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Star Trek rocks!

I am an avid fan of Star Trek Next Gen, Voyager, DS9 and Enterprise I loved the original series, but was never as keen a fan as I was of newer stuff. So I was both unsure and excited about the new film and how it could be reborn by Lost creator J.J Abrams nearly a decade into the 21st century.

For those who haven’t boldly gone the cinema yet the movie is a prequel that begins before Spock and Captain Kirk first met but spins it in an innovative and gritty way. I don’t want to give it away but instead of telling a story where we can expect it's outcome they have completely reinvented Star Trek.

Setting the scene with young versions of Kirk and Spock the film shows Kirk as less cheesy and more gritty with a James Dean style and major attitude struggling to find his way in the world. The young Spock is similarly afflicted as he struggles to cope with his Vulcan/Human heritage. Bones is brilliant, Uhura is ‘as fit as’ and of course Simon Pegg as Scotty injects a massive dose of humour into the film, if a little late on.

Visually the film is stunning, the CGI is quite simply spot on setting a benchmark for not only further Star Trek movies but to other blockbuster movies. Set design is clean and precise, the cinematography style has a lot of lens flares and color shifts that again gives off a futuristic style yet doesn't polish it to the point of being tacky.

The action scenes are awesome and fast paced. I loved the Sky dive from space onto a drilling platform, then Sulu pulls out a Samurai sword that extended out like a light saber, ace! I also had to smile at the random guy in the red shirt who you just knew was going to buy it!

With J.J Abrams in the director's chair there is a young, new and dare I say it ‘sexy’ cast that are boldly going to go where no one has gone before.

While it's always a bit risky tinkering with a much loved piece of science fiction, J.J Abrams appears to have kept longstanding fans happy whilst introducing Trek virgins to the Star Trek universe by creating the first Star Trek for everyone. In my opinion he may just well have produced one of the best prequels of all time.

Steve Cooper

Recruitment Agencies need to adapt to survive recession

As a Linked In user I was reading the discussion about recruitment agencies needing to adapt to survive the recession.

Our stand on this at SCR is to continue to supply a first rate recruitment consultancy service, where we understand the needs and requirements of our clients. We are empathizing with our clients who are struggling through recession themselves. We are offering free help and advice to our clients with regard to redundancies including find work for any of their redundant staff. For those that are recruiting we are only presenting fully interviewed candidates (portfolios assessed where needed) who match the exact brief given. We have reduced our recruitment fee's and offer a further prompt payment reduction, please call for details.

In the current climate, we are only able to assist candidates with backgrounds and experience that exactly match the general requirements of our clients. We are unable to help candidates with limited experience or those looking for a career change. We meet our candidates face to face in a full registration interview, offering feedback to improve CV, portfolio's or interview techniques. We take a proactive approach to find new opportunities for those candidates we register.

In the Discussion there was talk about a CV service, where I assume candidates post CV's which are forwarded directly to companies without a sifting process for a reduced fee. I can see no benefit in this to anyone. As a candidate you'd have no control over your CV and to whom it was sent including all of your personal information and it could go to your current employer. As a client you'd be inundated with e-mails and calls from unsuitable candidates as people try to spread their job searches, this is based on the numbers we are dealing with on a daily basis. It would be a nightmare for all concerned. I'm interested to hear if anyone has any comments on this scenario

We are all highly experienced Recruitment Consultants in the Creative/Marketing sectors, who are hoping this high level of service along with our expertise will see us through the recession.

Ann Downs

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Oink Oink!!

This is hilarious! It's nice to see that the creative skills of packaging designers is not going to waste in these challenging times. Also it's good that the media is now getting hysterical about something else rather than the downturn.

Don't do it Ann - only 3 days to go!

As I prepare for the Easter Break by brushing the hot-cross bun crumbs away and trying to resist eating the Creme Egg (Carl’s just bought) until the end of lent on Sunday. I feel the need to make a comment about how quiet recruitment can be at this time of year.

There is a lot of talk about the recession effecting businesses and recruitment at the moment.

BUT it is traditionally quiet over Easter, for a couple of reasons:

Firstly: Year End 5^th April 2009. Business budgets are decided including marketing and recruitment spends. When I’ve worked in other sectors I’ve known companies scramble to recruit through March to make sure they spend their recruitment budget to prevent cuts in the next financial year. Unfortunately I’ve not seen this trend in the Creative & Marketing Sector but companies tend to reassess business including shortfalls they may have in their staffing requirements. I think this will be particularly beneficial for candidates with digital experience whether creative, marketing or technical.

Marketing spends – there should be some clearer indications of how much has been allocated. I don’t think for one minute that everyone is going to spend huge amounts through 2009 but there has been so much uncertainty this year, that some guidance should see some decisions been made about campaigns. This should have a knock on effect – as agencies and studios are briefed with work, those who have consolidated, will need extra staff to complete work, whether freelance or permanent.

Secondly - the kids are on holiday so parents take time off. It’s the first major break in the year and lots of people take time off, whether it’s the same as the schools or tacking a week either side. This includes decision makers, making it a difficult time for general business & recruitment.

So I’d like to think that towards the end of April, we will see more marketing budgets been spent and more freelance & permanent vacancies appearing.

Back to Easter and my cravings for Chocolate... just how many calories are there in a Crème Egg?

Hope you all have a lovely Easter Break.

Ann

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Interesting rates!

As interest rates remain at 0.5% for a second month you may be 'interested' to read this about the highs and lows of interest rates 1694-2009

21st Anniversary Red Dwarf on Dave – Smeggin’ brilliant!

To celebrate the 21^st birthday of the excellent Sci-Fi cult comedy, Red Dwarf Dave are screening a new 3 part special over Easter.

As a one time singleton the pleasures of Dave helped me through many a lonely evening. While relaxing on the couch in my boxer shorts eating Doritos, drinking Stella and farting I whiled away the hours watching re-runs of Top Gear, Mock the Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and of course Red Dwarf!

If you’re not familiar with Red Dwarf here’s a quick run down…Curry loving Dave Lister is the last human being in space, with only his spaceship's senile computer, Holly for company – until Holly provides a hologram of his dead room mate, Arnold Rimmer who he detested. There’s also a humanoid creature that evolved from the ship's cat and a cleaning-obsessed robot called Kryten. That's the lot of Dave Lister, trapped aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf in this clever and sometimes poignant cult sci-fi comedy. 



The amazing thing about Red Dwarf is that it always triumphed over its TV sitcom budget. Reverse universes, exploding spaceships, genetically engineered life-forms and ruthless killer mutants – over eight series the makers took us across the universe, three million years from home…yet never left their earthly characters behind.

So now - much to my girlfriend’s disgust I will be slobbing on the sofa over Easter in my boxers watching Red Dwarf – Back to Earth on Dave. Maybe I can persuade her to do the same! - Steve Cooper