Acum cateva zile am avut placerea sa intru in studioul de televiziune de la Universitatea Westminster, unde cand am ajuns se filma buletinul saptamanal de stiri. Am ramas impresionata de cat efort depun studentii din echipa Smoke News pentru ca toti colegii lor sa afle noutatile din cele patru campusuri ale Universitatii.
Am stat de vorba cu doi colegi, Alex si Jack care mi-au spus mai multe despre cursul pe care il studiaza. Jack (anul 2), imi spune ca in semestrul asta a avut un modul numit Documentary, unde a avut de realizat un documentar si altul Creative Video, pe langa cele doua materii comune ale intregii scoli de media : Media Transformations si Network Media and Society care ne invata evenimente importante din istoria media precum si trend-urile care ne influenteaza vietile la vremea actuala. Totodata, imi povesteste despre proiectul clasei lor de anul trecut numit Astral Peaks. Mie mi s-a parut tare interesant asa ca doresc sa impartasesc si cu voi : http://www.youtube.com/user/AstralPeaks.
Jack mi-a spus ca cel mai mult ii place faptul ca poate lucra cu ceilalti de la cursul lui, deoarece toti se implica si sunt foarte dedicati. In afara studiului, doreste sa faca si practica, asadar este prezentatorul Smoke News iar in timpul liber, ii place sa filmeze mici concerte ale prietenilor si nu numai.
Un alt aspect al Universitatii de care este foarte incantat este faptul ca vin sa le vorbeasca oameni importanti din domeniu (asa cum se intampla si in cazul celorlalte trei cursuri) care se dovedesc a fi un exemplu pentru ei. Acum cateva saptamani, la studentii de la televiziune a venit Barry Ackroyds, un om de cinematografie britanic extrem de apreciat si premiat. In cele patru ore cat le-a predat, studentii au invatat lucruri esentiale dezvoltarii lor profesionale, potrivit lui Jack.
Alex completeaza povestind faptul ca in cadrul modulului Creative Video ai dreptul sa creezi cam ceea ce vrei tu, fie drama, fie comedie sau orice altceva. De exemplu, el impreuna cu grupul sau si-au ales un clip de muzica, unde au putut sa observe perceptia oamenilor in legatura cu videoclipul si cum oamenii trebuie sa faca o legatura intre muzica si clipul in cauza. In continuare, urmeaza sa aiba o materie numita Multicamera Show unde vor fi nevoiti sa produca un show live.
La fel ca si Jack, Alex este bucuros sa lucreze impreuna cu colegii sai la diverse proiecte. Considera ca diversitatea ideilor care sunt adunate, deschiderea oamenilor spre a incerca diverse stiluri de emisiuni si vointa de a face o treaba buna, precum si oportunitatile care apar este ceea ce face cursul de televiziune unul unic.
In legatura cu echipamentele pe care studentii il folosesc in proiectele lor, Alex spune ca sunt de calitate, aceleasi care se folosesc in televiziuni si ca in curand , vor avea si unele HD.
Daca esti interesat sa vezi mai multe editii Smoke News, iata aici linkul. Cine stie, poate daca esti acceptat la facultate, ajungi sa faci si tu parte din echipa Smoke. Cv-ul tau cu siguranta ar arata bine!
Pe 11 decembrie a avut loc deschiderea The Forum, o noua intrare a campusului Harrow care a fost sarbatorita cu fast si unde studentii de la televiziune au avut misiunea de a filma intregul eveniment. Asadar, exista oportunitati extra-curiculare care chiar iti ofera o experienta. Ca sa nu mai vorbim ca BBC-ul, SKY si alte televiziuni sunt cum ar zice englezii: ‘at your doorstep’, deci poti aplica pentru un stagiu.
English :
English:
A few days ago I have been delighted to enter the television studios at the University of Westminster when the news bulletin was being filmed. I was really impressed to see how much effort the students who are Smoke TV crew put into presenting all the news across all the four university campuses.
I have been talking to Jack and Alex, two mates who told me more about the course they study. Jack, 2nd year student, tells me this semester has done a module called Documentary, in which he had to produce a documentary and another one : Creative Video, among the two common modules all 2nd year media students have called: Media Transformations and Network Media and Society that provides us a wide range of information regarding media history and the trends that influence our lives nowadays. Apart from that , he also lets me know about his class’ last year project, called Astral Peaks. I thought it would be really interesting to share, so here is the link to their Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AstralPeaks.
Jack says what he enjoys the most is the fact that he can always collaborate with his hardworking and dedicated mates. As an extra-curricular activity, he is also the presenter of Smoke News, and in his spare time he likes filming gigs.
He considers the fact that important people in their fields come to deliver presentations to students as a very major character of the University of Westminster. This does not apply only for the Television Production course but only two the other three I have mentioned on the blog (when it comes to media). These visiting lecturers often represent role models for students. For instance, a few weeks ago, Barry Ackroyd, an award-winning British cinematographer came to talk to them for four hours and in this time students have learnt things that are essential for their professional development.
Alex states that the Creative Video module allows you to create perhaps everything you want: starting from a drama piece to a comedy one or generally whatever you want. For example he and his group have opted for a music video. During the producing activity, they managed to see many people’s characters and how the perceptions of people can be changed through that music video. Furthermore, he will do a module called Multicamera Show, where the students will have to produce a live show.
Just like Jack, Alex enjoys working with his mates and he considers this course to be unique in terms of the diversity of ideas, the definite interest of students but also their openness towards other types of shows. According to him it is great when all sorts of ideas are brought to the table in order to create something interesting.
When talking about the equipment they use, Alex told me it is all of a high quality, it is all broadcast standard kit, that he also used in his television experience, and it will soon be HD as well.
If you are interested to know more about Smoke News, here is the link. Who knows, maybe if you will get accepted at the University of Westminster, you will also be part of the Smoke TV team. Your CV would definitely look good!
On December 11, the Harrow Campus celebrated the opening of the new entrance called ‘The Forum’ and the Television Production students were in charge with filming the whole event. So as you can see, opportunities really exist within the University. Of course, if you would like to go further, which I am sure you do, remember BBC, Sky and all the other important television studios are at your doorstep here in London. Internships, anyone?!
University of Smart Ideas 