Creative Industries Zone (23rd March 2017)

CM welcomes the committee

• Edits made on behalf of the committee 
• Wrong placement of voting members in agendas/minutes unable to be moved due to system. Current system revisions in progress

• Minutes approved

• Spring elections
• Successful CI career sessions
  • Most succesful: graphics / fashion design
• PA funding guidelines completed (GS to show at the end)
• Launched Media Committee including potential media brand which is to be discussed/agreed still

• Elections night live very successful – smaller group than previous but better in terms of quality. Communication between all members was very smooth.
• Surge showcase. Voted to scrap FM
• Varsity: went well
• 48 hr marathon (today) on redbrick for comic relief. Going well so far!

• Latest issue very soon (final independent WS issue)
• Collaborative issue (with The Edge) in May: focus on mental health
• Coverage of varsity and union elections
• AGM date fixed: 17^th May
• Science editor election that same evening

• Edgetival recently
• Oscars event went well
• Student Film Festival tonight with Wessex Films – SOLD OUT! 220 tickets. Last year about 50.
• Opened festival press accreditation

• NaSTA submissions complete
• Elections + varisty (all went pretty well) – Varsity currently being edited for release
• Varsity better than previous years – good attendance from members (15 approx)
• SUSUtv awards idea – to be worked on when deadlines are clear
• NaSTA upcoming
• Busiest time of the year done, not a lot upcoming

• A positive number of sell out films this term
• Consistently higher audiences than previous year
• Planning AGM
• Committee shake up for next year (planning with )

• Funding guidelines complete: to run through later in the meeting
• Pure Dance – very successful – no loss of money
• PA Ball – plans ongoing but venue booked. Tickets on sale for dining – normal tickets on sale next week
• Nominations closed yesterday – shortlist tomorrow (based on number of nominations)
• Trophies for awards + certificates
• Restructuring of PA awards based on last year – based on being fairer this year
• The Mikado – small loss made. Current conversations with Caroline at the Nuffield to make venue hire cheaper. AH (Union Pres) offers help.
• Meeting with Anneka talking about PA reviews in publications:
  • Theatre group review – negative review had backlash
  • Future insurance that people don’t feel this way about reviews
  • Can’t stop writing based on opinions but a look to improving that – discussion to be continued in later agenda

The following points are descriptive of the Feedback discussion as opposed to key minuted points. This will enable feedback to be used/referred to in future: 

• CM introduces the programme that took place
• TL: Graphic Design was very good. CCS agrees and heard it went well – members would appreciate another one
• AS: Graphics design before elections next year to help candidates
• AH: Graphics Design before big events next time
• TL: attendees who show effort/willingness in areas they don’t usually: e.g. presenting but no Surge interest before
• CM: signposting in relevance to session: pointing towards a society they could try in the Union.
• AH: Media Law a bit long – can be off-putting to attend; AH: two parts in future. TL: lunch
• GS: Media Law/Graphics design within inductions. Beginning of year would help the rest of the year within positions
• TL: More general ‘getting in to the industry’ – what to do now? What is freelance? 
• AH: Reference to past session: Editor of Daily Echo – how he got there – careers etc. A balance of skills-based workshops and Q&A/How I got there talks. Finding a medium between skills and getting in to the industry
• TL: more condensed in to shorter time e.g. 1 week

• George: More of a crossover between performing arts and media – self employment for example. So each session isn’t so specific.
• CM: Is there anything you would like us not to focus on? i.e. run by groups rather than in-house/Union.
• AS: TV/filming perhaps run by SUSUtv
• GS: CI to focus on careers stuff – divide between those who do it for careers and fun in PA members. Not too popular if PA really push it to members. AH notes the same with Wessex Scene – mix and match between dedicated writers and those who write about what they are interested in.
• AH: CI sessions sponsored by: ‘Wessex Scene’ / in association with. Direct link to the session – encourage people to attend.
• CM: any sessions in particular that weren’t put on but would like it?
• AH: Video editing. TL: An area Surge should have ownership of. Duplicating might contradict each other (union / group)
• CM: PA meeting with George and each rep about sessions for the future
• RW: Design not just photoshop

• AH: Brief overview: Review of ‘Breaking’ (independent theatre group production)
• Complaints from members of theatre group but non-committee members

• GS: Introduces concept of independent shows within PA groups
  • No technical support from StageSoc
  • Intimate setting: dressed classroom/lecture room
  • Mainly used for original writing. Small groups, small shows, smaller team, less people involved
• GS: Hard for media to get to know what they are looking at/for when coming to a performance. This happens in all directions and not inherently solvable.
• To do: In advance press releases / in advance information – know what they are coming to review.
• AH: additions to style guide based on this
• CM: freedom to write review, but also appreciation that students often write things for performance.
• CM: Conclusion is a positive way forward. Editing style guide, press releases in advance, writer to read press release in advance, research of show.
• CM agrees actions as below

GS updates the committee on the newest PA funding amendments as completed the prior day with CM and JF. Document attached to show amendments since last meeting, where document is also attached to the prior meeting minutes (21/02/17).

CM: this new document will take affect from 2017/2018.

CM welcomes Student Communities Zone to the meeting, and celebrates the first ever joint-zone meeting. 

CM introduces TL who first brought up this agenda

TL: concerns across media departments as a whole. Don’t believe it's due to lack of demand. Lack of programmes with diversity e.g. BBC Radio1Xtra

TL: Goal: to find out whether people don’t want to do it, or if barriers are in place

AH (Student Communities Coordinator) opens the discussion with some feedback from President of ACS on what CI can do:

• Student group takeover – take over a CI group / surge / susutv
• Broadcasting in own language - international
• Dedicated slots for workshops for international groups
• Produce a survey: ask INT groups what they would want to see (first thing to do:

CM: What can we do to for BME openness? 

• GS: encouragement
• EG: cross-collaboration events
• Using SC societies as a resource
• CCS: PA Dance is very diverse. Collaboration between Dance groups and media
• Clear introduction from the start of how to get involved (e.g. Surge show)
• TL: tap in from the beginning (freshers) for ultimate engagement. Student Communities: many international students don't start until later. Week after bunfight instead.
• EG: Zone conference at beginning of year: opportunity when there are numbers together

• AH: language barrier exists for publication/Wessex Scene as editors aren't able to read content in a different language. Not knowing what content is being put out. 
• Understanding what is being said/conveyed
• FN (VP SC): content main issue/obstacle
• FN: Free press at the Union may be different to foreign media/cultural differences