South West Screen

 

Background

South West Screen is the funding and support agency for the cultural and economic development of film, television and digital media in South West England. Through them public funds are channeled into a range of creative initiatives, management and support services and outreach.

South West Screen wanted to hold a lunch time reception with two main aims; to raise the profile of the South West media industry and to engage with MPs and Ministers in key issues for the sector in the region. The main emphasis was on networking with a buffet lunch and drinks. A show reel of the region’s best broadcast work needed to be shown to guests and there was to be a surprise photo opportunity for regional and national press.

Guests included South West regional MPs; Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee members; Chairman and senior representatives from the South West Regional Development agency; local authority and city council representation; senior representatives from the UK Film Council and a range of representatives from all key media organisations in the South West.

South West Screen work closely with other organisations in the South West that Revelation are event partners with and this was an important factor in Revelation being appointed the event management company for this event.


Solution

The lunch was held at the Houses of Parliament, London, which certainly creates challenges including of course very tight security, extremely short set up and de rig times and strictly adhered to procedures with of course plenty of paperwork. Revelation had had experience of working at the Houses of Parliament previously so we knew what to expect!

As the event was being held in London, the invitation only guests from the South West where coached into the event.

Pre event the team at Revelation carried out a number of event management roles compiling the invitation list and organising the timely posting of invitations as well as providing event information and directions to all guests.

Revelation were responsible for the delivery of the equipment, organising the logistics, security restrictions at the venue and the on-site set up. This included the presentation area and the banners that had been created to showcase South West Screen. For the presentations and the show reel Revelation provided AV equipment, erecting a 50’ plasma. The stage was created with a podium for the speakers and a PA system to make sure that the presentations were clear.

Our photographer was present at the event taking pictures of all the guests. There was a recognisable character wandering around the room that featured in a lot of the photos. After the event the photos taken were then downloaded on site and immediately sent to PR agencies and to the press, to create awareness of South West Screen’s work through the media as well.


Results

South West Screen were extremely pleased with the outcome of the lunch and felt that the event met the objectives that they had set.