Shine a light on Norwich’s dark history and ghostly villains beneath Castle Meadow – raising funds for Joe’s London Marathon race for Break
We’re back with yet more unusual networking – do you dare to join this one….
Run by Joe Randlesome, Marketing Manager at Contract Personnel, join us and shine a light on Norwich’s dark history and ghostly villains beneath Castle Meadow. Explore the ‘hidden street’ in a new light as The Shoebox Experiences’ storytellers take you on a journey below ground with just a lantern to light your way. Discover what lies beneath and immerse yourself in spine-tingling tales from Norwich’s darker past.
Please arrive from 4pm as we will have 30 minutes of networking before we take on the private tour at 4.30pm. Be quick, only 15 places are available.
All proceeds will go to Break – in support of Joe’s London Marathon challenge.
Simply, location filming means that you are shooting in the actual setting the story takes places rather than in a studio. A soundstage is a soundproof building or room used for the production of film and television content. It is sound proofed so that sound can be recorded along with the images. Adversely, location shooting is the shooting of a film or television production in a real world setting instead of using a soundstage. The location could be interior or exterior and some filming may be based in the location the story is set, or it may stand in for a different locale.
CONTROL
A benefit of shooting in a studio space is that the environment can be completely controlled, which is a key difference between studio and location filming. The environment of the studio can be set for the type of production that is being filmed. Weather can be created in a studio space as well as it being a normal temperature and this enables filming in regular working hours. This is a factor that can be a challenge when filming on location because – as we know – weather can be unpredictable. Therefore trying to film outside can be affected by this, in that it will often be required to await the correct weather conditions for your production or filming cannot continue. Additionally, shooting on location could be interfered by unwanted surrounding noise, dependent on location.
COST
A perk of filming on location is that it can be cost-effective as there will be minimal set design and construction overheads. However, this will also depend on where the production is being filmed because if the chosen location is in a remote area it could cause other hindrances to the project. It can be expensive to take a whole crew to a remote location and this may also incur additional costs with regards to accommodation and hospitality for all crew to last as long as filming takes. This could potentially use a large sum of the production budget. Filming in a studio could be expensive due the studio being a blank canvas, meaning it would cost a lot to construct sets as required for each scene depending on the production.
AVAILABILITY
Carrying out a production in a studio space can be a benefit due to uncertainty surrounding the duration of filming. Studio managers are used to this, which means that they can offer some leeway time for the production to be completed. However, availability can be a problem for shooting on location. This is because the space is only available at the owner’s convenience. This can put pressure on a project to be finished if they are running out of time, or else they would then have to find a different location which could delay filming.
ACCESS
With regards to access, shooting in a studio can be easier as there is usually a specific area for loading equipment in and out efficiently. On the other hand, accessibility for location shooting will depend on the chosen location and how remote it may be.
REGULATIONS/OWNERS
Finding a location to film can be difficult depending on the owner and government regulations related to the chosen area. For example: the owner may need to be convinced that hosting a production would be beneficial before they sign off and give permission for the filming to take place. Another point to consider is that the chosen location of filming must not interfere with any government regulations. If it does then discussions would need to take place in advance to ensure that guidelines are agreed so filming can begin in line with the necessary timescale. None of these issues would be a problem for filming on a soundstage as regulations are already set in place with the venue upon opening.
Want to understand your company finances, but you aren’t an accountant?
Successful managers need to have a basic understanding of finance and budgets, which in turn will lead to better business decisions. Recent research shows that financial results are the principle concerns for managers in today’s competitive workplace. Surprisingly, only half of all managers have the organisation’s bottom line as a main focus.
By understanding how to read and use financial information on a day-to-day basis will give you the control you need to stay on top of your company finances, ensuring that your business remains profitable and successful.
Listening to music can be a different experience for everyone, but we can all agree that music has its own power, whether it makes you feel nostalgic, helps you focus or boosts your mood. It is something that enables people to connect with others as well as having a positive effect on your mind, body and soul. However, working in the music industry as an artist could also be damaging to a person’s mental health if they do not seek the support that they need.
POSITIVE EFFECTS ON YOUR HEALTH
Listening to music releases dopamine which is responsible for the feeling of pleasure. When experiencing tension and then resolution in music, for example a drop in a dance track, it is universally satisfying because different brain circuits are involved in both the anticipatory and achievement process. Dopamine also helps with motivation and studies have shown that listening to music whilst working can increase efficiency. However, this depends on whether you had a choice in the music that you are listening to because if the music is out of your control it can cause stress and the positive effects will not occur because dopamine is released only when music is pleasurable in relation to your mood or personal taste.
Music is also known to increase helpful antibodies such as Immunoglobulin A which aids cells to attack bacteria or germs which are invading the body, meaning that listening to music can increase a person’s immune system. Additionally, it has been proven that listening to music strengthens your heart and lowers blood pressure depending on the type of music that you are listening to. Pop, Rap, Country and Reggae have the same effect on the body as they all get the blood pumping which makes you less calm and happier. Metal is believed to help cope with feelings of depression and stress. Classical music releases stress hormones and causes a dopamine rush.
MUSIC AND MENTAL HEALTH
Music therapy has been proven by Levy (2017) to ‘reduce anxiety and physical effects of stress, improve healing, helps to manage Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, reduces depression and other symptoms in the elderly, decreased symptoms of psychological disorders including schizophrenia and finally it improves self-expression and communication.’ Music therapy is thought to help manage mental health problems in the ways listed above as well as help minimise the trauma and disruption associated with hospitalisation.
However, 73% of artists in the music industry suffer with mental illnesses according to Record Union. Although listening to music can relieve issues relating to stress, anxiety and depression, it has been said that working in the music industry as an artist can actually increase these negative emotions in relation to their creation of music. This can be caused by fear of failure, financial issues and also being lonely. Help Musicians UK have launched a 24/7 mental health support service for anyone in the music industry that may need some support or advice. Companies like these are here to support musicians at any time and are working on ways to prevent mental illnesses from becoming so common amongst young independent musicians.
MUSIC AND DEMENTIA
The national Music For Dementia 2020 campaign has recently been announced which will help to encourage patients to find the right services. Its aim is to make music available to everyone who is living with dementia. Music helps to unlock memories and improve the quality of life for a patient. It allows them to communicate beyond words and bond with others which is something music can do for anyone. As previously mentioned, music can make anyone feel nostalgic and dementia patients respond best to songs that they grew up listening to as it can trigger emotions and personal memories which can help ease the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
For more information about what’s on at Epic Studios please visit our Events page.
Are you fully prepared? We understand that harvest is a busy, stressful and tiring time of year.
Whatever role you play in this process, our free, interactive session will highlight some of the key health & safety risks you face, helping you keep your people, your assets, the public and your reputation safe this summer.
Presented by our in-house Risk Management team this webinar aims to:
Highlight the main dangers and outline why farming is one of the most hazardous industries in the UK
Focus on the key safety aspects of: – Machinery – Transport and vehicles – Public and child safety – People and Personal Protective Equipment
Video editing is the process of rearranging and manipulating video shots to create a new project. Editing is a key component of the post production process including tasks such as titling, colour correction, sound mixing etc. There are three main different types of editing software for video editing professionals which are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer.
FINAL CUT PRO
Final Cut Pro is a professional video editing software designed for Mac users which allows users to edit, process and output a range of video formats. These formats include DV, HDV, DVCProHD, XDCAM, 2K, 4K and 5K. The program has a vast range of tools which therefore enable editors to create impeccable videos, smoothly and speedily.
PROS
Fast and Smooth
Appealing to the eye
Seamless video editing
VR Handling
Organised assets
2D and 3D Titles
Impeccable sound
Autosave
Open more than one project at a time
Mid-range pricing
High quality rendering
Up to 400 shortcuts to increase speed of edit
CONS
Only runs on Macs
Limited export settings
Audio mixing is a little more difficult due to there being no tracks
Colour correction has no curves
Interface can look intimidating
May not work with all work flows in a collaborative post-production process
Some upgrades may be a hinderance rather than a help as the latest version does not support old file formats
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO
Adobe Premiere Pro is a video editing software suitable for professionals and enthusiasts that has been around since 2003. It allows users to turn raw footage into stunning cinematic videos. It has access to tools allowing editors to adjust colour, fine-tune audio and much more. It is a common misconception that Premiere is more-suited to domestic use, and certain major productions have used this package such as Netflix programmes ‘Mindhunter’ and ‘Making a Murderer’ and major films ‘Avatar’ and ‘Deadpool 2’ as well as various location ‘off-set’ shoots.
PROS
The Creative Cloud – Integration with outstanding image software such as Photoshop and After Effects
Ability to import and export between software without rendering or losing layers
Good colour correction and audio tools
Mac and PC compatibility
Support multiple file formats
VR Support
Responsive Interface as you can adjust the brightness of the user interface for contracts with actual footage
Support for RED, Arri and Canon cinematography cameras
SpeedGrade now part of the production bundle
Extensive & efficient online support for customers
Reasonably-priced for both consumer and professional use
CONS
You can only rent this product meaning you can never own it
Expensive but it does include 29 other services
Clunky and Buggy
It does not run on 32-bit operating systems as it is a 64-bit application
GPU acceleration still mostly limited to professional graphic cards
Lacking 360 degree stitching tools
AVID MEDIA COMPOSER
Avid Media Composer is a film and video editing software suitable to professionals who create TV shows and movies. It was the first non-linear editing system available to professionals and has matured through updates and system add-ons. As a result it now sets the standard for other system distributors. The program is used in major Hollywood productions and hence comes with a steep price tag. Avid is a software designed with unlimited capabilities to tackle any media project with incredibly powerful tools. Avid is very much still considered the industry benchmark for large budget film productions, and is commonly-used by major film production companies.
PROS
Best for feature films and episodic tv
Customise your workspace
Separate source browser to find assets more quickly
Supports 4k, 8k and 360 degree video editing
Lots of built in effects
Suitable for both Mac and PC
Can generate a negative cut list for matching back to original negative material
Can be installed on many computers
Pro Tools-like interface for audio mixing
No compliance issues when editing for major network distribution
CONS
Hard for beginners to learn as it is said to be the least intuitive of the major editing programs
Only 24 tracks of video can be stored, which limits the number of angles available for multicam editing
Can only sync video and audio for single takes
Very expensive
The operating machine must has at least 250GB spare on the HDD for it to run to its full potential
Only supports standard broadcast resolutions and frame rates
At Epic Studios we use a combination of all three different types of editing software throughout our post-production phase depending on application in line with the distinct benefits between the different packages. For more information of what’s on at Epic Studios, please visit our Events page.
The Norwich Marketing Meetup is an informal, friendly place for the marketers of Norwich to meet, learn, and share knowledge with one another. Come in ‘listen’ not ‘sell’ mode.
———— Speakers: Lenka Koppova, Social Media Consultant – Organic LinkedIn Lead Generation LinkedIn is such a popular platform, but at the same time still so misunderstood and underutilised. In this talk, Lenka will address LinkedIn Lead Generation, the organic way, with some simple step-by-step info and what results you can expect from it. — Gary Gumbleton, Capital Content – Video Content 101 Businesses know they need to make content but they tend not to know what to make and how to make it. Gary will cover off how to build a video content strategy before you press record and how to prioritise all of the content you want to go out and make. We all have a camera in our pocket nowadays so the presentation also includes tips on how to create your own video content and how to keep up the production quality without spending £1000’s on an agency. ———— Format of the Night: 18.30 – Doors Open – Light Snacks, Drinks, Networking, and smiles 19.00/19.05 – Introduction and Talks Begin 20:10 – Talks finish and networking begins with the world’s nicest marketing group 20:40 – End of the night – you leave with new contacts and fresh ideas ———— Sponsors: Brand Recruitment – The best marketing recruitment company I know and wonderful supporters of the meetup. (Thank you Steve, Sarah, Dominic and many more of you!) Further – A Norwich based digital marketing consultancy, run by incredible people (Thank you Steve!). Redgate – A well known company in Cambridge with an incredible culture now hiring marketers (Thank you Kate!). Cambridge Marketing College – The best place to get your marketing qualifications and more (Thank you Kiran and Charlotte!). Bravo Marketing – A creative agency focused on engagement, not just content for the sake on it (Thank you Barry!) ———— Please let your marketing friends and colleagues know about this group too, I hope to build it into a great resource for the community over the coming months and years. Attendance will be taken at this event. If you RSVP ‘Yes’ and then do not come, you will receive a strike. Three strikes and you’re outta here! This is simply a measure to allow appropriate respect to the organisers, speakers, sponsors, and your fellow community members :). See you there!
Since the UK are still yet to have a deal with the EU, it is uncertain which scenario will take place and how leaving the EU could affect the UK’s broadcasting industry. We are exploring the positive and negative impacts that leaving the EU could have on the broadcasting industry.
POSITIVES
Hopefully the UK will remain to be an attractive place for artists to come and work whilst still sharing a common European culture. London is a major hub for creatives featuring over 850 art galleries and many communal creative work spaces whilst it’s creative sector contributes £47bn to the UK’s economy every year. It is important that London continues to provide creative work spaces, developing the talent of the future, jobs and shaping the local communities in order to maintain its name of global capital of culture.
Leaving the EU would mean that the UK are free to make their own immigration rules. This would mean they could make them flexible enough for workers within the broadcasting industry to visit the UK with little hassle. The UK will also be able to negotiate new free trade deals with other countries once they are out of the EU. This means that, the UK can create deals that has its own self-interest as its main negotiating focus.
Additionally, as the pound is weaker, foreign studios and producers are getting better value for money when they spend in the UK which could lead to an increase in UK productions, more jobs, higher wages and growing the size of the UK film economy.
NEGATIVES
On the other hand, leaving the EU could mean the loss of freedom of movement which could hit the visual effects and post-production sector quite hard as they require freelancers who have specific skills, whereas before hiring EU nationals was on the same basis as hiring UK workers. It is estimated that between 10 to 20% of the UK’s audio visual workforce is made of EU nationals, and in London the percentage is much greater. Depending on the deal that is accepted, a main concern is if the large percentage of EU nationals, who currently live and work in the UK in the broadcasting sector, will be able to stay. It may also reduce the ability of EU producers to film freely within the UK as well as cutting down the demand for UK based training courses which could all lead to a lower demand for employment and services in the UK.
Over 650 channels that are broadcast EU wide have a UK broadcasting license. Leaving the EU would mean that broadcasters will have to seek a license in another EU member state by moving their workforce and operation in order to retain their license to broadcast their shows freely across the EU.
Finally, leaving the EU could result in the loss of the Digital Single Market which has been of high importance for the UK as Europe is the UK’s largest export market for digital services and the DSM allows access to this. There is a risk that UK broadcasters may lose their EU access to their markets as companies will need an EU base.
To conclude, the outcomes of Brexit are still uncertain and only predictions can be made, about how leaving the EU could affect the broadcasting industry, until the final deal has been agreed. The film industry is booming in the UK and hopefully it will remain after Brexit. Whatever the outcome.
For more information about what’s on at Epic Studios please visit our Events page.
THE RISE OF PODCASTS AND WHAT SPOTIFY HAS TO DO WITH IT
As we all know, the rise of podcasts has grown significantly over recent years and Spotify, one of the leading streaming platforms in the world, has recently adopted a new strategy for tapping into this craze. They have mastered their personalisation to produce targeted content for their music listeners. It seems to be that their next major focus is on podcasting which Spotify users have noticed since the beginning of the new year. If you are a regular Spotify user, you may be wondering why podcasts are all over your browse page?
WHAT IS A PODCAST?
Podcasts offer a way to tell stories to the listeners which can be educational or entertaining. They are the perfect duration for a commute to work, something to listen to whilst getting ready in the morning or even whilst doing household chores. Other than music, podcasting is a great way to connect with an audience for a long period of time and they capture an audience’s imagination as podcasts do not have visuals.
Podcasts are an attractive way for someone to educate themselves on a subject-matter as they are much less daunting than textbooks. As well as being used for educational use at home, podcasts are also being used in schools as a method of engaging students as part of their homework task or catching up on a missed lesson for classes they are unable to attend. On the other hand, podcasts offer the ability to share personal stories on an endless list of topics ranging from relationship advice to mental health issues to changing career paths; enabling listeners to relate to someone else who has been through a similar situation as they have. Young people are contributing to the rise in the popularity of podcasting as they like to stay on top of what is happening in the world relevant to their subjects of interest. This could also add a personal element to podcasts by helping young people make connections with other like-minded individuals.
HOW ARE SPOTIFY ADDING TO THE PODCASTING INDUSTRY?
Spotify was not the first company to act upon the rise of popularity in podcasts in the market as they have been running on iTunes since 2005 and have been around since 2000. However, in October 2018, Spotify opened podcasting for all their users and by the end of the year podcast listening grew on Spotify by 175%. For the convenience of users, Spotify observed that it would be beneficial to add podcasting as another feature of their application to allow users to listen to all their audio from the same platform. One of the most notable new features is the addition of podcasts to the discovery page for music; a functionality they are introducing within the app and are going to continue to develop at a similar level as new music discovery.
At the beginning of the year, Spotify announced that they have bought Gimlet Media and Anchor for just under $340 million. Gimlet and Anchor are two leading companies in the podcasting industry, Gimlet being one of the top content creators and Anchor being one of the best audio creators in the world. They have brought these companies on board to add to their original content and offer something unique to other streaming platforms. Spotify, so far, has invested almost $500 million on podcasting. They aim to increase revenue by using advertisements within podcasts, as users spend more time on the app than a regular music listener, as well as creating additional income from new subscriptions. These factors all contribute to maintaining Spotify’s status as one of the best audio platforms in the world.
BUSINESS BENEFITS OF PODCASTING
Spotify uses podcasting to help the business thrive by featuring podcasts for different audiences as well as keeping their listeners engaged for longer, factors that can put Spotify ahead of its competitors such as Apple Music and Tidal.
‘Spotify Dissect’ is a podcast series that ran throughout 2018. The idea of the podcast was to enable listeners to understand the underlying aspects of making a great album, enhancing the reach and understanding behind the musicianship. The artists’ featured include Frank Ocean, Lauryn Hill and Kanye West. Another Spotify own podcast is Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls, 1 Keith. The idea behind this podcast is to allow listeners to hear about the lives of Amy Schumer and her three friends involving topics that interest them such as pop culture and politics. These two podcasts attract different audiences, although some may overlap, evidencing how Spotify will be equipped to personalise ads as well as personalise music browsing.
CASE STUDY: THE PIXIES
A prime example of a musicians’-focused podcast can be seen in the Pixies, who are using podcasts as an accompaniment to their newest album with a series of ‘behind the scenes’ features. Sometimes older bands who are still making music often use different methods of keeping their listeners engaged, as well as increasing revenue, by releasing limited edition albums with extra tracks or a limited-edition box sets. Some artists have also created television shows and films to coincide with a latest album release. An example of this is Foo Fighters’ TV Show ‘Sonic Highways’ which was released shortly after their eighth studio album. The Pixies are taking a different approach by releasing their own set of podcasts about the making of the album which are being released in the build-up to its official release. This will provide The Pixies with a new channel to connect with their audience as well as giving fans an insight into all the details that go into making an album. Their podcast will be on all major platforms, including Spotify, which could increase exposure to younger audiences by helping them learn about The Pixies and their impact on music.
Keeping up with the trend in podcasting, Epic Studios held a live studio show of world-famous podcast ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ in January 2019. For more information about what’s on at Epic Studios please visit our Events page.
My monthly online meet-ups bring together business owners from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire (and beyond!) to share ideas, learn new skills, solve challenges and inspire one another.
2020 will be Captain Fawcett Ltd’s 10th anniversary. ‘Moving from the kitchen table to international markets has been an extraordinary journey’ says founder Richie Finney.
Based on the Hardwick Narrows in King’s Lynn, and a West Norfolk Chambers member, Captain Fawcett is both a supplier and manufacturer of simply ‘First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites’. As the Captain’s alter ego, Richie admits that he didn’t initially set out to found a leading men’s grooming brand when he started making his own moustache wax on the kitchen stove at his home in Terrington St Clement.
Once the ball was rolling though the business model developed organically. It was, says Richie, ‘about balancing risk, opportunity and collaboration while staying absolutely true to the integrity of the brand’s figurehead, Captain Fawcett himself’. He adds that the Captain has always been grateful for the support of both the DIT and Chambers of Commerce.
A couple of years ago things began to plateau. Being in the middle ground position the company was unable to take advantage of the discounts that come with purchasing larger quantities. So other measures were necessary to increase sales and profitability.
The Captain is a talented strategist. Measures were taken.
‘The first action was to find distribution partners who were willing to get behind the brand and support its growth with the existing pricing; secondly Captain Fawcett began to enable more cost-effective purchasing and the locking in of reliable suppliers, a process which is ongoing’.
The Captain has outstanding powers of delegation and his next step was to send Richie on a journey to some 19 countries seeking new distributors and strengthening relationships with Captain Fawcett’s valued customer base. These travels were in part supported by assistance received from the Department of International Trade in a bid to further the growth of export markets.
Investment secured in 2018 has enabled the development of 24 new products being launch in 2019 and 2020.
A sound strategy and a firm commitment have resulted in Captain Fawcett being on gentleman’s lips worldwide. Hundreds of loyal customers, barbers and retailers – including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges – tag him in their social media posts each and every week.
Captain. We salute you.
We’d love to hear your views on the issues facing business today. If you want your thoughts expressed in this news column let us know. email haze.carver@norfolkchamber.co.uk This article can also be found in Friday’s 27 September, 2019 Lynn News.
The world is constantly changing, so it comes as no surprise that there is a constant need for training. What we learnt even five years ago may no longer be relevant. Technology and legislation have changed. We now have a multi-generational workforce and mix of preferred ways of working and learning. It’s no surprise that staff may be overwhelmed by all the new stuff they have to learn, and more importantly, remember. Therefore, the key to successful staff training is to see it as an ongoing process, not a single event.
Think of the way performance appraisals are changing. They used to be a one-off meeting each year. Now performance management is an ongoing process of support and appraisal. And think how the job of selling has changed over the last few years because of technology and the way customers now make purchasing decisions. Outdated sales tactics no longer work and different approaches are needed to gain the clients needed to survive in today’s competitive market.
Business owners, department heads and HR leaders need to take a strategic approach to training, so it’s no longer a one-off, tick-box event, but an on-going process of coaching, assessment and skill development. Training needs should be based on business/organisational need and aligned with identified business outcomes.
Here are a few things you can do to keep training front of mind:
Coach your people. Successful training means a change in behaviour. Coaching will help employees to use their new knowledge in their daily work and not go back to their old ways of doing things. Studies show that good training can increase effectiveness of the learning by around 30%. Training, combined with follow up and coaching, increases effectiveness by over 80%.
Build on knowledge by encouraging social learning within the workplace, helping employees to embrace the learning and help others.
Show employees how the learning links to the business needs and praise them for positive changes that are a direct result of training and changed behaviours.
Follow-up by asking employees to review their learning and reinforce knowledge and skills through self-development activities.
Successful training is a continuing, ever-evolving process. If you empower your employees and create a culture where training is the norm and ongoing, you will build up the team, support staff and business growth and develop skills.