Calling all LSM ethnic minority graduates!
Applications are invited for a paid film industry placement programme in 2010 starting in September. The deadline for Applications: 5 pm Friday 18th June 2010. Late applications will not be considered. To download an application pack visit http://www.divafilms.co.uk .
This is a Skillset funded initiative to help graduates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities to fast track their film careers. It has been developed as a proactive response to the lack of representation of talent from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities working in the film industry, under clause 37 of the Race Relations Act.
Now in its third year, the Graduate Fellowship Programme fast tracks the careers of up to 11 emerging leaders from BAME groups through a bespoke package of professional development support, including training placements lasting up to one year in leading film businesses, coaching and mentoring, master classes and workshops with top industry exec’s and filmmakers.
Fellows also receive a training bursary equivalent to £17,000 per annum.
So far the programme has helped 20 Fellows make the transition from unemployment to full-time employment. Past ‘graduates’ have been kept on by their host company and/or gone on to work on feature films and TV dramas such as CHATROOM, THE KILLER INSIDE ME, RED RIDING TRILOGY, SILENT WITNESS and WAKING THE DEAD.
Vicki Brown, a Fellow at Focus Features International, said: “The programme was better than I could have imagined. From attending Cannes [Film Festival] to sitting in on script meetings, I gained a wealth of knowledge and guidance from my mentors at Focus. I have stayed with Focus Features International as Executive Assistant to Alison Thompson, President of International Sales & Distribution.”
Host Companies are: Film Four, Focus Features, ICON Entertainment International, Origin Pictures, Revolution Films, Revolver Entertainment, Rise Films, Ruby Films, the Salt Company, Vertigo Films and Warp Films.
The Graduate Fellowship Programme is funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund and the UK Film Council and is delivered by Diversity in Visual Arts (DiVA). Arit Eminue, from DiVA said: “The Graduate Fellowship Programme consistently attracts a high calibre of applications. We are delighted to be running the programme again and look forward to supporting the career development of this year’s intake.”
Skillset’s Director of Film, Neil Peplow, said: “For the film industry to continue telling relevant stories, it is essential that our workforce actually reflects that society. BAME communities are still under-represented within the film workforce, as highlighted in our most recent employment census and film production workforce survey. Skillset is pleased to once again support the Graduate Fellowship Programme, and provide a new cohort of exciting new BAME talent with an opportunity to launch their career in film.”
The UK Film Council is the Government-backed strategic agency for film in the UK. We aim to stimulate a successful, vibrant film industry and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the UK.
When I started my blog about a month ago, I wasn’t even aware this existed, but what a lesson! I screen every comment and I’m concerned about the amount of effort this will take if the volume increases substantially. When it’s not clear, I’ve googled the comment verbatim, and it normally shows up in dozens of other blogs’ posts. As you say, they’re typically generic comments with links to (sometimes bizarrely) unrelated sites. My personal favorite example so far was a glowing appraisal of my reasoning skills, which was submitted to a post of a picture of a monkey, and linked to a site discussing the dangers of lasik eye surgery.
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!