Continuing its strong track record of delivering employment opportunities to the film and TV industry Screen NETS on the job training has returned to Screen Academy Scotland. Working closely with the industry, Kay Sheridan, Professional Practice Manager at Screen Academy Scotland, Edinburgh Napier, designed the Screen NETS programme which is supported by Screen Scotland.
Our new Screen NETS Delivery Manager, Catherine Aitken with twenty years’ experience as a producer brings her contacts and professional expertise to the role. Working closely with Kay, Catherine is delivering the 6 months’ programme of on the job training in high-end TV and feature productions to five trainees across Costume, Production Office, Camera, Locations and Grip on Scotland based productions.
The Trainees were selected in April and began their placements on May 1st. Placements so far have included Deadwater Fell the Channel 4 series produced by Kudos and directed by Lynsey Miller, Succession the high end TV drama series for HBO starring Brian Cox, Elizabeth is Missing the 90 minute drama for BBC directed by Aisling Walsh and written by award winning Andrea Gibb (Swallows and Amazons) and 1917 the feature film directed by Sam Mendes.
The Screen NETS 2019 Trainees are ( pictured L to R) :
Andrew MacLellan, Camera Trainee has just completed work on 1917.
Gavin Luna, Locations Trainee, has been working on Succession and will be moving on to Deadwater Fell on the 1st of July.
Kelt Saunders, Grip Trainee has just finished working on Succession and started on Deadwater Fell, on 13th June.
Kaleigh Dick, Costume Trainee has completed working on Succession and is about to go onto Elizabeth is Missing.
Erin McNeil, Production Office Trainee has just completed a week on 1917 and has now started on Elizabeth is Missing.
Screen Scotland approached the Screen Academy team at Edinburgh Napier University to develop their Screen NETS programme to meet the demand of increased production and skills shortages identified by industry. This was followed by a consultation by the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs (CTEER) Committee which highlighted Screen NETS as a key element necessary to build the Film and TV industry in Scotland. Delivering Screen NETS from Edinburgh Napier will continue to strengthen and build our already close ties with Scotland’s film and television industry. With plans for new studios in Scotland, the need to maintain and increase the supply of a highly skilled and adaptable work force is greater than ever. Screen NETS will play its part in developing the skills which are key to the sustainability of the industry.
Screen NETS has a strong ethos of working to widen access and inclusion. Trainees are paid the Real Living Wage with additional contribution to travel and dependent costs. This allows access to the industry to those without the resources to self-finance a career in film and television. Participants are supported and mentored throughout the programme to ensure they are ready for work, and that productions have access to high quality, well supported trainees.
Scott Donaldson, Interim Director at Screen Scotland said:
Screen NETS is an immensely valuable training programme for new entrants to the industry in Scotland, one with a long history of successful alumni. We are committed to providing sustainable career opportunities to those who have previously faced barriers to working in Film and TV and Screen NETS enables us to harness the opportunity that increasing production brings to expand our crew base, in terms of both depth and diversity.
Kay Sheridan, Professional Practice Manager said:
The Film and TV industry’s support is key to achieving what we do with our trainees and we work closely with them to help grow their crew base in Scotland. We are delighted to have started the new trainees and are looking forward to seeing them shine.
Catherine Aitken, Screen NETS Delivery Manager said
It’s been a rewarding process finding the Screen NETS trainees their placements on feature films and high-end TV drama. The support of the Scottish freelance industry has been incredible and their willingness to share their knowledge and experience to the trainees is invaluable.
Kal Singh Lally graduate of Screen NETS, Assistant Editor at Outlander said
I was continually challenged and can’t stress enough how much this programme has helped my career. It has broken down so many of the difficult barriers that you first encounter and given me every chance of success, looking back I’m not sure how I would have ever got a fraction of what this program has provided in such a short space of time.
Clare Kerr, Producer at Mead Kerr and Freelance Line Producer of Grandpa’s Great Escape, Shetland series 4 and The Replacement said:
[Screen NETS] … has been an essential part of the ecology of the Scottish screen industry providing newcomers with a supportive path into the industry and helping productions find the talented crew of the future. I’m so pleased that the programme is running again and look forward to meeting and working with the next group of trainees.
Dr Diane Maclean, Head of Screen and Media at Edinburgh Napier University said:
Screen NETS is recognised by the industry and Scottish Government for the work it does in bringing new entrants into the business, and we welcome the opportunity of working with industry to ensure that productions in Scotland grow, and that home grown talent is supported.
Edinburgh Napier University is one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions. Screen Academy Scotland/Edinburgh Napier is recognised for developing and supporting new and emerging creative and technical talent into to work across the screen industries in the UK and internationally. Films produced by students, alumni and staff have won awards and accolades at film festivals across the world.
Notes:
About Screen NETS
The Screen NETS Programmes has a legacy of over 30 years of on the job training. It provides paid professional work experience on feature films and TV drama for talented new entrants who want to develop their knowledge, skills and contacts for the film and TV industry in Scotland. We seek to recruit motivated and enthusiastic people who possess the determination to start a freelance career as trainees in a chosen specialism. Trainees are paid the Real Living Wage and a contribution to travel expenses and child care / dependent costs if required.
We are also keen to increase the diversity of the industry by removing barriers for talented people who may be under represented, or who find establishing themselves financially challenging. So we encourage applications from as wide a pool as possible of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland is the dedicated partnership for screen in Scotland. With £20 million from Scottish Government and the National Lottery, Screen Scotland is driving the cultural, social and economic development of all aspects of the sector in Scotland, through enhanced funding, services and support. Screen Scotland sits within Creative Scotland and is a partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success.
www.screen.scot @screenscots