It’s a department that’s less than five years old, but already CPUT’s Film and Video students are creating a buzz in the industry.At the annual student screenings of work produced in 2010, industry insider, Marius van Straaten, Director at Visual Impact, says, “The Film and Video Technology Department at CPUT has done a fantastic job in equipping students for the broadcast industry.”

This year students showcased at least 13 pieces of work at one of Nu Metro’s biggest cinemas at Grand West Casino. Work included documentaries produced by first-year students while second years worked on public service announcements for three organisations.Third year students produced short films, and for the first time this year a collaborative video for the South African Youth Choir, produced by both staff and students was also screened. Students’ productions are part of their academic assessment as their work gets examined, moderated and screened.Welcoming guests at the packed cinema, Film and Video Technology lecturer and convener, Jared Borkum, said the programme is growing tremendously.
“The department is proud to learn that over the last four years, out of all graduates produced in our department, more than 75% of them are working in the industry, “he said.Top students were awarded for their outstanding work throughout the year. Zena America and Joshua Coleman were announced as top students for their first year work, while Zaan Cerff who produced one of the second-year Public Service Announcements, Trapped, for Molo Songololo, also walked away with an award.

Cerff said, “The work was really fun and challenging. I am extremely happy and hoping that next year will definitely bring more excitement.”Meanwhile, Jesse Huggett who produced and edited the short film, The Mirror, scooped the third-year award. Huggett says, “Having our work screened here gives us good experience and exposure. We were shooting our work in High Definition Technology, which is what the industry is currently using. That guarantees us variety in terms of job opportunities.”By Andiswa Dantile

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CPUT students who worked tirelessly behind the scenes of the Cape Town Carnival on Saturday have been given a pat on the back for their help.

Students who responded to a call for volunteers were spotted all over the busy Fanwalk making sure the event ran smoothly.

VISUAL SPECTACLE: One of the acts to wow the crowds on Saturday.

From marshals to float pushers there wasn’t a job too small for the eager students.
Photography and Film and Video students were the envy of the crowd as they were allowed restricted access to the carnival corridor where the performers were.
Second-year photography student Zahraa Dollie says the event was a confidence booster.
“We are working alongside professional photographers here and can see we are doing exactly the same job that they are,” she says.
Her classmate Bertram Malgas says it was nice to be part of the action and not just watching from the sidelines.

EXPERIENCE: Students got unlimited access to the Carnival parade and worked alongside professionals.

“Tonight we are part of the media and that is really nice,” he says.
Film and Video head Jared Borkum was on site to make sure everything ran smoothly.
“The footage we shot through the auditions right to the event itself will probably be used to market the Carnival next year,” he says.
Public Relations students Lee-Ann Mitchell and Chane Arnolds also got a taste of their future careers by manning entry to one of the VIP areas.
Carnival Operations Manager Anthea Metcalf thanked the CPUT students who formed part of a group of over 2000 volunteers.
“The volunteers delivered a world-class, moving fashion-fusion extravaganza,” she says.
The event kicked off at 5pm with a free concert and the parade started at 8pm.
The theme Cape to Cairo was realised through floats depicting Egypt, Kenya’s Masaai and even a hilarious take on SA’s iconic taxi.By LAUREN KANSLEY
Pictures by SHAWN UYS

Written by CPUT News
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Hundreds of students queued up for an opportunity to be part of the upcoming Cape Town Carnival.

The recruitment drive was spearheaded by five 2^nd year Public Relations students who have joined the Carnival team as interns.

Around 150 volunteers are required for a number of tasks including being float pushers, marshals and setting up banners on the day of the event- March 24.

While students aren’t being paid they will receive free transport, all their meals on the day and a participation certificate which will be a welcome addition to their CV’s.

BUSY: PR students taking volunteer names.

Organiser Lee-Ann Mitchell says they presented the idea of using CPUT students as volunteers to the Carnival Committee last week.

“The volunteers will be screened and depending on where they live and how well they can represent Carnival we will make the selection,” she says.

This week a number of lead dancers donned their costumes to drum up interest in the volunteer drive held at the Cape Town campus.

After spotting the colourful costumes students streamed to the table to add their names to the growing list.

This year the Carnival theme is Cape to Cairo and a number of CPUT fashion students have designed costumes which will be on display on the big day.

Photography and Film and Video students are documenting all the behind-the-scenes action.

PR lecturer and Carnival Marketing co-ordinator Ayesha Toyer says they were overwhelmed by the amount of interest from students.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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On 1 August 2008, the Department of Public Relations Management officially moved from the Faculty of Business to the Faculty of Informatics and Design.

The change of Faculty allows the Public Relations Management to be offered by the same Faculty that supports programmes in Multimedia Technology, Photography, Film and Video and Journalism.

“The move of the Department of Public Relations Management to the Faculty of Informatics and Design has brought exiting challenges for synergies with other Departments, exploring cutting edge technology that has become the vehicle for successful communication in the twenty-first century,” said Public Relations Management Head of Department Johann van der Merwe.

The National Diploma and BTech in Public Relations Management equip students with strategic communication management and planning skills in order to design effective messages to reach a specific public or publics.

The programme focuses on components that are necessary in strategic communication, such as trend analysis, stakeholder management and the forecasting and researching of public perceptions, which are translated into creative and practical message design, in order to meet the strategic objectives of an organisation.

The programme is offered within the framework of changing information technology. Students are equipped with basic business and life skills to assist them in working within diverse professional environments.

Public Relations Management students are also exposed to other relevant disciplines such as law, social psychology, marketing and industrial relations in order to prepare each student to be a well-rounded, employable individual.

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WHEN thousands flood into the city centre next month for the upcoming Cape Town Carnival, a handful of CPUT staff and students will be working hard behind the scenes.

Apart from designing many of the spectacular outfits that will be on show on the day, students have also been working diligently and documenting every aspect of the annual street party.

This week, Photography and Film and Video students captured every moment of the event’s official media launch while Public Relations staff and students made sure the party was a slick affair.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Film and Video students capturing the event’s media launch.

Hosted by Heart FM’s Clarence Ford, a variety of performers like bellydancers and rope-skipping champions got the crowd revved up.

But it was the outlandish costumes, all designed around the theme ‘From Cape to Cairo’ which really got the audience excited.

CPUT students were honoured last year when Cape Town Fashion Council’s Bryan Ramkilawan gave them the opportunity of designing a handful of costumes for the parade.

Students were also awarded a cash prize which is paid into their student fees.

On Wednesday, Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, Alan Winde, told the crowd of journalists they should be proud of the Carnival and what it represents.

“Showcasing this event tells the world who we are and what we are about. Lets give everyone a big surprise,” he says.

Cape Town Carnival happens on March 24 and travels along the fan walk in Greenpoint from 8pm.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

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Film and Video lecturer Ashraf Jamal has added another book to his growing list of published works.

The book, 100 Good Ideas: Celebrating 20 Years of Democracy is a celebration of South African creativity across diverse fields like arts and science to influential people and movements.

After three months of hard work with designer Brendan Bell-Roberts the book, which is an officially recognised World Design Capital 2014 project, went on pre-sale at the Design Indaba expo then hits bookshops in April.

Jamal says he kept two potential readers in mind while writing the book.

“I wrote this book for a 60-year-old German tourist and a 13-year-old township kid,” he says.

“That is why the book is written in a very matter-of-fact, easy to read style.”

CPUT makes an appearance in the book with Nicky’s Drive, a project that adapts cars for people with disabilities. However Jamal says the project was not included simply as a punt for the institution.

GREAT IDEA: Nicky’s Drive is a CPUT project and made it into the book

“This book is all about pushing the idea of design being a phenomenon that changes people’s lives and that is what that project is,” he says.

Other interesting features in the book include filmmaker Leon Schuster and the coelacanth fish which was once thought to be extinct.

After only two years at CPUT, prior to which he spent over a decade at Rhodes University, Jamal says he is excited about the strides universities of technology are taking.

“CPUT is vocationally driven and these days ideas are everything and that makes the institution a very exciting place to be at the moment,” he says.

100 Good Ideas: Celebrating 20 Years of Democracy is published by Random House Struik and retails for around R350.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.