58 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 iWWV The Institute Film/Video and B.C.’s “Charting ANew Course” by Dennis Burke he Provincial Government's recent document “Charting a New Course” proposes a new leaner, meaner method of delivering post-sec- ondary education in the province. It seems to me that the general undertone of the proposal is that post secondary education should be directly related to the job market i.e. training for particular jobs. It is also quite clear to me that the princi- pal motivation for this proposal is to formulate a justification for investing less money into education. This puts the onus on the institutions to justify their position according to this new criteria. Since there is a limited amount of funds this method actually pits instituions against each other as they scramble to conform to the new philosophy. In the big picture | feel that artists perform an invaluable role in society. Their task is to question, to offer alternatives, and to alter our perception of the world, and it is impor- tant to support their training. | don’t see any of these words in the “Charting a New Course” document. It is clearly a plan to bring down the deficit (by reduc- ing funding) and stimulate economic growth in the province (by training people to work at specific jobs). | question the lack of funding for art schools because | feel that ECIAD grads do fit the criteria as set forth by the province. This is particularly true for those involved in Film/Video (a department which has been hard hit by the funding cuts). Recently the Continuing Studies Department at UBC did some research into what the ‘Multi-Media’ industry was looking for in employees. It was pretty much unanimous that they are looking for creative thinkers and problem solvers. They would much rather train their own employees on Fitting The Criteria how to run the machines (computers, softeware) specific to their own business - what they need is deep thinkers. ment, “Small-business employment and self- employment have been the fastest growing ele- ments of the labour market.” ECIAD goes beyond the training of techni- cians. The film industry in Vancouver is booming. The way to get work in that industry has not changed in years: you find an entry level position and work your way up. The depth of this type of learning is really beyond the capa- bilities of any institution. What ECIAD offers is a thorough understanding of the entire process of filmmaking. The process of filmmaking is by nature an exercise in cre- ative problem solving: This process begins when the filmmak- er begins to formulate an idea and from there explores how to communicate their perspective effectively. As the produc- tion process evolves, the filmmaker is presented with an enormous range of aesthetic, communicational, and technical problems. These are real skills that ECIAD Film/Video grads takes with them. It seems to me that the province should rec- ognize this, since they state in their document “higher-skill, higher-pay jobs, coveted by the majority of the population, will be available only to those who have the ability to solve problems, plan and use knowledge to further the goals of the organisation.” Another element of filmmaking is that it is a large, time- consuming, and expensive endeavour. The making of a single film is very close to starting one’s own business. It involves an incredible amount of organisation, business planning and usually some fund raising. For people to moti- vate themselves through this process they need to be self starters, almost enterpreneurial. F/V students have been through this process many times by the point they graduate. Again the government states in their docu- If an ECIAD graduate chooses to enter the industry their movement up the ladder is accelerated because of their exhaustive background and training in not only a wide variety of technologies but also the multifaceted creative aspects of the medium. - Generally | feel the “Charting a New Course” document demonstrates a massive shortsightedness on the govern- ment's part. Finances and funding are very real issues but to limit the measure of the growth and development of a society to economics is irresponsible. \@> illustrations by Erin Gillgannon by Grace Salez n Tuesday February 4th, second, third, and fourth year students of Film/Video requested a meeting with €@RTS riendty Windsor Plywood False Creek Store 1581 West 7th Ave. Good advice on non- traditional use of traditional materials 738-9717 Jim Breukelman, the Dean of Media, to discuss our concerns regarding the ongoing lack of technical support and the constant breakdown of equipment in our department. In attendance were Jim Breukelman, Ken Blaine, the Audio/Visual Co-ordinator, and Sue Geddes, Secretary to the Deans of Media and Design. In addition, all Film/Video Faculty and the technical assistant, Richard Bidwell, were also present which suggested that indeed this meeting was of importance to the department. Twenty-five students from Film/Video showed up to voice their concerns. What was interesting about this meeting was how issues within our department turned into a larger concern of how all departments within the Emily Carr Institute are faced with severe budget cuts. | found this very frustrating and felt manipulated to look elsewhere for problems so that the pressure to deal with Film/Video issues would be off whoever is responsible for the frustrating lack of funds to provide an assistant for our technician and to replace equipment that keeps breaking down. Students agreed that we would meet the following Tuesday to further discuss and strategize. In our follow-up meeting we were chal- lenged by the film instructor Jan Marie Martell to organize and look at the bigger picture. It was now obvious that our initial purpose for the meeting — the need for a full-time assistant for Richard Bidwell and funds for broken equipment — was being pushed to the background. Glen Clark was going to make a three day media appearance at the Emily Carr Institute on February 20-22 for a Youth Conference. Our plan was to organize to have some of that media attention focused on our con- cerns as artists. It was proposed that our voices would be seen and flashed across “TV Land” in the form of strategically placed placards that would announce to the people watching the news that art, artists and culture need their support. This would be an opportune time to voice these concerns because of the current issues surrounding cutbacks to art programs. We also discussed that this might be the A Little Housekeeping moment to request a meeting with the deputy minister in charge of Education. The next Film/Video meeting would be on Valentine's Day to discuss the wording of the placards and other objectives. The students wanted to keep the momentum up and meet weekly. | have managed to stay away from politics for the three years I’ve been at Emily Carr. The truth is that being in Film/Video requires lots of time and energy, but | feel that before | leave | want to experience how a community of artists can get together and voice concerns that affect each and every one of us, not only in my department but in all of Emily Carr and ultimately the other art communities that experience paralysis due to cutbacks in funding. In the meeting we heard of how the administration, faculty and staff at Emily Carr are working hard towards infusing cash into the school to keep it afloat. It’s interesting how we started by discussing the problems within the film/video department and ended up with an understanding of the bigger picture. The bigger picture is not just the Film/Video department, us, you, me — there is a need to work at developing lines of com- munication with other departments and to hear what their concerns are and how best we can support each other to bring about necessary changes to our school. Now that Film/Video students have estab- lished an open line of communication we hope to keep it going, give voice to prob- lems that crop up and need addressing. On Valentine's Day we met and discussed again how to be visible/invisible (now there's a challenge) during the Youth Conference with Glen Clark participating. Big plans, lots of talk, but what was most impressive was the decision to get down and give some time to help Richard Bidwell with general house- keeping duties. The transformation of our working area is something to check out! | believe that it is through such little efforts that changes come about. This crew is hot and watch out, administrators, we aim to make a difference! Which brings me back to our original concern: we still need to voice our need for an assistant for Richard Bidwell and we need a replacement budget for broken equip- ment. So, let’s hang in there, keep talking, and support each other to get the work that needs doing, done. “@ 58 Planet of the Arts / March 1997 Film/Video and B.C.’s by Dennis Burke he Provincial Governments recent document “Charting @ New Course” proposes anew leaner, meaner method of delivering post sec ondary education in the province. it seems to te that the general undertone ofthe proposal is that postsecondary education should be directly related tothe job market i raining for particular jobs. It's also quite clear to me that the pring pal motivation fr this proposal sto formulate a justification for investing less money into education. This puts the onus Cn the institutions to justity their position according to this ew criteria. Since there i limited amount of funds this ‘method actually pits instituions against each other as they ‘cramble to conform to the new philosophy. In the big picture I feel that artist perform an invaluable role in society, Their task is to question, to offer alternatives, and to alter our perception ofthe world, and itis impor: ‘ant to support their traning, | don't see any ofthese words in the “Charting a New Course” document. is clearly a plan to bring down the deficit (by reduc ing funding) and stimulate economic growth in the province (by training people to work at Specific obs) I question the lack of funding for art schools fee that ECIAD grads do fit the criteria as set forth by the province This is particularly true for those Involved in FilmvVideo (a department hich has been hard hit by the funding cuts). Recently the Continuing Studies Department at UBC aid some research into what the ‘Multi-Media industry was looking for in employees. pretty much unanimous that they ae looking for creative thinkers and problem solvers. They would much rather train their own employees on iW The Institute how to run the machines (computers, softeware) specific to their own busines - what they need is deep thinkers. ‘The process of filmmaking Is by nature an exercise in cre ative problem solving. This process begins when the filmmak: tr begins to formulate an idea and from there explores how to communicate their perspective effectively. As the produc tion process evolves, the fimmaker is presented with an enormous range of aesthetic, communicational, and technical problems. These are rea skills that ECIAD Film/Video grads “akes with them. It seems to me thatthe province should rec ‘ognize this, since they state in their document “higher-skil higher-pay jobs, coveted by the majority of the population, Charting ANew Course” Fitting The Criteria ‘ment, “Small:business employment and set employment have been the fastest growing ele ‘ments ofthe labour market.” ECIAD goes beyond the training of techni cians. The film industry in Vancouver booming. The way to get work in that industry has not changed in years: you find an entry level Position and work your way up. The depth of this type of learning i really beyond the capa bilities of any institution. What ECIAD offers is 2 thorough understanding of the entire process of filmmaking. Ian ECIAD graduate chooses to enter the industry their ‘movement up the ladder is accelerated because of theit ‘exhaustive background and training in not only 2 wide variety of technologies but also the multifaceted creative aspects of the medium, ‘Generally feel the “Charting a New Course” document ‘demonstrates a massive shortsightedness on the govern ‘ments part. Finances and funding are very rel issues but to limit the measure of the growth and development of a society to economics is irresponsibi, ® wil be availabe only to those who have the ability to solve problems, plan and Use knowledge to further the goals of the organisation." Another element of filmmaking is that its a large, time- consuming, and expensive endeavour. The making ofa single film is very close to stating one’s own busines. It involves an incredible amount of organisation, ‘business planning and usually some fund raising. For people to mot vate themselves through this process they need to be self Sorters, almost enterpreneuril FIV students have been through this process many times by the point they graduate. Again the government states in their docu by Grace Salez ‘Tuesday February ath, second, thir, Jand fourth year students of Film/Video requested a meeting with RTS a endly Windsor Plywood False Creek Store 1581 West 7th Ave. Good advice on non- traditional use of traditional materials 738-9717 Jim Breukelman, the Dean of Medi, to discuss our concerns regarding the ongoing Tack of technical support and the constant breakdown of equipment in our department. in attendance were Jim Breukelman, Ken Blaine, the Audiovisual Co-ordinator, and Sue Geddes, Secretary tothe Deans of Media. {and Design In adaition, all Fim/Video Faculty and the technical asistant, Richard Bidwell, were aso present which suggested that indeed this meeting was of importance to the department. Twenty-five students from FilmVideo showed up to voice their concerns. What was interesting about this meeting was how issues within our department turned into 2 larger concern of how all departments ‘within the Emily Carr institute are faced with severe budget cuts ound this very frustrating and felt manipulated to look elsewhere for problems 40 that the pressure to deal with FilmVVideo issues would be off whoever is responsible. for the frustrating lack of funds to provide ‘an assistant for our technician and to replace ‘equipment that keeps breaking down ‘students agreed that we would meet the following Tuesday to further discuss and strategize in our follow-up meeting we were chal lenged by the film instructor Jan Marie Martel 0 organize and look atthe bigger picture. It was now obvious that our inital purpose for the meeting ~ the need for a fulltime assistant for Richard Bidwell and funds for broken equipment - was being pushed to the background, Glen Clark was going to make a three day media appearance at the Emily Carr institute ‘on February 20-22 fr a Youth Conference. ‘ur plan was to organize to have some of ‘that media attention focused on our con cerns as artists Twas proposed that our voices would be seen and flashed across “TV Land” in the foim of strategically placed placards that ‘would announce tothe people watching the ‘ews that at, artists and culture need theit Support. This would be an opportune time to voice these concerns because ofthe current 'ssues surrounding cutbacks to art programs. ‘We alo dicussed that this might be the ‘moment to request a meeting with the deputy minister in charge of Education. The next FilnvVideo meeting would be on Valentine's Day to discuss the wording of the placards and other objectives. The students wanted to keep the momentum up and meet weet {have managed to stay away from politics for the three years ve been at Emily Crt. Te truth i that being in FilmVideo requires lots of time and energy, but feel that before eave | want to experience how a ‘community of artists can get together and ‘oice concerns that affect each and every tone of us, not only in my department but in allo Emily Carr and ultimately the other art ‘communities that experience paralysis due to ‘tack in funding In the meeting we heard of how the ‘administration, faculty and staff at Emily Carr ‘re working hard towards infusing cash into ‘the schoo! to keep it afloat. Its interesting how we started by discussing the problems ‘within the filmvideo department and ended tp with an understanding of the bigger picture The bigger picture snot just the Film/Video department, us, ou, me ~ there is ‘2 need to work at developing lines of com: ‘munication with other departments and to hear what their concerns are and how best ‘we can support each other to bring about necessary changes to our school. "Now that FilmVideo students have estab lished an open line of communication we hhope to keep it going, give voice to prob: Jems that crop up and need addressing ‘On Valentine's Day we met and discussed again how to be vsiblerinvsible (now there's '2 challenge) during the Youth Conference ‘with Glen Clark participating Big plans ots ‘of talk, but what was most impressive was the decision to get down and give some time to help Richard Bidwell with general house ‘Keeping duties, The transformation of our working area is something to check out? Thlieve that itis through such lite ffors that changes come about. This crew is hhot and watch out, administrators, we aim to make a difference! ‘Which brings me back to our orginal concern: we still need to voice our need for fan assistant for Richard Bidwell and we need 2 replacement budget for broken equip ‘ment. So, les hang in there, Keep taking, land support each other to get the work that ‘heeds doing, done."