Listed here are the latest press releases issued by the S4C Press Department:
August 7, 2006
Jewellery designer Mari Thomas, who has made the Crown for this year’s Swansea and District National Eisteddfod, will see her work sparkling on Welsh TV very soon.
The award-winning Llanelli-based jeweller has been busy designing gems for new game show, Tipit, inspired by the popular pub game of the same name and made for S4C by TV company Presentable Productions.
Cardiff-based Presentable were looking for three striking pieces to be used as ‘Tipits’, a type of charm central to the game of Tipit, in which competitors have to guess in whose hand lies the tipit.
The tipits made by Mari, whose credits include the Gold Medal for Craft and Design at the National Eisteddfod, had to fit discreetly in the palm of a hand but be as decorative and fine as a piece of jewellery.
When the seven-part show starts in the autumn, viewers will see the three finished tipits on the matching silver display stand in the opening sequence, after they are ‘found’ buried in a cave.
One of the tipits has been made from black oxidised silver, the second from polished silver and the third from silver with 22ct gold. They are all set with sparkling stones. Mari also designed the stand for the tipits and jewellery for the show’s presenters Alex Jones and Morgan Jones for use on set.
Mari, who has a stall at this year’s Eisteddfod site with her friend and colleague Nicola Palterman, says she enjoyed the challenge of making gems for a gameshow, “I’ve had my share of unique commissions, but had never before designed and made anything for television. I had to consider the feel and look of the show and the set which is a kind of tomb-like cave with both a sci-fi and organic feel to it.
“It was a rather different challenge to designing the Eisteddfod crown or my other commissions but I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
August 7, 2006
To coincide with S4C’s bid to break the Guinness World Record for the largest same surname gathering in the world with the Jones Jones Jones concert at the Wales Millennium Centre on 3 November, S4C will hold two quizzes during the Swansea and District National Eisteddfod following a 'Jones' theme.
Planed Plant presenter Alex Jones will host both sessions, in which two teams consisting of contestants with the surname Jones go head-to-head, at S4C's pavilion at 4.00pm on Monday 7 August and 4.00pm on Friday 11 August.
Among the well-known people taking part will be popular singer-songwriter Caryl Parry Jones and Plaid’s Ceredigion AM, Elin Jones.
Visitors to the S4C pavilion will also have a chance to win a High Definition television set by taking part in a ‘Famous Jones’’ photo competition, which will run all week.
Tickets for the Jones Jones Jones show can be bought from the Wales Millennium Centre Ticket Office on 08700 40 2000 s4c.co.uk/jones
August 7, 2006
A panel of five will discuss and debate the past year’s television highlights in a special event held at the S4C pavilion at Swansea’s National Eisteddfod from 1.00 - 2.00 pm on Monday, 7 August.
The debate will be chaired by author and broadcaster Jon Gower. Joining Jon will be S4C’s Director of Commissioning, Rhian Gibson; playwright, TV presenter and director of the popular drama series 'Caerdydd', Ed Thomas; Golwg editor, Karen Owen; and winner of the 2005 Welsh Book Of The Year award, Caryl Lewis.
The discussion will cover all aspects of the television industry - from S4C programming to the digital future and beyond - as well as offering the panellists an opportunity to pick their favourite programmes from the past year.
The discussion will be available to watch online at S4C’s website from 8 August until the end of the month, with web users free to contribute to the discussion by offering comments through e-mail beforehand - click here.
August 7, 2006
S4C’s Commissioning Editor for Sport and ex-Welsh international rugby star, Gareth Davies, will chair a Sports Forum at S4C’s pavilion at the National Eisteddfod at 4.00pm, Wednesday 9 August.
Joining Gareth will be head coach of Ospreys rugby region, Lyn Jones; professional referee and star of entertainment series Jonathan, Nigel Owens; and Le Rygbi correspondent, Bethan Clement.
The session will cover all aspects of the sporting world, with an extra emphasis on the rugby world.
The Sports Forum will be available to watch online at S4C’s website from 10 August until the end of the month, with web users free to contribute to the discussion by offering comments through e-mail beforehand - click here.
August 3, 2006
The animation industry in Wales is to receive a major boost following the news that three companies are to share S4C’s £500,000 animation development and production fund.
The monies, awarded as part of a competitive tendering process, are to be split between Calon in Cardiff Bay, Griffilms, with offices in Caernarfon and Cardiff, and a partnership between Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da and Dinamo in Cardiff.
Calon will receive £250,000, while Griffilms receives £150,000. The Cwmni Da/Dinamo partnership will receive £100,000.
Over a two-year period, the three companies will be expected to develop and deliver a number of multi-platform animation projects, from short films ranging between 10 seconds and 10 minutes in length, to promotional material.
Projects will be expected to reflect S4C’s programme priorities as outlined in the Channel’s Programme Strategy, targeting family, late-night and children’s audiences in particular.
The news comes at a busy time for the companies. Production is underway at Calon on S4C’s new pre-school animation, Holi Hana, a co-production with Five and Germany’s ZDF with support from the EU’s Media+ programme and the National Assembly for Wales.
Griffilms is also working on a 30-minute animated film based on the Welsh legend of Gelert, to be broadcast on S4C over Christmas 2007, while Dinamo is producing a series of 20x5’ nursery rhyme animations, Cwm Teg, for S4C.
Meirion Davies, S4C’s Commissioning Editor Entertainment, who coordinated the animation tender process, says, “S4C is committed to developing a range of creative animation projects across different genres and for multi-platform use, from short promotional trails which can be zapped to mobile phones to prime-time programming. We look forward to working alongside the talented teams at the successful companies.”
Calon Managing Director Robin Lyons says, “We see this as a great opportunity to create some really adventurous content for S4C’s linear and digital output. It’ll give us a chance to introduce all sorts of new ideas and talent to the industry in Wales, and provide a stepping stone to more ambitious and far-reaching work.”
Neville Hughes of the Cwmni Da/Dinamo partnership adds, “This is a very exciting development for the industry in Wales. It’ll be a great opportunity for both companies to explore the wealth of platforms opening up to animation.”
Hywel Griffith of Griffilms says, “Griffilms is proud to be part of S4C’s long standing commitment to the animation industry in Wales and it is a great opportunity for us to develop and produce new and exciting animation content to entertain audiences here and abroad.”
August 2, 2006
Singer Cerys Matthews, GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips and actress Siân Phillips are among a host of female celebrities featured in a new calendar celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the Little Black Dress.
The Welsh language 2007 calendar, which will be sold in aid of Autism Cymru, S4C’s nominated charity, is being launched at 3.00pm on Monday, 7 August at S4C’s stand at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Swansea.
Many of the celebrities featured in the calendar will attend the launch, which will be hosted by newlywed TV presenter Nia Parry, who is also pictured in the calendar wearing her favourite little black dress.
An exhibition of photographs from the calendar, which were taken by Rhian ap Gruffydd, will be held at S4C’s stand throughout the week, while the calendar is on sale, priced £8, at the stand and at selected outlets throughout Wales. It is also available to buy from calendr@fflic.com.
Other celebrities who posed for the calendar include weather presenter Siân Lloyd, Little Britain’s Menna Trussler, TV presenters Angharad Mair, Lucy Owen and Sarra Elgan and singer/actress Shân Cothi.‘
The calendar was the brainchild of producer Beca Evans from TV company Fflic, the makers of S4C’s fashion series Cwpwrdd Dillad.
Beca Evans explains, “The little black dress is an enduring style icon and we wanted to pay tribute to this classic and stylish look, while at the same time supporting Autism Cymru.”
Laura Morgan, Communications Officer for Autism Cymru, Wales’ National Charity for Autism, adds, “We are thrilled that the proceeds from the Little Black Dress Calendar will go to Autism Cymru, helping us establish a Wales Centre for Autism Research. We are also grateful to all the Welsh celebrities who have given so generously of their time to make this a very special calendar.”
For further information please contact Hannah Thomas, S4C Press Office on 07810 794853