GTC Chairman's November message

As you can see, the new GTC website is truly up-and-running and fast becoming a major source of information for everyone working in the television industry. These are very early days and as the site expands expect far, far more. Please let us know what you want and we’ll do our best to respond to your requests.

This year’s Awards are now behind us and we are already planning for 2009 with a much improved method for members to nominate their fellow camera crews; please do take full advantage of these opportunities when they come online.

As you’ll see from this website, we are holding more and more workshops (not only in London!), talking with more and more broadcasters and manufacturers, and presenting more and more opportunities for both GTC members and the industry as a whole.

But what of the future? Well, according to the pundits, it’s all doom, gloom and even more doom. The economy is collapsing, unemployment is rising, houses are worthless and the banks are as safe as bricks and mortar… Private Fraser must be enjoying himself!

However, is this the whole story? How come the GTC is actually growing when everyone else seems determined to head in exactly the opposite direction? Well, for one thing, in times of trouble, people tend to turn to entertainment, whether that’s the cinema or television; they want to get away from it all, they want to be informed, and sometimes they even want to be educated.

And of course, that’s what television is all about. The Guild’s 1000 or so more members are a huge asset, not only to the broadcast industry, but everywhere moving images are used. Let’s all take these opportunities.

Having said that, if we are to continue growing, we do need your help. The Guild is run by a Council which consists of GTC members, who put enormous efforts into bringing together the many activities of the Guild. We can do so much more if we have more members on Council who can contribute to the running of the organisation. We need your input, we need your ideas and we need your support. You don’t have to be experienced (we’ll train you) nor do you have to be a cameraman with many years of work behind you (indeed, we would positively welcome younger members).

So how about it? Are you up for it? Why not give it a try?

Give me a call, or drop me an email; let’s talk.

Brian Rose