the BROADer issue

Pharos to develop media workflow technology in Salford

The decision by media workflow technology experts Pharos Communications to establish a software development site in the heart of one of the country's biggest media production centres is a gem of an idea.

Mediacity:UK in Salford Quays and its tenants will play an important role in the development of media production workflows in the coming years. It's a fair bet that it will also become a magnet for media technologists looking to flee London and the Thames Valley.

Pharos Technical Director Spencer Rodd and his team have spent 10 years developing their Mediator product. With the BBC on site and many other media companies heading to Salford, what better place to establish a regional presence for the company and integrate Mediator further into these workflows as they evolve?

I wonder whether this is the first of many similar announcements to come?

You can hear Spencer's views on how to attract the best technical talent and manage the engineering skills shortage the industry is experiencing in this discussion with Roger Crumpton of the IABM and BSkyB's Broadcast Strategy & Training Manager, Richard Brooking, recorded in 2007.

Andy Wild, a technology consultant who is designing workflows for Peel Media at Mediacity:UK, is part of another discussion recorded earlier this Summer. You can listen to it here.

MPC's Davie Johnston becomes their new CTO

Congratulations to the likable and enduring Davie Johnston, whose promotion to the role of Chief Technology Officer at The Moving PIcture Company was announced this week.

MPC's latest work includes effects shots for 'Watchmen' and that very funny ad for Stella Artois featuring the cool French lothario falling off a building and (almost) escaping an angry husband. While Davie has spent most of this year in Santa Monica building MPC LA and avoiding the awful UK weather. Lucky fella.

He succeeds Nick Cannon in the top technical job after Nick left MPC to join Escape Studios as their Chief Operating Officer.

Enjoy the BAFTA-nominated short '5 Bricks High'

At yesterday's Apple-sponsored Soho Editors 'A4' event to promote the advantages of file-based workflows - A4 = Acquisition, Assets, Archive & Air - I got chatting to Steve Brunton, a BAFTA-nominated filmmaker from the North East, currently living in London.

Steve emailed me a link to his 1 minute short film '5 Bricks High'.

It was a BAFTA nominated short in 2007. It was also a finalist in the Virgin Media Shorts awards in Oct. 2008, and now because it was a Virgin finalist film it's being screened in 212 cinemas across the UK. You can also catch it on Virgin On Demand and on your Virgin mobile if you have one.

Virgin Media made this video about the awards event, which was hosted by Johnny Vaughan.

It's a great little slice of boyhood nostalgia with a twist, and I hope Steve fulfills his ambition to earn a living as a full-time filmmaker. If you would like to get in touch with him here's a link to his MySpace page.