6c

Literature for some of you interested in African Cinema and Arts in Ghana:

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/sep/03/10-best-african-films
• http://www.ug.edu.gh/index1.php?linkid=840
• http://www.sibmas.org/congresses/sibmas80/belgrad_17.html
• http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Performance_Arts_in_Africa.html?id=FA5vQcOQwdEC&redir_esc=y
• http://www.s158663955.websitehome.co.uk/ghanaculture/privatecontent/File/CULTURAL.%20POLICY%20-%20FINAL.pdf

6b

From the very beginning i knew the inquiry i had chosen would limit me a whole lot. The only people that my questions and research would benefit would be Ghanaians. I thought about changing my inquiry but thought to myself this is something i could learn a lot about and hopefully something could come of it in the future.

I first realised this with my SIG, i posted a discussion topic and realised people were going my group not joining in the discussion, I have now realised this is because they maybe don't know about Arts in Ghana, i think my only way to solve this is to get the linked in Ghanaian community involved. I think with that i will get more feedback and answers to help with my inquiry. 

The same problem is happening with my survey, although you can't force people to take it. I have posted the link in my SIG group so the more members i get that are willing to ill it in the better my statistics will be.

The interview process is something i am looking forward to, i have decided i will interview three types of people as i know the answers will be different and i can get different angles from them. These are; A school/ uni teacher lecturer, a uni student and a professional in the industry. All these interviews will have to be conducted over email.

These are the tools i have chosen to use, i don't think the other two would be possible to carry out now, but i may try them when i travel to Ghana in dec for 3 weeks.

Pilot Interview

Looking through all my contacts and networks i have developed i decided to start my interview process with someone i worked with over the summer in Ghana who has now become a good friend, he is a tv presenter/radio presenter and i know he has a lot of view on my inquiry. I am also travelling to Ghana again this xmas so hopefully i will be able to get some real incite with performers, teachers and students on weather they think a performance curriculum could be in introduced.

Pilot Survey

Having researched which site would be best to create my pilot survey i finally went with survey monkey. It was easy to use and create my survey. As this is a pilot i will draft some more relevant questions and hopefully update it.

Here is my link to my survey


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P59BKMZ

Thoughts on my inquiry.

Having started researching into my inquiry and thinking about tools used for professional inquiries i decided to go more further into Arts in Ghana and have chosen to base my inquiry on whether an accredited Arts curriculum/program would work in schools in Ghana.

Task 5C

Having read the reader on professional ethics i learnt there are three main area of ethics:

Personal: family values and religion
Professional and Organisational : Code of conduct

Ethics is based around the right way to carry out things. Being catholic my morals may differ from someone who was not.  In any professional place of work the code of conduct will be in place but may differ from job to job. For example the ethos in my place of work would differ to that if i was in a TV studio. There would be ethics in place to make sure things are carried out to make sure certain standards are upheld. I have also learnt not everything has a right and wrong answer there are many grey areas but this is due to our character.

Task 5b

In the previous task i wrote about codes of conduct in the work place and professional work place. This task was written without any research behind it. With research here are some websites i found with information on codes of conduct in the performing industry: 

1.  http://www.a-n.co.uk/knowledge_bank/article/92660
This websites talks about codes of practice anyhow they should be applied. 

'Artists' training and experience gives them a range of skills that can be applied to any number of professional situations. Creative thinking is increasingly prized.

Artists who have confidence in, and assert, the creative problem-solving and lateral thinking that underpins their artistic practice are more likely to get to where they want to be.'

Good practice prevails where artists

•contribute confidently
•prepare thoroughly
•collaborate creatively
•aim high'

Click on the link to see these principles elaborated on.

2.  http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/outreach/etiquette.pdf

Actors Equity describes the basic codes of conduct and practice in this business, and the performers responsibilities.

3.  http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/business/licensing-and-permissions/street-performers-code-of-practice.en

I found this site quite interesting, codes of conduct for street performers and buskers in order to respect those in the streets.

4. http://www.ism.org/news/article/ism_code_of_practice_for_performers_and_composers

Codes of practice for musicians.

In every walk of life there are rules to follow which i sometimes forget. Following these rules and ethics help any type of work to run smoothly.

Task 5a

ethicsplural of eth·ics (Noun)

Noun:	Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. The moral correctness of specified conduct.

Working in a restaurant as FOH staff for a year, i have noticed that there are ethics and codes of conduct that apply    

:

1. Arrive punctually
2. Correct uniform and hair tied up
3. Be available for customers at all times
4. Make sure customers are aware of any products containing allergens
5. Communicating with your team
6. Following correct rules when asking for holidays and handing in notices.

These are ethics and morals that can be used in any place of work.

In my professional place of work, for example a tv or dance studio:

1. Arrive punctually eg 30 mins before your hour call, this gives you time to  go over any changes if any
2. Follow house rules at all times
3. Look presentable 
4. Keep your CV up to date and truthful
5. Have all equipment with you: shoes, song rep etc
6. Communicate with your team

www.google.com

Task 4C

I sent my enquiry questions to my aunt who is Ghana based, who worked for Unicef for many years and has experience in radio and media in Ghana. Here are here views on my questions:

1) Why is it so much easier for older people to gain work in the industry than younger people? Is it because in Africa for the younger generation it is all about the fame and celebrity? Partly true -in Africa 'the child must be seen and not heard' has been with us too long! Child participation is a recent thing championed by a few so we need to make a conscious effort through early identification and mentoring to develop talents for the industry.

2) Why are there know proper agencies so others especially talented children get a chance to showcase there abilities? For similar reasons stated earlier in 1) above and also it has not crossed the minds of those in authority who can influence such decisions to create and nurture such 

 

3) Many schools in Ghana hold talent nights and other things is this not a chance for agents and directors to find actual talent? This is what I choose to call 'missed opportunities' this can be easily worked out with the Education Ministry and boarding facilities where student entertainment could be a ready 'market ' to identify 'budding' talents.

4) Do you need qualifications to be in this industry? I do not really think so though some level of literacy will be necessary

5) Africans love entertainment so why is more money not pumped into advertising and better quality equipment.We do love entertainment and will flock such places but it seems somebody should do it and we still have not identified that person yet! 

Hopefully with the help of my aunt i can dig deeper into my enquiry. 

My SIG group

I think everyone can tell that i have a real passion for African cinema and media. Therefore i would like to create an SIG group on this topic, especially as a way for other who know not much about it to gain a little knowledge.

I based my inquiry a little on generally making it in the Arts industry and how to improve the arts industry especially with children in Africa specifically Ghana as that is my home country.

So I'm going to go with improving arts back home as i feel i have so much to learn, here is the link to my SIG group:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4661744&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Please feel free to comment and ask questions.

4d: My award Title

The name of my award title is something i have been thinking about since i started the BAPP Program. I have been performing since age 7 and studied professionally for 3 years so some thing with arts in it is a definite yes. Since my passion for African cinema and media has grown and having worked in production over the summer and wanting to go into it in the future i would like to Propose:


BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Media and Arts


What do you think?

Task 4a

After reading reader 4 I am not to sure on what i would specifically like to enquire about so here are some general questions.

1) Why does it seem like nowadays its all about who you know rather than what you know?

2) Is it hard for newly graduated performers to gain work because of limited work on there CV? Why is it a casting director would rather take someone with an amazing CV than give someone with just as equal talent a chance but has just graduated and has not got much on their CV?

3) How do you keep motivated so that after a year of no work and not many auditions you keep trying anyway?

4) Are reality TV shows and celebrities taking away jobs from some who have worked so hard in there career?

5) Why are some agents so involved with their clients and others not as much?

6) Should courses like this be more advertised in theatre and performing schools so people can have a back up plan and feel more secure?

In module 1 i blogged a little about African cinema, having worked at a tv studio there over summer here are some questions i was asking myself.

1) Why is it so much easier for older people to gain work in the industry than younger people? Is it because in Africa for the younger generation it is all about the fame and celebrity?

2) Why are there know proper agencies so others especially talented children get a chance to showcase there abilities?

3) Many schools in Ghana hold talent nights and other things is this not a chance for agents and directors to find actual talent?

4) Do you need qualifications to be in this industry?

5) Africans love entertainment so why is more money not pumped into advertising and better quality equipment.

Just a few questions i have been thinking about.