I hope that everyone in the Guild is beginning to see improvements happening across all areas of our activities. To date these may have been subtle changes but we are all hoping to build on current momentum and roll out lots of new and exciting ideas to promote our organisation. The Board have been concentrating on embracing an increasingly changing work environment. We need to maintain the ethos and standards of the Guild whilst really promoting our talents and experience.

The Crew Directory this year will be pivotal to these changes. Over three times the amount of directories will be sent out this year than in previous ones and the focus will be Producers, Production Managers and Coordinators. For the Guild to be an effective organisation we need to publicise what we do and the Directory is our calling card. The plan is to roll out the new book at Cannes and from there make sure it hits the desks of every active Production team in the UK and beyond. It will be a new look and it is crucial that it informs a community that have either never come across the Guild or forgotten we exist. There is more than one production member out there who has never heard of the Guild but desperate to find experienced crew with a proven track record. Our aim is to target them specifically.

Meanwhile we are working on a new GBCT Website, everyone is very aware that the web is ‘where it’s at’ and we need to compete with a new and engaging site. Although there has been much discussion we have now secured a modest fund to build a new site and we need input. The first meeting was held a few weeks ago and was attended by a mixture of board and non board members. We have laid the foundations for initial concepts but want to encourage as many people as possible to give their input. Something that I have noticed recently is the fantastic progress made by suggestions from non board members, both at board meetings and other discussions related to Guild activities. This is great since it gives new and refreshing ideas; there is a danger that if decisions are always left to the same small group of people progress can sometimes be allowed to stagnate. So far this has only been a handful of members but if you have an opinion on what you would like to see from your Guild (in any area) please get in touch with Dee. Everyone’s opinion is important and no matter how outrageous or seemingly trivial, give us your ideas.

One of our pivotal concerns is the Training of crew. Dee has a huge amount of experience in this area and I am sure everyone has noticed new and innovative ideas from her in terms of the courses and events she has organised. If there is anything that you would like to be trained in - from Red cameras to PowerPoint get in touch. The industry is demanding more and more diverse knowledge and skills and the Guild office should be your first point of contact if you are thinking about broadening your talents. There have been the obvious successes of the Steadicam courses but just as popular and very well received have been the Final Cut Pro training days, not to mention the Red, the Genesis, the D21 and the F35 courses – as well as the tax advice sessions! If there is a piece of equipment you feel a bit rusty on, let us know. You might find there are several other members out there in the same boat and the office can arrange a lecture, a demonstration, a training day or even a course.

Another thing that has taken a back seat in recent years is Social Activities and Events organised by the Guild. I don’t play golf but I’m sure somewhere Bobby Stillwell is looking down on us very disappointed that a Golf Day has not been organised recently, so if you play Golf and would like to get something going, get in touch. The Christmas drink was great fun and like all the industry’s socials it was full of people that hadn’t seen each other in years and definitely worth going. There is going to be a summer BBQ and like everything, anyone who makes the effort to go will have a great time - we promise! If anyone has any ideas that they would like organising let us know; white water rafting or fly fishing, it doesn’t have to all be about work and collapsing banks.

I joined the Guild because I wanted to be accepted and recognised by my peers as ‘being proper’. Sometimes the Guild has lost direction but we have all continued to support it and felt it’s important to keep. Behind the scenes there has been a huge amount of effort being pumped into the publicising, growing and improving our Guild. If you have suggestions or just as importantly positive criticisms, it only takes a couple of minutes to write and send an email and we promise to address everyone’s thoughts, concerns and ideas at the next board meeting. We very much want to hear fresh ideas.

It’s a little tricky out there at the moment but the phones seem to have very slowly started ringing so good luck to everyone and let’s hope that history repeats itself and that this ‘Recession’ does bring us all lots of work. In the meantime the Guild will be doing everything it can to make sure that work finds its way to Guild members.

Rupert

Established in 1921, the British Cinema and Television Veterans is an organisation for all technicians that have worked in the British film and television industries for 30 years and over. It’s worth becoming a member. There are two types of membership: Full and Associate. If you are successful on application, you will have to pay a small entrance fee and a very reasonable annual subscription thereafter.
To find out more, email: bctv.veterans@btopenworld.com