Cannes, France, 12 May 2009 – During a press briefing here at the start of the Cannes
Film Market and Festival, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) today
announced several new initiatives as part of its Singapore Media Fusion Plan (SMFP) to
attract the world's creative community to partner with Singapore companies as it strives
to develop Singapore into a trusted global capital for New Asia Media.
“New Asia Media is about the diversity and dynamism of Asia as an emerging content
powerhouse of ideas and creativity that is fast captivating the imagination of global
audiences. Singapore’s strategic location in the heart of Asia, at the cross-road between
East and West, gives our media companies a unique advantage in the creative process
for making content from Asia that resonates with domestic as well as international
audiences,” said Dr Christopher Chia, MDA’s Chief Executive Officer.
To this end, Dr Chia added that the Singapore Government has earmarked €116.5
million (US$156 million; S$230 million) over five years to develop the country's media
content sector. This is in addition to the €253 million (US$340 million; S$500 million)
already committed to interactive digital media research and development. SMFP aims to
provide the best environment for media business, while leveraging R&D to position
Singapore at the leading edge of digital media. Emphasising the creation of new
intellectual properties, as well as the formation of new digital media industries, the SMFP
is looking to partner international companies tapping on new markets in Asia and
beyond.
The three initiatives outlined by the MDA today include:
International Film Fund
Providing Singapore-based production and post-production companies with the
opportunity to executive produce and/or co-produce films of global appeal with
international partners, MDA today launched the new International Film Fund (IFF), which
will encourage projects to be shot in and out of Singapore. The fund will allow a
contribution of up to €$2.5 million (US$3.4 million; S$5 million) per project, covering 17
to 20 projects ranging from animation, live-action features and post-production projects.
MDA will take a share of the rights and revenues of the films as appropriate for its
investment.
The IFF is in addition to the €659 million (US$882 million; S$1.3 billion) of private equity
investment in Singapore that is currently available to filmmakers.
Stereoscopic 3D Development Fund
As a result of its inaugural 3DX Festival, a global gathering of the stereoscopic 3D filmed
entertainment and technology sectors which took place last November, Singapore has
earmarked the first €5 million (US$6.7 million; S$10 million) for its Stereoscopic 3D
Development Fund. Under this Fund, Singapore has committed to co-produce a slate of
three 3D films, all of which will be in production by the end of March 2010, and which are
being offered for pre-sale here at Cannes. The first title of the slate is AMPHIBIOUS, a
science-fiction adventure project to be directed by Brian Yuzna.
Mediapolis @ one-north
Currently under development, Mediapolis @ one-north is a state-of-the-art studio
complex which offers sound stages, digital production, post production, broadcast and
distribution facilities. A collaboration between the Singapore Government and private
sector investors, Mediapolis @ one-north, at its completion in 2020, will span 47 acres
(19 hectares) and will serve as a catalyst for film, television, animation, video game and
emerging new media production.
In addition to the studio complex, the master plan for Mediapolis @ one-north includes
research and development labs and work lofts, as well as retail and recreation amenities
and accommodation, creating a truly one-stop-shop for tomorrow's media industry.
The first tenant will be Infinite Frameworks, the Singapore-based production company
with expertise in computer graphics and visual effects. Infinite Frameworks has
committed to operating from the new complex and will be building two visual effects
soundstages for film and television on 3 acres (1.2 hectares). These aim to be among
the most globally competitive one-stop visual effects centres in the industry, according to
its managing director Mike Wiluan.
SMFP is the extended national blueprint for Singapore’s media sector that builds on the
Media 21 blueprint executed from FY2004 to FY2008. Based on the latest statistics
available, as of 2006, Singapore’s media sector contributed €9.8 billion (US$13.2 billion;
S$19.5 billion) in revenue to the economy and employed 54,700 people. Under Media
21, Singapore has evolved into a broadcast hub, with 15 out of 17 major international
cable and satellite broadcast networks in Asia based here. Likewise, international
games and animation giants such as LucasFilm Animation, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft
are drawn there. Nowadays, Made-by-Singapore content across films, television, games
and animation could be found in over 50 countries, winning awards around the world.
The country’s foray into interactive digital media research and development is also
beginning to bear fruits, with 250 R&D projects from companies, individuals and
institutes of higher learning supported since October 2006.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Who cares for children after school?
Nicola Woolcock writes:
Growing numbers of mothers are going back to work while their children are still young - and many schools now open longer to reflect that.
By the end of next year all schools will be expected to open from 8am until 6pm, providing breakfast clubs and after-school activities such as sport and music sessions.
But are parents taking advantage of so-called ‘extended schools’? New research by the government would suggest not.
A report published by the Department for Children Schools and Familes found that half of parents of primary aged children do not use any childcare. This indicates that one parent does not work, or has flexible or part-time employment.
Another quarter of children aged 5 to 11 are cared for after school on an informal basis.
They are picked up and looked after by parents’ ex-partners, grandparents, siblings, other relatives, and even friends or neighbours, dispelling the myth that a sense of community has disappeared from Britain’s streets.
Only one in 12 primary aged children is sent to formal childcare at the end of the school day. A further six per cent use a combination of out of school clubs with informal childcare.
Parents unable to collect their children from school, because of their working hours, left them with someone else for six hours a week, on average.
The report, Fitting It All Together - How Families Arrange their Childcare and the Influence on Children's Home Learning, said: “Recent trends illustrate that use of out of school childcare has increased since 2001, but started from a very low level of use.
“As more primary and secondary schools become extended schools, it is likely that take-up of this type of childcare will increase further.”
Somewhat controversially it says this could have a positive effect on children, adding: “There is some evidence to suggest that out of school activities are associated with better child outcomes.”
Will parents trust school to look after and entertain their children once lessons are done, seeing it as a safe haven? Or will they think that their child, needing a little ‘down-time’ at the end of the school day, is better off with granny?
Why do so many of our bright teenagers drop out of education?
"There has been endless debate about how many teenagers should go to university and how they should be chosen, but today’s report by the Higher Education Policy Institute shows that the important question is about what happens at 16 and 17. Not only is the UK miles behind other industrialised nations in the numbers remaining in education between 16 and 19 – below 70 per cent, compared with an OECD average of 81 per cent – but it now transpires that many of the brightest teenagers are among those dropping out. According to HEPI, more than half of those with seven good GCSEs - and an astonishing one in seven who achieve ten A-C grades – do not go on to A level or an equivalent qualification, let alone university.
You can argue about whether they should all go on to higher education, but surely 19,000 teenagers with ten good GCSEs should not be dropping out of education at 16 or 17. Legislation announced in last week’s Queen’s Speech would have prevented them from doing so, but why is it happening now?
Part of the explanation is cultural: some sections of society are yet to be convinced of the value of education. Some 54 per cent of university students have fathers who are graduates, compared with half that figure in the population as a whole. It is a fair bet that many of HEPI’s drop-outs come from families and neighbourhoods with a tradition of leaving school at the earliest possible opportunity.
Another factor is that decisions about staying on at 16 are already about whether to go to university. Nine out of ten teenagers taking A levels enter higher education, but too many of the others are bored with learning as they have experienced it up to GCSE, think they won’t make the grade, or just want to earn some money as soon as possible.
Between the ages of 11 and 16, seven out of ten expect to go to university, but less than half of them do. Logically enough, the fewer good GCSEs they get, the less likely they are to stay on at school or college. But the sheer numbers dropping out suggest that a lot of schools are providing poor careers advice: other OECD figures show that the earnings gap between the drop-outs and those who stay on is bigger than in any comparable country.
Perhaps we have reached the low point in this waste of talent. Soon, everyone will have to continue with some form of education until the age of 18 and even before then, the new diplomas and expanded apprenticeships may persuade more teenagers not to drop out. In the recession, too, there will be even fewer earning opportunities for 16-year-olds, with or without seven GCSEs. But it does not say much for secondary schools if that is what it takes to encourage teenagers with ten GCSEs to continue their studies."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)