Report

Above: Elen Rhys, Angharad Garlick, Helen Howells, and Sioned Wyn Roberts

On August 14th, a small group of RTS Wales Members (above) travelled to the BBC's Broadcast Centre in London to visit the Blue Room, the BBC's media lab, which was set up about four years ago to investigate new television technologies, potential new platforms for BBC output, and the changing nature of consumer behaviour.

Above: Non Gwilym, Tim Hartley, Emma Meese (C4CJ), Bruce Etherington (Cardiff University), Ken Skates AM, Karen Roberts, and Sarah Mosely

Above: Staff from the Communities 2.0 digital inclusion project at the event

It was good to hear BBC Wales director Rhodri Talfan open a discussion about the nature of television in Wales at this year’s Celtic Media Festival.  He asked whether we need to see and hear more Welsh on English programmes and even, perhaps, some more English on Welsh programmes.

"The TV revolution is underway": Multi-screen and Over-The-Top content delivery
S4C Boardroom, 26th March, 7pm.

Above: Aled Wyn Phillips, Tony Lakin, Chris Marshall, Jo Iwan and James Watkins

Commercials director James Watkins (Wordley Production Partners) attributes his visual creativity to his lack of aptitude for maths.  ‘Great with ideas, useless at billing clients properly,’ he said.  James set the tone for the RTS Wales Centre's ‘Getting into shorts, trails and commercials’ event, held in partnership with Skillset Media Academy Wales, at the ATRiuM on the 28th of February.

Above: Charlie Phillips, James Mullighan (Chair), Franny Armstrong and Ashley Jones

RTS Wales Centre Crowdfunding Masterclass, held in conjunction with Skillset Media Academy Wales.
Thursday 31st January, City Campus, University of Wales, Newport.

"Traditional funding models are broken... film makers need to know their audience, their target community.  Crowdfunding won't raise your whole budget but it can go a long way.  You just need to be clear about why people would give you money."