months.  You can now book places through signalsmediaartscentre.eventbrite.com or save the booking fee and call the office on 01206 560255 to confirm your place. 

Love, Signals

Banished - A Film and a Book Created by Children for Children

Last month we received an unexpected present from our friends Ormiston. 

Four years ago we worked together with The Nutmeg Puppet Company and The Ormiston Trust on a First Light project. 

With a little help from Signals the children, aged between 8 and 15 years, wrote the story, made the puppets, drew the illustrations and created the film Banished. 

You can watch the film here. It is a story by children with a parent in prison, for children with a parent in prison. It is a story of hope and resilience.

The children's author, Tom Palmer, says about the story:

"I really enjoyed reading this story - and I think that the children who wrote it should be really proud of what they have done. Because Banished has it all."

"Banished reminded me of one of my favourite stories, The Odyssey. A man travels to face the world's dangers, to come home, eventually."

What took us back in time is this little book created from the movie. 

Thank you for the lovely present, Ormiston and well done to the children! :)

www.signals.org.uk 

Going 50 Years Back in Time

No, don't get confused by the snowy landscapes and people buzzing in cafes, trying to get warm over a cup of tea! Christmas is not near, neither is Winter time! 

Here are some amazing pictures of snowy Essex posted by BBC News. You can see some unusual photographs as the one of an Amur leopard walking in the snow, cute photos of children making  snowmen and beautiful white landscapes! 

But what struck our attention was the picture of the frozen sea coast in Frinton! 

The reason is that Signals Youth Film Club are currently editing our latest film 'Turning Tides'. It is a documentary about the history of Essex piers, how they have been used, abused and enjoyed over the years. 

In the film we are also sharing the story of the Big Freeze in 1963 when  the people of Walton-on-the-Naze woke up to see the unusual sight of the frozen sea! The story is being told by Peter Frost, who was 17 years old then.

 He, and his colleague David West, had the chance not only to witness the amazing view, but to take some great photographs and help keeping this historical moment for Essex piers! You can read more about it in Peter Frost's blog - Walton Tales. 

You can also see the teaser of 'Turning Tides' which launching is coming soon! 

A Guest Post from the Filmmaker Will Stone

Now I am back from Kenya, have completed the editing and now gearing up for my videos screening at the House of Commons in March, I have had alot of time to reflect on my filmmaking experience. I left the story somewhere in the middle of Kenya. The highlights of the tip are so numerous, each as inspirational and life changing as the next. However, if I had to choose, two moments stand out.

Firstly, at 4 o’clock on the Wednesday morning, Justice (I know, such a cool name) the driver and I boomed down the dirt roads towards Nyumbani Village, racing the sun as it rose behind us on the horizon. I was determined to get a sunrise shot for the project no matter how early it was or how tired I was. With a screeching stop in the car and lightning fast equipment set up, the awe-inspiring shot unfolded in front of me. From the peripheral violet tinged clouds nestled around the orange warmth to the white hot quintessence at the centre of the slowing growing ball of light, it was the perfect sunrise. In that extraordinary moment, I knew then, with complete certainty, that I was experiencing what defines true cinema - going that extra mile to make films that matter.

Secondly, I learnt that even when you know an experience will be life changing (emotionally or professionally) you cannot know the extent until you actually live it and feel the indescribable emotional wave of something beyond our normal selves; it is the experience of doing or finding something that confirms our insignificance as individuals but greater significance as part of something much more important that ourselves. The moment that best illustrates this is my sponsorship of a 10 month orphan named Wonders. 

The great realisation dawned on me that giving enough every month to pay for his anti-retroviral drugs means that I am helping give life to someone who deserves it but was not as blessed with health as myself or almost all of you reading this right now. I am 18 now, when Wonders is 18 I will be 36. All that time I will help Wonders grow from a child to a man in a world where, before Nyumbani, everything was stacked against him and he would never have even had the possibility of reaching manhood. Wonders showed me that even a small act can bring so much happiness and have so much effect.

In short, the children of Nyumbani created an amazingly electric and dynamic atmosphere. No lack of sleep, camera difficulty or emotional strain was going to slow me down. These children that are  stigmatised in their own society, have lost their parents and are afflicted by one of the nature’s most unforgiving viruses still always manage smile and make all the trivial worries from my life in the ‘bubble’ of the UK wash away. Thank you Nyumbani for all that you do. I hope there is a day that they no longer need to exist! 

A very humble filmmaker,

William Stone

Have you seen the amazing video Will shot at Nyumbani Art Festival?

First Light Awards Excitement

The short film 'Time Report' is one of the nominees for Best Film by Under 12s at the First Light Awards 2013. It is a creation of the children from Perryfields Junior School in Chelmsford, made with the support of Signals Media Arts Centre and the professional filmmakers Emma Curtis and Jane Gull.

Young talents who took part in the First Light projects aiming at people from disadvantaged background will have the chance to receive a recognition by the film industry and a platform to showcase their work.

The ceremony this year is in The ODEON, Leicester Square, London on 19th March. Every year it is attended by prominent people from the film industry and celebrities. Judges include Matt Smith, Martin Freeman and Sir Alan Parker.

'Time Report' is a great illustration of the children's talent, hard-work and creativity. The film offers an interesting look at global warming and is a combination of the young filmmakers' interests in environment and time travel. 

This is Jacob amazed at the UBC television studio gallery. 

“The Young Filmmakers created and preformed interesting characters, props and costumes were made during lunch time sessions. This film really expresses the group creativity. They worked very hard to achieve a complex film and there are some truly lovely moments in it.”

Lisa Wright Signals Education Co-ordinator and project Tutor

This project was Supported by First Light & the Earnest Cook Trust.

Video games - harming the children - A MYTH!

There is a general opinion that video games have negative effect on children. Some people claim that they make children obese and violent. But is that really true? First of all putting all video games in one box is certainly wrong. Although there are games that consist violence, there are many with non-violent content.

In a recent study by the Education Development Centre, they found out that video games can actually improve literacy skills in young children. The Federation of American Scientists says "the success of complex video games demonstrates that games can teach higher-order thinking skills such as strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, and adaption to rapid change". A study conducted by the McGill University's Department of Psychology proves that when completing a difficult puzzle or a getting through a hard maze, the child's confidence boosts.

It seems that video games are not bad at all! This is why on February, 18, Signals is offering a fun and practical game making workshop! The participants will have the chance to create their own characters and game environment, and then build their own video game on a user-friendly software. It is a great way to develop new skills while having fun!

Signals is hosting the biggest short film festival - Future Shorts

Signals Media Arts Centre is giving you the opportunity to be part of the global community of Future Shorts. The film content presented is challenging, entertaining, stimulating and pushing the boundaries of how culture is consumed.

After the huge success of the Autumn Season Film Festival, which was screened in 42 countries and over 135 cities, Future Shorts is launching winter season from January 2013 to March 2013 featuring 7 of the best cutting-edge short films from all over the world.

The programme includes prize-winning films for every taste - everything from horror through love story  to animation.

A special highlight is the Sundance Jury Prize winner 'Fishing Without Nets' (Kenya, 2010) telling us the fascinating story of pirates in Somalia told from the Somalis' perspective.

Other featuring films are:

The colourful animation 'Marcel, King of Tervuren' (USA, 2012),

The Woodstock Film Festival Jury Prize Winner 'We're leaving' (USA, 2011),

The documentary-cum-horror film 'The S from Hell' (USA, 2010),

The surreal coming-of-age short 'Candy Girl' (UK, 2012),

The humorous love story 'Lovebirds' (Czech Republic, 2010) reflecting on the similarities between avian and human life,

and 'Seeds of the Fall' (Sweden, 2009) by the oscar nominated director Patrik Eklund.

You can get more sense of the variety of films by watching the Trailer.

It is an event that you cannot miss so we are waiting for you on the 5th February from 7pm at Signals.
There is no need to book so come along. You can find more information in our website.