West Country residents looking to break into the film and television industry are being invited to apply for new careers scheme.
Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios has opened applications for round three of its 2024 West of England Film and High-End TV Workforce Development Programme.
The initiative is for people living in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire who are interested in behind-the-camera roles on scripted productions being made in the region. The programme is delivered by the Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol UNESCO City of Film and Bristol Film Office.
The scheme, which is backed by the West of England Combined Authority, offers tailored training to prepare candidates for entry-level positions in the industry.
Sessions include a sector induction day at the Bottle Yard Studios and a bespoke five-week course delivered by Bristol training provider Stepping Up.
The programme is focused on confidence-building, set etiquette and work-readiness, communication skills and teamwork, wellbeing and resilience, and digital and financial literacy and how to find work as a freelancer.
After completing the training, participants are added to a new entrants portfolio shared with film and high-end TV productions filming in the region. An Access Fund is provided to support any participants who face a financial barrier to taking part.
One recent participant, who took part in round one of the programme and went on to work as a trainee on a major TV production filmed in the summer, said: “Working in film and TV felt unattainable to me before the course and there were so many barriers stopping me from being able to work in the industry, not even knowing where to start for one. The Access Fund meant I could afford to do the course and helped provide what I needed to be able to take on the role fully when I was offered the job.”
Applications are invited from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the industry. Underrepresented groups include: young people aged 17-25; those not in education, employment or training; under-employed people and those on zero-hour contracts; women; people from the global majority; disabled people; people living with mental health issues; and carers and care leavers.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, October 14, 2024.