Dealing with Difficult People – fully booked!
24 January 2012 London *Skillset funding applies
Our most popular course for media professionals is back! Led by Sue Ahern of Creative People, this is a highly practical day that will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses in a conflict situation and develop the skills you need to manage difficult situations
Who’s it for? Production or team managers and those wishing to develop their people management skills
Price: ITF company member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

Ad-Funded Content and Product Placement
7 February London
Led by Endemol’s Brand Partnership Director and ad-funded expert Claire Heys, this is a half-day workshop encouraging TV and digital media producers and commercial managers to develop the new skills and business knowledge necessary to create and execute ad-funded productions.
Who’s it for? This introductory workshop for TV and digital media content makers will benefit those requiring an overview of the advertising market and of pitching advertiser funded programmes directly to brands and their agencies
Price: ITF company member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

Music Rights (1): The Essentials
16 February London
A half-day seminar led by copyright expert Ivan Chandler of Musicalities covering the basics of music clearance in TV, film & digital production, the various organisations involved, and what is – and is not – covered by broadcasters’ blanket licences.
Who’s it for? Anyone who wants to learn the essentials of music copyright law, and find out how to deliver all music documentation on time and within budget.
Price: ITF Member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

Future-proofing your Indie & your Team
28 February London *Skillset funding applies
This one-day workshop will explore vital business planning and risk management to future-proof your company. It will include a business planning exercise and a ’surgery’ to address some of the delegates’ specific issues. Led by highly experienced TV executive, coach and trainer Caroline Beaton
Who’s it for? CEOs/MDs, Heads of Production, Heads of Talent/Human Resources and other key stakeholders within production and/or distribution companies.
Price: ITF Member or freelancer £100 / Non-member company £400

Social Media Skills for Success
2 February London
This one-day workshop will give TV, digital media and interactive practitioners the skills and confidence to make the most of YouTube, Facebook, blogs and Twitter and second screen, to maximise the impact of your production, and engage your audience. Led by BAFTA winning cross-platform producer and social media expert, Mike Flood-Page (former Editorial Director of Illumina) with guest speakers,  “Misfits” Social Media Manager Alexandra Wall & Online Writer Mike O’Leary
Who’s it for? All TV and digital media practitioners (freelance or staff, producer or exec producer, researcher or AP) who want to learn how to make the most of social media
Price: ITF company member or freelancer £50 / Non-member Company £200

Our other upcoming core skills workshops on production and creative development:

Managing People for the First Time
13 March London *Skillset funding applies
Led by Sue Ahern of Creative People, this is a highly practical one-day seminar for managers, team managers or anyone preparing for a management role within the TV industry. The session will help build confidence through TV-based case studies, exercise, questionnaires and sharing delegates’ own experiences.
Who’s it for? Production and team managers or anyone preparing for a management role
Price: ITF Member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

How to become a SuperProducer for all Platforms
6 March London
Kirsty Hunter (Project Factory UK MD & former Head of Interactive at Lion TV) will share her own experiences of leading cross-platform productions like “Britain from Above” and “Horrible Histories” for the BBC, and explore the practical TV and digital production skills you need to become a successful SuperProducer for all platforms. Nick Underhill, MD of Keo Digital, will also discuss the production expertise involved in its award-winning cross-platform Fish Fight.
Who’s it for? Producers of TV and digital interactive content across all platforms, both freelancers and
employees.
Price: ITF company member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

Reviewing Your Options: A Workshop for Women Returning to Work in TV
8 March London *Skillset funding applies
This innovative and extremely practical workshop will offer a unique opportunity to take stock, to assess your professional skills and experience objectively, and to decide the best course of action. It will ask what you want from the next phase of your life, and what you want longer term. This may be to resume your pre-motherhood career, update your skills, move to a new organisation, change your role temporarily or permanently, or re-negotiate your present job. Led by Sue Ahern of Creative People and planned in partnership with Pact
Who’s it for? Women working in TV who have taken a career break for maternity or other reasons, or are about to do so
Price: ITF company member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200

Researchers Survival Guide
15 March London
Led by creative media expert Pamela Relton, this one-day workshop is designed specifically for junior production staff such as runners, junior researchers, production secretaries, etc
Who’s it for? Designed for junior production staff with some experience of working as a researcher or in a production or development environment.
Price: ITF Member or freelancer £50 / Non-member company £200
Generating Innovative Content
20 March London
Led by creative media expert, Pamela Relton this is a one-day workshop on creative thinking techniques with practical applications for generating and developing TV programme ideas
Who’s it for? Anyone in production who is involved with generating, researching and/or producing programme ideas
Price: ITF company member or freelancer  £50 / Non-member company £200

Check out all our other ITF courses, for which you can add your name to the waiting list for it to be staged as soon as we have enough signed up:

* Skillset funding grants available for our Management & Leadership courses: up to 80% for experienced TV freelancers, or 50% for employees (including a proportion of travel and accommodation expenses where relevant) so, apply soon before they run out!

NB Multiplatform courses are no longer eligible for Skillset bursaries until further notice because the fund has now been fully used.

Helpful hints on how to apply for Skillset funding grants.

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: Apps, bursary, cardiff, Commissioning, communication, copyright, courses, cross-platform, digital, digital platforms, Diversity, Formats, HR, interviewing, iphone, Legal, Management, multiplatform, Music, negotiation, new year, people skills, Pitching, price cuts, production, recruitment, Skillset, social media, special offer, super producer, talent, training, TV, women
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Broadcast: In My View

Everyone benefits from having a well-trained freelance community, says Nick Catliff

In The Guardian recently, Maggie Brown declared that TV was in a “chaotic state”, relying “too heavily on poorly trained freelancers”. More than 50% of independent TV employers said they couldn’t afford to invest in training, which wasn’t a priority in the current economic climate.

As chairman of the Indie Training Fund (ITF) – a non-profit training provider for TV and digital media professionals – I just don’t recognise the picture Maggie paints. There are some skills shortages in TV and many freelancers struggle to build a coherent career path but, at the same time, the indie sector is carrying out a great deal of high-quality training.

Recent Skillset research reveals that more than 60% of TV indies have funded or arranged training or development in the past year. Nearly 70% offered it to people on short-term contracts.

Much of it is in-house. Companies such as Lime Pictures and Shed Media have shrewdly decided to resolve skills shortages by training their own teams.

Other indies, from giants like Shine, Endemol, Zodiak and Talkback Thames to leaner outfits like Feelgood Fiction, Oxford Film & TV, Windfall Films, Wildfire and my own company, Lion, provide financial backing for the ITF. In return, each receives tailor-made training for their staff.

Through the ITF, these companies also make a major contribution to the Skillset TV Skills Fund, which provides training bursaries for freelancers and employees.

By far the largest funder of Skillset is the BBC, which, as well as putting cash into training schemes across the industry, trains large numbers of its own staff at the BBC Academy. This in turn feeds into the indie community since virtually everyone who goes through a BBC course will sooner or later turn up on a freelance contract at an indie.  Similarly, we should welcome Channel 4’s commitment to train a new generation of TV journalists for Dispatches. The best will go on to work in the indie sector.

Funding will always be an issue. Sky, ITV and the cable channels are among those who withdrew financial support from Skillset some years ago. The indie sector can and should do better.

While we all benefit from training across the board, many companies do little in-house training and don’t provide funding for the industry’s key training organisation, the ITF. Frankly, they are getting a free ride.

I would argue that, for all indies, training is enlightened self-interest. Better-trained staff means better programmes and better use of ever-tightening budgets.

Offering top-quality training is also a way for any company to attract and retain the best people, since it shows a clear commitment that goes beyond the limitations of yet another short-term contract.

There are many ways to achieve this and I, of course, would urge any indie to contribute to the ITF and work with us to understand any skills gaps and provide the best training.

In co-operation with our partners – including broadcasters, Pact, Skillset, the BBC Academy and other training providers – we’re determined to lead the way by developing the professional skills of the next generation of programme-makers.

Nick Catliff is managing director of Lion Television and chairs the Indie Training Fund

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: BBC Academy, channel 4, endemol, Feelgood Fiction, ITF, Lion Television, Oxford Film & TV, pact, Shine, Skillset, Talkback Thames, Wildfire, Windfall Films, Zodiak
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ITF development events in partnership with Northern Film & Media:

Intro to TV Drama Production Management
12 January 2012 Newcastle *Skillset funding applies
A one-day workshop for production staff covering the basics of production management for TV drama
in partnership with Northern Film & Media.
For further details and to apply contact: bookings@indietrainingfund.com 

Intro to Factual Production Management
20 January 2012 Newcastle *Skillset funding available
One day Indie Training Fund workshop in partnership with Northern Film & Media covering the basic elements of production management in factual programmes.
For further details and to apply contact: bookings@indietrainingfund.com

*About the Skillset funding grants…

* For our Management & Leadership courses: up to 80% for experienced TV freelancers, or 50% for employees (including a proportion of travel and accommodation expenses where relevant), so apply now

Helpful hints on how to apply for Skillset funding, click here

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: drama production, factual TV, ITF, northern film & media, regional courses, skillset bursary
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Len Brown is ITF’s new Development Executive. He brings a wide range of experience as a freelance journalist and network TV Exec Producer, producer/director, writer, self-shooter & editor (especially on arts, features, music & sports programmes). He worked for many years for Granada and the BBC in Manchester, and has produced programmes for many indies. He has also delivered media production courses for the Universities of Leeds and Salford, Lincoln College School for Media, and the Northern Film School, and has been a mentor on diversity trainee schemes for the BBC & ITV. He will be working closely with Training Director Ian Wyatt on devising tailored development for our member companies through our unique in.indie scheme, as well as supervising our short courses, and developing relationships with existing members and other indies. He joins  ITF on November 8.

0
Our former Training Manager Claire Holloway, whom many of you will know from her friendly support of our short courses has left ITF, and is now working with ITF member RDF/Zodiak. We will miss her and wish her success in her future activities.

Posted by indietrainingfund
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Nick Catliff, joint Managing Director of Lion TV, and the new Chairman of the Indie Training Fund, has launched a new TV industry Training Promise.

The Indie Training Promise has been devised and backed by the Indie Training Fund’s Trustees who include ITF members Endemol, IMG Sports Media, Kudos, Lion, Talkback Thames, Tern, Wildfire and Zodiak UK. It invites indies and broadcasters to make five commitments to invest in the development of the professional and creative skills of their workforce – see full Promise text.

Over the next few months ITF will be talking to indies throughout the UK about how the Promise can benefit them, and aims to have at least 50 companies signed up by the end of the year.
Channel 4’s 4Talent has already declared its support for the Promise.

Catliff takes over from Philip Clarke, chief executive of Wildfire TV, at a time when squeezed budgets and on-going broadcaster cuts make ITF members’ funding for industry training more vital than ever before.

ITF’s new Chair Nick Catliff said:
“Training is a crucial issue for the entire industry. Whether you are an indie, an in-house producer or a broadcaster, your staff are you biggest cost and your most important asset. With some notable exceptions we don’t invest enough in developing the creative people on whom the future of our industry lies. I’m delighted to be taking over the Chair of the Indie Training Fund, and to be announcing this important new initiative

This Promise is intended to focus minds on the fact that training is something that starts with each company – without it our businesses, our people and our industry as a whole cannot thrive.  ITF and its member indies are key players in supporting training  in terms of both its own acclaimed short courses, its significant contributions to the Skillset TV Skills Fund, and its practical involvement in so many industry initiatives.

I’d also like to express my thanks and appreciation to my predecessor Philip Clarke for his stewardship of ITF over the past decade. I now want to take it forward to the next stage, to get indies to sign up to the Training Promise, and to join ITF and so get the benefits of the best possible development for their teams.”

Outgoing ITF Chair Philip Clarke (MD of Wildlfire and Feelgood Fiction) commented: “Since separating ourselves from Pact, ITF is now thriving as an energetic, independent organisation committed solely to training. It’s a good moment to pass the Chair over to Nick who will bring new energy and commitment to the project starting with the Training Promise which is an excellent and very timely idea.”

Skillset Chief Executive Dinah Caine said: “We are delighted to support the Indie Training Promise, and congratulate ITF on developing such an excellent initiative. This promise covers the key areas that need to be addressed if we are to keep our industry at the cutting edge. With some 1,100 indies employing more than 40 per cent of the television workforce, this Training Promise will make a huge difference to our industry if it is embraced properly. We would also like to remind all indies that there are funds available through our TV Skills Fund, to which the ITF is a key contributor, to help their employees and freelancers access training and thus fulfil the first two steps of this Promise.”

BBC Academy Director Anne Morrison added: “We thoroughly endorse the values and objectives of the Indie Training Promise. We share the vision of creating and maintaining a highly skilled creative media production sector, and agree that training the professionals who work in our vibrant indie sector is a top priority for UK media and for its audiences.”

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: 4 Talent, BBC Academy, Indie Training Promise, ITF, Lion Television, Skillset
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ITF is now working in partnership with BECTU and ProductionBase to offer a 25% discount for their members to join our ITF Freelancer scheme for £75 a year instead of £100.

ProductionBase is also offering a 25% discount for ITF Freelancers joining its online network which showcases the work, credits and talent of over 5000 freelancers in all grades of TV, film and commercial pre-production, production and post-production.

ITF Freelancer scheme benefits:
* A third off the normal cost for freelancers to attend ITF’s acclaimed intensive Short Courses led by expert industry practitioners

* ITF’s monthly e-Bulletin about upcoming courses, special offers, news, events, and other training opportunities
* Invitations to free ITF events like Open Forum in which a panel of top industry experts discuss a current hot topic with an audience of media practitioners, followed by drinks and networking opportunities (eg recent What’s All this 3DTV Business? )

For more details visit ITF’s website

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: BECTU, ITF Freelancer scheme, ProductionBase
Comments: (0)

Hundreds of freelancers attended the biggest free training showcase ever organised – hosted by the BBC Academy at White City on May 18, with funding support from Skillset and Channel 4. It was a unique and inspirational pan-industry collaboration that involved ITF & other top independent training providers, BECTU, Pact and many indies as well as the BBC Academy, Skillset and Channel 4. There were dozens of short taster sessions, workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses throughout the long day that didn’t end till 9pm. Visitors also found out about how to get training funding through Skillset, which pre-approved delegates that day for future bursary applications, and also gave out 50 Golden Tickets each worth £1000  of training.

All our one-hour short taster sessions were full. Many freelancers were finding out about ITF and its short courses for the first time, were very appreciative and impressed by our workshops, and expressed interest in our new ITF Freelancer scheme. One delegate said our ITF session had changed her life!

See pictures and a short video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/news/view/Fast-Train-

Posted by indietrainingfund
Comments: (1)

You may be interested in these 2 ongoing Creative Leadership development programmes:

Skillset Creative Media Leadership Certificate

(4-5 Nov 2011, 13-14 Jan 2012 & 23-24 March in London)

A rolling programme for “rising stars” to fast-track their careers: a series of three 2-day face-to-face courses in London plus online development over a six month period designed to fit in with the schedule of media professionals.

Indie companies can develop members of their team who may be moving up to management roles by applying for this new programme which will be delivered by Bournemouth University Media School/Skillset Academy. Each short course in London consists of a two day block of face-to-face delivery, interspersed with supported online project development. Participants are also matched with an industry mentor, and take part in live webinars led by distinguished industry figures, such as media pioneer Peter Bazalgette and Lord David Puttnam. Delegates who achieve the Creative Media Leadership Certificate can opt to complete additional courses over a five year period in order to achieve a Creative Media Leadership Diploma or MA.

Candidates need at least 3 TV credits .

Price: £2400

Skillset funding bursaries available: up to £625 (company employees) or £1,000 (freelancers)

For more details visit the Skillset website or contact Charles Wilde (charlesw@skillset.org) or telephone 020 7713 9836.

Apply as soon as possible because few places are available

Kirkbright’s Creative Business Leader programme

(London – 2012 dates TBC).

3 x 2-day programme over 3 months including an analysis of behavioural styles, a personal leadership development plan, and theatrical role play session using professional actors.

Price: £3250 (+ VAT) but ITF has negotiated 20% discounts for our Member Companies.

Skillset funding bursaries available: up to £625 (company employees) or £1,000 (freelancers)

For further details of the programme, and testimonials from previous delegates visit  Kirkbright’s website or email carol.bloor@kirkbright.com or phone her on 0845 6586855

For information about Skillset TV Skills funding visit its website

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: bournemouth university, creative leadership, kirkbright, Skillset
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Booking is now open for the BECTU Freelancers Fair. The event, which is open to all including new entrants, happens at Savoy Place (home to the Institute of Engineering Technology) 2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL, a stunning venue off London’s Embankment.

BECTU members can attend for free; non-members pay £10.

Full programme details, the programme flyer and online booking forms available here

Speaker line-up
Our speaker line-up includes: Martin Spence (BECTU), Steven Skyes (Blue Skies Partnership) Jude Winstanley (The Unit List), Kate Fox (Thompsons), Iain Smith OBE (leading producer and chair of British Film Commission) Hannah Springham, (series producer, Pineapple Dance Studios), Jo Taylor (head of 4Talent), Dom Bridges (DOP/director, Shelf Stackers), Jane Stephenson (Media Trust) Simon Berthon (executive producer) and Dan Berbridge (C4, executive producer).

Exhibition and technical area
In addition to seminars, workshops and one-to-ones, more than 22 industry organisations –  from the BBC Academy to Visual Impact – will be exhibiting, bringing with them news of their latest offerings and advice on how freelances can best equip themselves to advance and sustain their careers.

Advisors from The National Film and TV School will be on hand to talk about their Short Course programme which is delivered to industry professionals by industry professionals.  The team from the Indie Training Fund will be sharing news of their many training opportunities and special offers.

This year’s exhibition will also include a technical area. Visual Impact will present some of the hottest new HD camera equipment including the Panasonic AG-AF101, Sony PMW-F3 and Arri Alexa with hands-on demos and advice on workflows.

Accountancy in the news
News earlier this year of the HMRC’s investigation into Christopher Lunn focussed minds on the importance of expert tax advice. ‘Accountancy Corner’ at the Freelancers’ Fair brings together a team of tax experts who know the media industry: Martin Anderton (Simia Farra), Keith Hall (Feist Hedgethorne), Steven Sykes (Blue Skies) and Mike Truman will join us on the day. A presentation will be scheduled (time to be announced) and early risers may even be able to secure one of the one-to-ones available to book on the day.

The 2011 Freelancers’ Fair is sponsored by the Blue Skies Partnership, Panalux, ProductionBase, Skillset and Thompsons Solicitors.

Commenting on the year’s programme, Mike Dick, chair of the union’s Writers Producers and Directors branch, said:

“This year’s programme offer something for everyone from the new entrant to the seasoned professional. This event is just part of the union’s contribution to helping freelances to get the credit they deserve for their contribution to the industry.

“We look forward to welcoming this year’s visitors and we send our special thanks to all of our contributors and sponsors.”

Posted by indietrainingfund
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Fast Train arrives…

Wednesday 18 May at White City

Latest update from BBC Academy

Fast Train will be the biggest free training event in the UK for TV, film and digital media freelancers , offering up to 500 freelancers the unique chance to sample a wide range of sessions from the industry’s leading providers. It is sponsored by Skillset and hosted by the BBC Academy at White City.

Here’s everything you ever needed to know, and more, about getting your broadcast career on the fast track!
Short training sessions will be provided by the BBC Academy, BECTU, the Indie Training Fund, DV Talent, ShortCourses@NFTS, Skills2Film, Think Bigger! VET, and Skillset Media Academies, with the support of Channel 4 and many independent production companies.

Skillset will also be on hand to discuss bursaries and guide freelancers through the application process. All attendees at Fast Train will be eligible to receive up to £1000 for training from Skillset via the TV Skills Fund. To find out more, just visit the Skillset stand on the day, or go to www.skillset.org/tvfunding.

Fast Train will comprise practical workshops, half-day courses and short “tasters” covering all aspects of production; In total there will be 122 practical sessions covering career development, technical, multiplatform, social media, creativity, lighting, sound and directing.

ITF is offering the following one-hour top tip tasters from our day and half-day Short Courses:

* Researcher’s Survival Guide – led by creative media trainer Pam Relton
* Cross-platform Storytelling – led by multiplatform producer/screenwriter Sean Coleman (Executive Producer of Cell & Kirill at Endemol)
* Dealing with Difficult People – led by Sue Ahern of Creative People, former producer & head of training for BBC Radio
* Devising & Monetising Successful Apps – led by Jon Davenport, Head of Digital at Hat Trick (producer of Fonejacker)
* Generating Innovative Content – led by creative media trainer Pam Relton
* Multiplatform: Joined-up Production – led by Kirsty Hunter, MD of The Project Factory UK & former Head of Interactive at Lion (producer of Britain from Above & Horrible Histories for BBC)
* Reviewing your Career Options: a workshop for women returning to work in TV - led by Sue Ahern of Creative People, former producer & head of training for BBC Radio

A huge range of master classes and other sessions will also be open to all.

‘How To Make It As An Indie’, run by Pact, will be a practical master class for those thinking about starting their own independent production company.

A host of key industry figures will also be holding master classes at Fast Train. These will include Stuart Murphy, Director of Programmes, Sky Atlantic HD, Sky 1HD, 2 & Pick TV, and Zai Bennett, Controller of BBC3 and Richard Klein, Controller of BBC3.

Karl Warner, Commissioner Comedy Entertainment, BBC1 & BBC3 and Andrew Jackson, Deputy Head of Features, Channel 4 will reveal the secrets for pitching and winning commissions. And the programme makers behind the hit shows of the past year will be telling all.

Want to know how to get your shows commissioned? Desperate to get your hands on the latest HD and 3D cameras? Want to learn the secrets of great writing from developing an idea through to pre-titles tease? Need to know how to sell your series via social media?

Get top tips from the people in the know and hear from the industry’s finest how they did it!

Registration is open now.
To see the full schedule so far, and to book up to 3 free sessions, go to: http://fastrain.eventbrite.com
Minimum entry requirement: two years’ experience in the broadcast industry and/or three broadcast credits.

What happens next?

You submit your choices (the practical sessions and master classes plus Networking drinks) via the site.
You must then e mail your CV to –  bbcacademy@bbc.co.uk
Once they have received your CV – they will check to see if you meet the criteria of having worked within the broadcast industry for a minimum of two years and or have three broadcast credits to your name.

If you don’t meet the criteria – you will receive an email stating you have been unsuccessful in your application.

If you do meet the criteria – you will receive an email stating you have successfully reserved a place on your chosen practical sessions, master classes and/or Networking Drinks.

Ten days before the Fast Train day you will receive an email asking you to confirm you wish to still attend your specified practical sessions, master classes and Networking drinks.  You MUST reply to this email to ensure you have fully reserved you place.  If you do not reply to this email your place will no longer be held and your space will be given away to others.

Registration on the day

The latest you can register to finally secure your place and entry into your chosen session/s  is THIRTY minutes prior to the start of your first session on Wednesday 18th May 2011 at BBC White City Fast Train reception.  For example – if you session starts at 9:30hrs you MUST have registered at the Fast Train reception desk no later than 9:00hrs.  If you have not registered thirty minutes prior to the start of your first session then you will forfeit your place and your place on that session will be given to the first person on the waiting list.

How are the spaces allocated?

All spaces for the practical sessions, master classes and the Networking drinks will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Access

If you require assisted access or have any other requirements you wish to make BBC Academy aware of – please e mail (bbcacademy@bbc.co.uk) to let them know.

Posted by indietrainingfund
Tags: BBC Academy, BECTU, dv talent, Indie Training Fund, ITF, NFTS, Skillset, VET
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