First Break: Open Doors intro to screen

Is First Break for you?

First Break is a project that supports people at the start of their career or thinking about a behind-the-camera career in television drama.

ScreenSkills have partnered with ITV on Coronation Street and Emmerdale where they will support, nurture and encourage participants who are considering a role behind the camera; giving you the tools, knowledge and a comprehensive taster of work experience across the production process.

If you have always wanted to work in television drama but don’t have the experience, industry contacts or qualifications, First Break could be for you. We are looking for participants who are keen to learn, who are enthusiastic, hardworking and who are passionate and interested in working in TV. You can find out more about the sort of jobs available in TV drama here.

To be sure we reach a wide reach of new talent we have established the following eligibility and entry criteria that you must meet some of:

• You have an interest in working in TV drama i.e. camera, sound, edit, makeup etc. Please note this is a behind the scenes support programme and not for actors
• You live near ITV’s production bases in Media City UK, Salford and Central Leeds.
• You are 18 or older
• You are a career changer who often finds that a barrier to entry-level jobs is your lack of work experience.
• You have been in the care system and are a care leaver
• At the time of your application, you are unemployed or low waged/claiming some benefits or have attended further education – BTEC and NVQs
• You live in the UK and have evidence of the right to work in the UK

We particularly welcome applications from women in the technical department and men in creative arts, people from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background and disabled people.

How does First Break work:
There is a multi-stage application process for First Break. The first step is to apply through this page to attend one of our First Break Open Doors events.

Stage one: Open Doors events
Location: The Imperial War Museum, Salford.
Date: 18 September 2019, 6pm – 8pm 

Location: ITV Studios, Leeds
Date: 26 September 2019, 6pm – 8pm

Participants will hear from and be able to ask questions from the production crew in an informal round table setting, rotating tables in order to hear from a cross-section of people and about the different jobs available. You will be able to ask questions such as what does work as a camera person involve, who make the sets that you see on TV, who chooses the locations and how does filming work. For example, there will be rounds tables with camera, sound, makeup, costume and scripts/editorial.

Stage two: boot camp – an industry overview and working at ITV
Location:  ITV Media City UK, Salford.
Date: 12 October 2019, 9am – 4pm.

Location: ITV Studios, Leeds
Date: 19 October 2019, 9am – 4pm. 

Places available: 50 places in Leeds and 50 places in Media City UK, Salford.

Applications to the boot camp with open following the attendance of the Open Doors events. 

Participants who attended the Open Doors event will be invited to apply to attend the boot camp, with a view to being selected to take part in the work experience element of First Break. This will be held on a Saturday/Sunday so you don’t have to take time off work.

The boot camp will include the following:

• Welcome and introduction from ScreenSkills and ITV team
• What to expect and what’s expected from a job at ITV’s Coronation Street and Emmerdale
• Job roles, how the industry works
• Departments: who does what and who heads up each department
• Basics of set etiquette
• Working safely on a production
• Working in a team, working hours and working as a freelance
• What next – how to apply for the three-week paid work experience opportunity

Stage three: three-week paid work experience
Locations: Media City UK (Salford) and Leeds
Dates: Jan – March 2020.
Places available: 10 places in Leeds  and 10 places in Media City UK
Applications to the three weeks work experience will open following the attendance of the boot camp

Participants will be given the opportunity to apply for the three weeks work experience programme in one of four job role groups based on your preferences. These will be identified when attending the boot camp.

Job roles: 

• Technical: sound, camera, edit or electrician
• Creative: practical makeup, costume, art department or props and crafts
• Organisational and people-focused: locations, production office or floor runner
• Creative: scripts or development

Details of the work experience and what is required from the successful applicants:

• The work experience is full time and paid
• Applicants must not be in full-time education or employment
• Participants must have been living in the UK for a minimum of a year and have the right to work in the UK
• The work experience will take place between Monday and Friday in Media City UK and Leeds
• It is the responsibility of the participant to make their own way to and from the locations each day and travel expenses will be reimbursed

Stage four: careers support and signposting
Locations: Media City UK (Salford) and Leeds
Date: March/April 2020

The ScreenSkills and ITV team will provide successful work experience participants careers support and a signposting session that will include the following:

• Assistance looking for opportunities – full-time employment/job vacancies, apprenticeships and further and higher education.
• Signposting to local organisations that provide new entrant opportunities/ forums i.e. Royal Television Society and Screen Yorkshire.
• Further information about working as a freelancer – meet local people working in TV in Leeds or Manchester, how do they manage their workload and secure new opportunities.
• Help with Interview techniques, CV writing, online content and promotions.
• A work-ready one-to-one planning session

If you have any questions, please email: first.break@screenskills.com