Pete
March 13, 2005

Another year, another great Semi-Permanent.

Photos and you'll be able to ask Jordan Crane your questions on Tuesday. Until then what did you think of this years semi-perm?

St Paul
March 14, 2005

Thanks RIZ, on behalf of the Church crew we'd like to again express our thanks to the speakers, but also to you guys who really do make the event. All the speakers were buzzing from being in front of such a large and loving audience. All of them want to come back and some even want to now live in NZ!

Please keep your thoughts coming and also some questions for Jordan who will post some replies late tonight probably.

Cheers

Pete
March 14, 2005

We'll be posting a new topic tonight just to make everything clearer for everyone (I think).

BLACKtactx
March 14, 2005

Well. It was a mixed bag really. I intend on writing a comprehensive review in coming days, however, here are some of my thoughts on this years semi permanent event:

DixonBaxi were definately the highlight in this event. Their respect for their clients as well as the interigrity of their work shone through. This was in stark contrast to a number of the other speakers, who through no fault of their own (ie lack of organisation and time to prepare- see organisation glitches) were thrown into the deep end. This was unfortunate as the callabre of work on display from all those invloved was at a high level

However, returning to respect for clientele, this was somewhat lacking in many of the presentations, and it was an underlying theme throughout the entire day, that the client as the enemy of creative expression and output. I think there is something to say for the ability to involve oneself in private, personal work, but this should not be at odds with the ability to turn it on for the client. I was somewhat disssapointed with the way that some of the outfits, particulary the New Zealand set explained their ongoing struggle with creative expression in the face of clients. Well guys they pay the bills, dont get up and slag em off. I dont want to hear about it.

On another point, many of the presentations ended up being a portfolio show with very little else to say. As stated earlier, the work was of a very high calabre, so this work sold itself, But with very little in the way of where this work came from, it ended up being a little ho-hum. Its all about process, and this was sadly lacking. The process of ideas, the brief, the research. I think DixonBaxi were the only group that actually explaining some of their process (ie research into youth culture for MTV2). This gave their work some base, and we could really see where they came from.

And then we come to Vice. Well, funny yeah, for about 1 minute. dont invite them back, they ended up just emabarising themselves really. Just not funny. The sexual insecurity that comes with being surrounded by what is basically trash journalism, and then wrapping it in uninspiring (2 typeface, single image) design. said alot for their credibility. And nudity combined with children's touys, not a goot mix I think. They just didn't have anything interesting to say. I wont be buying their (Dumb as Dumb) magazine, oooh, wait, its free. Well thats probably for the best.

So, in conclusion, the fantastic work on show was in contrast to a lack of preparation that let some of these speakers down. I hope that the organisers start planning for the next one now, because they will find their audience smaller next year if the level of speaker is not improved. I know they had some fall throughs, but you know. we are paying good money. Oh, and another thing. Tooo good money for the teeshirts., i mean 80 bucks, come on.

A pity.

Tim D
March 14, 2005

I have to agree with blacktactx ,
the standard of speaking was not up to scratch with last years, I realise that this may have been due to speakers being called in at the last minute. what was with that anyway?
I was really looking forwards to seeing build.
prices were up too which was a pity.
all in all the rest was awesome.
I'd love it if we got the same caliber and range of speakers as sydney and london...
ah well.
maybe next year.

BLACKtactx
March 15, 2005

Good as Gold is a good name for the company selling the teeshirts :-)

otto
March 18, 2005

hello!

can anyone tell me when the book semipermanent 2 will be released?

thanks a lot,
otto

Blackspade
March 22, 2005

..from what ive read, it sounds like the Sydney version was a tad more professional, i felt semi-perm 05 Syd was the best of the 3 conferences held to date.

Ed Templeton was fantastic, & Psyop's presentation/preperation was very impressive.