WITCH Training Provision

Often visiting lecturers will discuss the industry with WITCH trainees.

Based on Merseyside, Womens Independent Cinema House offers high quality media training to local women of all ages. No previous experience is required - WITCH provides expert tuition and hands-on access to industry standard equipment that can help you learn the skills you need to access employment or set up for yourself.

Video Production

WITCH currently offers daytime courses in video production. The courses are 15 weeks long, and lead to Merseyside Open College Network (MOCN) Accreditation in a range of modules: scripting, camera and lighting, sound recording, production, editing, screen writing and directing. WITCH offers two levels of course:

• Trainee Comments "I feel I benefited from all aspects of the course, in particular scriptwriting, editing and post-production." Maria Julienne Introduction to Video Production (2002), Further Skills in Video Production (2002) "Really enjoyed the course. Now I want to take things one step further and see the progression from script to screen" Sarah Subhani Scriptwriting Course 00/01 "Yes it helped me decide I do want to do the 30 week Video/Media Production Project." "The taster was more informative than I imagined." "Fast moving, intensive 2 days covering everything from scriptwriting to post-production" Comments from the 2-day taster workshop.

  An Introduction to Video Production - for total beginners with no previous experience of the media.
  
  
• Further Skills in Video Production - an intermediate course for those who have some video production experience and would like to specialise in a particular crew role, such as director, camera operator, floor manager, editor, etc.
  
  
• Independent Video Project - an advanced course for those who want to create their own programme, working with minimal input from tutors.
  
  
• 2-day taster Video workshops - A taster workshop for women who want to work in TV, basic skills on how to Shoot, edit and work as part of a team. A basic insight into our 30 week Video/Media Production Programme.

Freelance artists are hired to provide expert tuition in all aspects of the training course, and WITCH strives to update its equipment regularly to ensure that trainees can gain hands-on experience of the latest technology.

In addition to technical skills, WITCH also provides training on social and vocational skills, incorporating workshops on CV writing, interview, job-search and interpersonal skills into each course. These workshops are led by experienced guidance workers consolidated through a Careers' Day.

For all daytime course, WITCH provides support towards childcare, travel expenses and luncheon vouchers.

WITCH have offered various evening courses throughout the year, including Scriptwriting and Drama. If there is a demand for such courses we will endeavour to run them. WITCH in collaboration with The Everyman Playhouse have ran a 10 week Scriptwriting course and there are talks over the possibility of a Drama course.

Be@WITCH

WITCH also offers a Business Start-Up advice and training for women in the media and creative arts industries. Be@WITCH - Business Enterprise @ the Womens Independent Cinema House - can introduce 20 women with media or creative arts backgrounds into the world of self-employment or assist with the development of an existing business.

Be@WITCH programme aims to provide expertise on two levels within a series of workshops.

• Business Advice - how to prepare a business plan, securing funds for start-up and growth, legal requirements, etc.
• Industry Advice and Guidance - Sector specific advice on how to enter the market, the legal obligations, and information on recent changes within the industry.

The programme will be delivered via a series of workshops and one-to-one advisories, the outcome of which will be a nationally recognised qualification - NVQ level 3 Business Planning. A training allowance is available for childcare and travel costs.

Customised Media Placement Programme

This initiative is designed to improve the Merseyside area's skills and educational attainment by improving the ability of women in target excluded groups to access and take up economic opportunities within the growth sector of the media/creative industries. It is a customised placement project offering specialist on-the-job training within the industry and a pre-placement 4 week in-house training programme which has the aim of developing young women with the necessary expertise to carry out a research project and to empower them both intellectually and creatively to cope with an individual 10 minute presentation to prospective host organisations.

The programme will run between 5-10 months (dependent on funds). Each year, 20 beneficiaries will be recruited from the target areas. All beneficiaries will enter onto a 4 week pre-placement training programme delivered in-house by WITCH. Training at this stage will be accredited by the Merseyside Open College Network. At the end of this stage, 10 beneficiaries will be selected to progress onto the placement programme itself. Those who have been unsuccessful in gaining a placement will benefit from the exit strategy developed which gives particular emphasis to advice and guidance on future employment/education prospects, as well as by receiving their Open College Network qualification.

Those who successfully met the selection criteria will be placed with a host organisation. The placements will last between 28-40 weeks, pending funding, and beneficiaries will work to attain a vocational qualification in one of three areas: Production, Research and media Administration.

Host organisations include: Merseyside Television, FACT, Everyman/Playhouse, Media Station, Exterminating Angel, Latent Productions, Liverpool Film Academy, PIDGIN, Greenhouse Project.

Young people's Summer Activities Programme.

They will be given projects that will enable them to gain accreditation in a qualification recognised by the industry (NVQ). Each placement host will provide the beneficiaries with a progression route into employment, and with WITCH participation will offer career guidance and support into a specific job within the media/creative industry.

The project will be managed on a full-time basis by the Project Manager, supported by an administrative worker.

During the 4 week pre-placement period trainees will receive childcare (if required), luncheon vouchers, expenses towards travel. If you are among the 10 women placed with the host organisation you will receive childcare plus a training allowance of up to £130 per week (full allowance only guarenteed upon full financial approval).

Masterclasses (open to men and women)

In collaboration with media/creative industry partners, WITCH offers a variety of one day specialist courses, including:

• Lo-to-no budget filmmaking
• Directing for the big screen
• Hands on directing
• Movie money
• Write the hot script