The film adaptation of Maggie O Farrel’s acclaimed novel, Hamnet, is winning plaudits and prizes for its moving exploration of the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes in the wake of their 11-year-old son's death.
Already a winner at this year’s Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards, the film looks set to be rewarded further with 11 BAFTA and five Academy Awards nominations.
Much earlier in its journey, the production also became a beacon of how the Film Skills Fund works closely with industry to create opportunities that support the growth and development of the UKs screen workforce.
The Fund uses contributions from qualifying productions like Hamnet to invest in training targeted to meet the needs of the industry and provide vital learning experiences that help those at each stage of their careers. In addition to guided training, a number of these training programmes offer candidates hands-on experience via placements on productions.
"The Hamnet production team was the best you could ask for. Despite being the newcomer, I felt immediately welcome and respected."
That support proved invaluable for new entrant James Skinner, who received a placement on the production through the Fund’s Trainee Finder programme. He said: “This was my first experience of working in the industry, I had such a great time that it inspired me to pursue a career in production.”
The flagship new entrant initiative pairs industry-led training with paid placements to those taking their early steps in film, matching candidates with productions and ensuring they receive a rounded learning experience to start to their careers.
James joined as a production assistant and felt instantly at home. “The Hamnet production team was the best you could ask for” he explained. “Despite being the newcomer, I felt immediately welcome and respected. They were incredibly supportive, showing me how to do the best job possible, from printing callsheets, to submitting POs, to the all-important coffee run. When problems arose, they didn't hesitate to offer assistance. It was a real privilege to be part of their team.”
It also led to a surprising turn in front of the camera: “An unexpected highlight was being cast in the movie, which was a ridiculous experience, but one that gave me a unique perspective on the filmmaking process.”
Fellow trainee Aparna Nair joined the production’s accounts department, opening up an exciting new career route. She said: “Hamnet was my first opportunity to work on a large-scale feature film and in the accounts department, so it was a big step up and a fantastic learning experience.
“I learned so much from each of the team about how a production operates on a bigger scale. One of the highlights for me was seeing how all departments come together during filming; being part of that collaboration was really inspiring. It was also exciting to see the set and scenes being shot. The set was truly mesmerising!”
Since inception Trainee Finder has helped over 600 new entrants get a foothold in the industry through its blend of set-ready training and production placements. Previous candidates have received placements on films of all sizes, from small budget independent features like Hard Truths and Pillion to studio blockbusters like Barbie and Downton Abbey.
In total, five members of the programme joined the production, working across a range of below-the-line departments.
The programme helps address areas of skills shortage, responding directly to industry needs and helping build a pipeline of talent. Trainee Rhian Hughes came on board as a location marshall, a role she was developing the skills for through some previous courses. She said: “I had completed a ScreenSkills introduction to location marshalling short course and since then had a handful of marshalling jobs around the North of England.”
Like Aparna, the scale and scope of the production was an exciting element of the experience for Rhian, who said: “It was really interesting to be part of such a large production and a much bigger locations team that I had worked in previously. I’d say a highlight was working in such an historic venue in central London!”
Trainee Finder is designed to provide the groundwork and the foundational learning to help candidates develop skills that can be taken into future roles, widening skillsets and allowing candidates to meet new contacts. It helped Rhian take her next step in the industry and progress into a more senior position for her next job. “It gave me a great insight into working on larger productions and helped me expand my network in London as I had recently moved here from Leeds. I worked on Sky’s 2025 Christmas film – and fellow Fund contributor - Tinsel Town, which was my longest job to date and the first time I got to step up to be Assistant Unit Manager!”
It’s not just those at the beginning of their screen journeys that received a boost to their careers via the production either. The Make a Move programme, supported by the Fund, is designed to support progression for mid-senior level professionals, encouraging on-the-job training for crew members identified by the production as ready to move into a more senior role.
"Make a Move helped me learn new skills, grow my confidence, and develop skills I had already acquired throughout my time working in production."
On Hamnet, there were two crew members who were making that step up as part of the initiative.
“I heard about Make a Move through the production manager who suggested it would be a good idea for me during the production of Hamnet,” said Amelia Pridham, who used the programme to step up to a base 3rd AD position. “I think just the passion that everyone had for the film really made it such an amazing film to work on. I’d say it was probably the best shoots of my career so far. Made some amazing friends and got to really develop my AD skills.”
Being part of the programme has proved helpful moving forward too, as Amelia explained: “Since Hamnet I have worked on another film as Base 3rd and feel like it solidified my position and capabilities, giving me the confidence to know that I can do a shoot that required so much like Hamnet did.”
Fellow Make a Move member James Knowles told us how he came to take part: “I received a phone call from Ella O'Neil, the production coordinator on Hamnet, who had received my CV and references from Sheerin Khosrowshahi-Miandoab and Sofia Guitto who I had worked with on Blitz. This was when I first heard about both Hamnet, and the ScreenSkills Make a Move programme. I jumped at the opportunity to step-up from production secretary to assistant production office coordinator.
“It was a truly great experience, the team were incredibly supportive and nurturing as I took on more responsibilities, the team gave me multitudes of advice and guidance, helping me develop my skills as an APOC further throughout the shoot.”
Again, being part of the initiative enabled James to develop the skills and attain the experience needed to further his production career. He said: “Make a Move helped me learn new skills, grow my confidence, and develop skills I had already acquired throughout my time working in production. My main takeaway was learning to let things simmer, working on multiple tasks at a time, and learning to manage my workload, and also the workload of those above and below me in order to be effective. These valuable skills have helped me secure continued work as an APOC, currently working as the Lead APOC on The Gentlemen Season 2.”
The production provided an example of how the Skills Fund developed training can have a real impact on the screen workforce. In addition, it further demonstrated the ties between the Fund and UK productions and how those that contribute are strengthened by their ability to utilise the emerging and existing talent supported by these training programmes.
Jannika Obergh, production manager on Hamnet, spoke of the importance of paying into the Film Skills Fund and how it helped support the film’s development, “For us on Hamnet it was a no-brainer to contribute to the Film Skills Fund. In principle, the Fund offers a vital resource to the whole industry and is important to the dynamism and diversity of the workforce. We also benefited by having crew through different initiatives like the Trainee Finder, Move a Move and industry transfer programmes. On this smaller sized film, these schemes enabled us to have extra support in the office, on set and in workshops with positions that provided us with an extra pair of hands as well as roles with more responsibility.”