Case studies

How have other people found their way into the screen industries and built their careers? Be inspired by real-life stories, including the experiences of industry professionals who have advanced their careers thanks to training supported by ScreenSkills.

 

Camera operator Rebecca Sherburn on a ScreenSkills bursary

A bursary enabled Rebecca to buy weather gear to stay warm on the job

Gaffer Andy Lowe on leadership and management training and mentoring

Andy is keen to both pass on his knowledge and develop his own skillset.

Northern Ireland film is buzzing

Four film and TV professionals reveal how the Northern Irish film and TV industries are growing.

Now's the time to be in Scotland

Five film and TV professionals talk about some of the great things about working in Scotland.

How Make a Move helped costume designer Poppy Moorcroft

Working closely alongside an experienced costume designer she gained valuable insights

Tony Schumacher on how the ScreenSkills New Writers Programme helped him

At the age of 53 his debut script is being made for the BBC

3D motion designer Dominic Spall

A ScreenSkills Select endorsed animation degree helped Dominic break into the industry

Camera trainee Caleb Johnston on completing a ScreenSkills Select degree

A ScreenSkills Select degree brought him a step closer to becoming cinematographer

Producer Lauren Parker on how a bursary and Trainee Finder helped her

ScreenSkills Trainee Finder alumna Lauren was able to buy software with a bursary.

ScreenSkills’ First Break locations trainee Llauren Magney

ScreenSkills’ First Break enabled Llauren to work in the the locations department of ITV’s Emmerdale.

ScreenSkills’ First Break edit trainee Tiffany Bowman

A chance to work on Coronation Street was a dream come true for Manchester-based Tiffany.

Kate Walmsley on how online seminars helped her through lockdown

Kate attended around 160 free online ScreenSkills courses whilst furloughed.

ScreenSkills’ First Break camera trainee Jade Marney James

Jade was looking for hands-on experience in production and knew First Break would provide just that.

Cristina Palmer Romero on HETV Make a Move

High-end TV Skills Fund Make a Move helped Cristina transition from production to post- production.

Animation 2D pipeline director Niki Kehoe

A course funded by the Animation Skills Fund helped Niki Kehoe improve her knowledge.

Director of photography Piers Leigh on being a mentor

Keen to give back to the industry, he signed up as a mentor through the ScreenSkills Mentoring Programme.

How mentoring support helped producer Lorine Plagnol

ScreenSkills offered Lorine Plagnol support to advance her career internationally.

Broadcaster and ScreenSkills ambassador Mim Shaikh

Broadcaster, actor, poet and writer and an ambassador Mim Shaikh on getting into the industry

Kate Siney: Series Producer Programme

How the producer from Leeds stepped up to series producer

Perjeet Aujla: Series Producer Programme

Perjeet explains how ScreenSkills' helped her become a series producer in Birmingham.

Philip McCreery: Series Producer Programme

Philip became a TV commissioner thanks to the ScreenSkills programme

Composer and ScreenSkills ambassador Nainita Desai

Composer Nainita Desai talks about her career and gives tips.

Production designer Steven Grainger on Make a Move

High-end TV Skills Fund support helped him progress.

Ayden Millar used Make a Move to step up to art director

Support by the High-end TV Skills Fund helped her to progress in her career.

Writer-director Nosa Eke on Make a Move and mentoring support

A chance to shadow a writer-director helped Nosa Eke step up

Make-up trainee Lana Jenkins on her job in children's TV

As part of Trainee Finder, Lana worked on So Awkward.

Locations trainee Amber Curtis on her job in children's TV

As part of Trainee Finder, Amber worked on Hetty Feather.

Floor runner Declan Bambrick on his job in children's TV

As part of Trainee Finder, Declan worked on The Secret Life of Boys.

Costume trainee Aileen Kelly on her job in children's TV

As part of Trainee Finder, Aileen worked on Andy and the Band.

Floor runner Glenn Whelan on working in children's TV

As part of Trainee Finder, Glenn worked on Molly and Mack.

Soph Webberley: runner to regional development assistant

ScreenSkills support helped Soph break into the industry as a runner.

Kasheina Vencatasawmy: from runner to development executive

HETV Skills Fund support helped Kasheina grow in her career at Warp

Maia Pavord on completing a ScreenSkills Select course

A qualification at Iver Make-Up Academy proved perfect for Maia

Accountant Sharon Soor on her Skills to Screen experience

ScreenSkills' Skills to Screen helped her move into the industry

Producer Charlotte Surtees on moving into HETV

The co-producer programme helped her move from factual to HETV

Keelan McRoberts on a ScreenSkills bursary and training

Freelance art director Keelan was able to progress in his career

Stephanie Castelete-Tyrrell on training to help disabled talent

Four Corners’ Making the Cut professional film and TV training for disabled people helped her progress

Thomas Gude on using his ScreenSkills bursary

A ScreenSkills bursary enabled Thomas to complete FEA Simulation, a stunt safety course.

Editor Adrian Cline-Bailey

Completing a ScreenSkills-funded course helped Adrian step up in his career.

Film distribution consultant Ngozi Okali

Participation in the Future Leaders in Distribution gave Ngozi a career and confidence boost.

Film distribution professional Delphine Lievens

Bird’s Eye View Future Leaders in Distribution training helped Delphine progress in her career

Mentoring: Jon Wardle

Having benefited from mentoring himself, Jon Wardle decided to help new talent progress as a mentor

Line producer Fran Mable

HETV Link gave line producer Fran Mable “food for thought” and useful experience in interviewing techniques.

Mentoring: Jamie Wilson and Dani Abram

Animator Dani Abram supported Jamie Wilson through the ScreenSkills mentoring scheme

Sound recordist Daniella Smith

A ScreenSkills bursary had a great impact on the Daniella's career in the sound department.

Writer's assistant Divya Sachdeva

Divya found her confidence in her work during the Animated Women UK and its Helen North Achieve programme.

Animator Hanna Chuieva

Hanna found support through Animated Women UK to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming an animator.

CG animator Anita Corcoran

Anita Corcoran has covered a variety of projects and has recently benefited from the Animated Women UK’s Helen North Achieve programme.

Storyboard artist Bianca Ansems

Find out how ScreenSkills helped Bianca develop her career in storyboarding

Animator Will Becher

Will is a freelance master animator who has worked with Aardman Animation and has joined our ScreenSkills Select evaluators

ITV Studios Head of Production and Talent Jacqui Doyle

Jacqui Doyle discusses her experience as part of the ScreenSkills Select evaluation team

Principal character artist Sam Beattie

Sam has recently been evaluating games degrees as an evaluator for ScreenSkills Select.

Documentary director Inma de Reyes

Inma was able to start directing her own documentaries right after graduating from a ScreenSkills endorsed degree at Edinburgh College of Arts

The ScreenSkills Hanna story

Read how ScreenSkills' Make a Move and Trainee Finder placed new talent on the set of Hanna.

Production secretary Nicolas Motte

Nicolas made the step from runner to production secretary with the support of the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund.

Art department trainee Edwina Bowen

Edwina started working on the TV show Hanna as an art department trainee through Trainee Finder

Make-up trainee Imani Ramsey

Trainee Finder helped Imani to pursue a career in make-up and gave her the opportunity to work on the series Hanna

Production Designer Amanda McArthur

A production designer on a number of features, Amanda has recently evaluated an MA in production design for ScreenSkills Select

First assistant director Daniel Gibling

Daniel has recently evaluated National Film & Television School’s diploma in assistant directing and floor managing course.

Art director Tim Overson

Art director for Doctor Who and Sandition, Tim reflects on his experience as an endorsed course evaluator

The ScreenSkills Killing Eve story

How ScreenSkills helped to place new talent in production on the multi-award-winning BBC One show Killing Eve.

Costume trainee Anna Alcock

After winning a place on Trainee Finder, Anna secured a placement on the first season of Killing Eve

Script editor Fred Weston Smith

Fred Weston Smith joined Killing Eve Series Two as part of the Make a Move programme

Second unit director Katherine Churcher

The High-End TV Drama Directors Career Development Programme helped Katherine move into High-End TV on the BBC show Killing Eve

Digital imaging technician Calum Weir

After obtaining a degree in mathematics, Calum was eager to explore a more creative career route

Series researcher Greg Wycislok

Greg enrolled in the ScreenSkills-endorsed TV production degree at Solent University to make his dream of working in TV come true

Locations department: Alan Lane

Armed Forces veteran Alan Lane discovered that he had skills wanted by the screen industries at an ScreenSkills event

Digital imaging technician Christy Kail

Christy Kail applied for a ScreenSkills-endorsed course to explore which part of film making he enjoyed most

Art department assistant Katie Deacon

A ScreenSkills-endorsed degree and Film Trainee Finder helped Katie realise her dream of working in film

Art department assistant Kayleigh Miller

A ScreenSkills-endorsed degree and Trainee Finder helped Kayleigh Miller enter the art department

Assistant production accountant Tim Powell

Make a Move helped chartered accountant Tim Powell enter the screen industry

Director and writer Benjamin Bee

One of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2019

Hair and make-up assistant Sophia Mascarenhas

How Sophia made her way into film make-up - without knowing anyone in the industry

Lighting trainee Lewis Kelly

From construction to lighting feature films, read Lewis' career story

Film exhibition project coordinator Umulkhayr Mohamed

Read Umulkhayr's story of making a career out of putting on film festivals for her community

Locations trainee Ziggy Gray

Find out how Ziggy stumbled across the locations department and found her career

Camera trainee Lauren Byrne

From Googling how to get into film to working big-budget movies, read Lauren's journey

VFX assistant coordinator Shani Vizma

Find out how ScreenSkills helped assistant coordinator Shani find her home in VFX

Assistant director Charanprite Dhami

From criminologist to assistant director, how Charanprite found her place in film

Production coordinator Michelle Burns

The Stepping-UP scheme helping Michelle into a role on HBO's Game of Thrones

Production accountant Ola Kaminska

ScreenSkills' Stepping-Up scheme helped Ola move up in the industry as an accountant

Special effects trainee Sam Murdock

ScreenSkills' Trainee Finder scheme helped Sam learn on the job on HBO's Game of Thrones

The ScreenSkills Game of Thrones story

How ScreenSkills and HBO worked together on skills and training

Production company Drummer TV

How Drummer TV used ScreenSkills' Make a Move scheme

Producer Louise Say

Louise used the ScreenSkills high-end TV drama new producers programme to get her first drama producer credit

Writer Sharma Walfall

Following a place on the Writers Incubator programme Sharma is now a mentee on the Dancing Ledge writers mentoring scheme

Assistant production accountant Ruby Avards

The ScreenSkills-supported APATS scheme helped Ruby Avards to shift her career focus

Production buyer Vicki Mohan

The Trainee Finder scheme gave Vicki a taste of working in the art department of children's TV

Production office runner Jennifer Harris

A placement though ScreenSkills Trainee Finder made Jennifer realise it is never too late to work towards what you want

Art department assistant Lili Lea Abraham

Lili joined ScreenSkills' Trainee Finder Scheme in 2014

Runner Marcellino Hockner

Marcellino took part in ScreenSkills' High-end TV In-House Production Runners Programme

Props maker Zoe Kemp

Zoe took part in the Outlander Trainee Programme vis ScreenSkills

Production company Kudos

Kudos worked with ScreenSkills to take new trainees and up-skill existing crew

Scriptwriter Kit Lambert

Kit took part in the Screen-Skills supported MediaXchange Advanced Writing for TV Drama scheme

TV director Lisa Clarke

Lisa is a participant of the Directors UK High-end TV Drama Directors Career Development Programme

Line producer Adam Knopf

Adam used ScreenSkills' Make a Move scheme to take the next step in high-end TV

Edit trainee Emma Marie Cramb

Emma Marie Cramb worked as a runner before taking part in the ScreenSkills High-end TV Trainee Finder programme

High-end TV producer Andy Morgan

Andy took part in ScreenSkills high-end new producer programme

Production runner Camilla Botterell-Race

Camilla participated in ScreenSkills High-end TV Trainee Finder programme

Production secretary Tom Thurgood

Tom completed a nine-month runners programme at Carnival Films with ScreenSkills Make a Move

Animation producer Kath Shackleton

Kath is an animator, producer and co-founder of Fettle animation, which benefited from ScreenSkills development funding

2017 Film Skills Fund recipients

Recipients of funding from the Film Skills Investment Fund talk about their experiences

Cinema programmer Ian Wild

Ian runs the Sheffield Showroom, a four-screen independent cinema showing mainstream, art house and cult films

Producer Allison Abbate

Allison is a BAFTA-Award winning producer of animated and children's film. Recent credits include Frankenweenie

Head of Sky Kid's Content Lucy Murphy

Lucy has also worked on children's TV and animation at King Rollo Films

Producer Emily Morgan

Emily has been producing short film independently since 2009

Rigger Ginger McCarthy

Ginger is the scaffolder of the film industry, providing the backbone for a set build

Second assistant director Michael Queen

Michael the main source of contact between the cast and the assistant director

Sound mixer Stuart Wilson

Stuart is an Oscar-nominated production sound mixer, recording sound for film and TV

Supervising art director Charmian Adams

Charmian aids the production designer in order to achieve their vision of the film

Producer and locations consultant David Broder

David works on film projects in the UK and abroad and runs his own company, Loupe

Editor Jonathan Morris

Jonathan's job is to edit a film the way that works best, with direct consultation with the director

Production designer Mark Leese

Mark Leese is involved in designing sets, props, and being in charge of a large team

Producer Alison Owen

Alison is an award-winning film producer, whose credits include The Suffragettes and Shaun of the Dead

Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould

Chris in charge of a team of technicians producing pyrotechnic explosions and effects

Health and safety advisor David Deane

David advises on the safety and welfare of all personnel working on a production as well as the public

Senior VFX supervisor Keith Devlin

Keith Devlin started out as a runner, then a digital compositor and is now a senior VFX supervisor

Gaffer Lee Walters

Lee is head of the electrical department, deciding the lighting effect required for a scene

Production designer Dave Arrowsmith

Dave works with props teams and designers after he started out as a stagehand

Mentoring: Beejal Patel and Anna Sadowy

BBC documentary commissioning excutive Beejal Patel mentored Anna Sadowy.

Mentoring: Tracy Forsyth and Lizzie Wingham

Former BBC Worldwide commissioner Tracy Forsyth mentored Lizzie Wingham.

Mentoring: Inigo Manby, Emma Bayat and Peter Brook

Assistant editor Inigo Manby mentored Emma Bayat and Peter Brook

Mentoring: Karol Griffiths and Gary Thomas

Script editor and consultant Karol Griffiths mentored Gary Thomas.

Mentor and mentee: Bill Thomas and Nagea Rose

Bill Thomas shared his wealth of experience in the art department with mentee Nagea Rose

Mentoring case study: James Stier and James Friend

Cinematographer James Friend helped his mentee James Stier move from documentary into drama

It's never too late

Career-changers say how they got into film and TV

Anna Thomson: Series Producer Programme

Anna gained worked as a series producer having done ScreenSkills' programme

Louise Quayle: Series Producer Programme

The funny factual producer director explains how the ScreenSkills programme developed her career

Sue Agyeman: Series Producer Programme

Sue is recognised by TV commissioners as a series producer having done ScreenSkills' programme

Merle Currie: Series Producer Programme

How the course enabled Merle to flourish as a series producer on Monkman & Seagull

Daisy Scalchi: Series Producer Programme

How the ScreenSkills course equipped Daisy for the role of commissioning editor

John Deol: Series Producer Programme

John grew in confidence and learnt practical skills from the ScreenSkills training

Stunt coordinator Abbi Collins

Abbi Collins is a freelance stunt coordinator, stunt performer and horse master