Ryder Cup Rap!

A great coming-together this week of very different musical styles in Newport when top rappers Goldie Lookin Chain joined forces with a Welsh male voice choir to record an anthem to celebrate the Ryder Cup coming to the city in October.

The unique collaboration was the brainchild of three documentary film students at the University of Wales, Newport. To create a truly Welsh sound, it was decided to ask City of Newport Male Choir to sing on the chorus of the song and record it in the hi-tech sound studios used by the Creative Sound and Music students at the University.
Full story here: http://www3.newport.ac.uk/news/displayStory.aspx?story_id=459

These great photos of the recording session were taken by ace photographer Betina Skovbro. Check out her website: http://www.skovbro.com/

Going back to the basics with photography

Went along to see one of the workshops in which youngsters from Newport are working with professional photographers from Brazil to discover the joys of making their own pinhole cameras and taking and developing photos. Ironic that when I came to snap them with their very basic cameras my fancy digital SLR died on me and refused to work! I had to borrow someone else's camera to take these photos.

The workshops were part of A Brush with Light, an innovative series of film and photographic works produced in collaboration between Newport's University and partner institutions in Brazil. Professional photographer Miguel Chikaoka (seen below looking at the photos produced by Clara Mitchell and Muz Abbas Hussain) has travelled to Newport to run workshops in traditional photographic techniques such as basic pin-hole cameras at the city’s Riverfront Arts Centre. Full story on: http://ow.ly/1yfQR

Check out 'A Brush With Light'

This looks very interesting for anyone interested in the creative arts - particularly photography and film. A Brush with Light will showcase collaborative work between the University of Wales, Newport and partner institutions in Brazil. This will include collaborative films - many screened for the first time  - as well as community based photographic projects from Newport and South America.

As part of A Brush with Light, there will be a programme of artist’s talks and presentations. These aim to set the exhibited works in context, and provide an invaluable opportunity to hear artists and other practitioners from both Wales and Brazil explaining their creative responses to the environments and communities around them. To find out more, visit: http://www.abrushwithlight.com/

Text and Drive Crash Video is Worldwide YouTube Hit

A graphically realistic car crash video about the dangers of texting while driving, which has been produced and directed by a lecturer, students and graduates of the International Film School Wales, is scoring more hits on YouTube than scenes from the new movie by ‘Titanic’ director James Cameron.

The video, ‘Cow’, made by award-winning Documentary Film-Making Lecturer Peter Watkins-Hughes in conjunction with Gwent Police and Tredegar Comprehensive School, has quickly become an international viral sensation with over a million hits.

The 30-minute video tells the story of fictional character Cassie Cowen, ‘Cow’ to her friends, whose life is changed forever after her friends are killed in a horrific crash caused because she sends a text message whilst driving. Since the film had its premiere in June, it has attracted attention from the BBC and it is hoped the film will become part of the core schools programme across Wales and the UK.
“We have been stunned by the coverage the video has gained – it’s a genuine internet phenomenon,” said Peter who originally poster a clip from the film on YouTube to share with a friend at the BBC.

“The idea for the film, which is based on one I made about joy-riding fourteen years, came from students at Tredegar Comprehensive School. Gwent Police then commissioned me to make it to be shown in schools around Wales.

“I engaged students and graduates from the Documentary Film-0making degree course at the University of Wales, Newport to work on the ambitious 30-minute drama which focuses not only on the crash itself but its emotional aftermath within the families and the wider local community.”

The film was enhanced with computer technology to depict second-by-second a multiple car highway accident to emphasise the message of what can happen when drivers are distracted from the road by a texting conversation.
To view the clip on YouTube go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw

For details of all film-making and all other courses at the University of Wales, Newport contact the University Information Centre on 01633 432432 or visit http://www.newport.ac.uk/.