The Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire has celebrated its second birthday with the large majority of its trainees now employed in the screen industry.
Launched in 2020, the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire (CoSE:Y) and their six-month craft courses have helped fuel the UKs film and TV production boom, with graduates crediting the centre as the gateway to their new careers in the industry.
Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire is delivered by Screen Yorkshire and ScreenSkills in partnership with the BFI, awarding National Lottery funds as part of the Future Film Skills strategy. CoSE:Y is designed to upskill the local workforce and create new pathways and opportunities for individuals wishing to develop their careers in film and TV, especially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
The second anniversary at the end of February 2022 coincides with the Centre opening applications for a third round of courses, running from March to August this year. Read more about the courses and how to apply.
Gareth Ellis-Unwin, ScreenSkills’ head of film and animation, said: “Nobody imagined a global pandemic when we were planning to launch Centres of Screen Excellence and chose Yorkshire to be the first. Yet despite a challenging two years, it is amazing to see the cracking crew that have been trained thanks to this brilliant collaboration between Screen Yorkshire, local colleges and ourselves.”
“The initiative has strengthened the local skills base for productions shooting in and around Yorkshire and the Humber, further cementing the region as a great place to make film and television. But – as is always the case in our industry – Yorkshire-grown talent is now helping keep the whole of UK production booming. It is vital to provide local opportunities for local crew and was part of the thinking behind the Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire. But it is also brilliant when they also get the chance to work on big shows elsewhere in the UK.”
Georgina Vaughan said getting a job in film and TV seemed “like a pipedream”, until she discovered the CoSE:Y production assistant course. Now she has credits including: upcoming feature film, The Railway Children Return, Gentleman Jack (BBC), The Confessions of Frannie Langton (ITV) and Citadel (Amazon Studios).
Read more about Georgina’s story.
Nele Wöhlk was interested in cameras and lighting but learnt about grips through discussions with the NFTS and became fascinated by their work. That led to her applying for and being accepted on the first CoSE:Y Grips course in 2020. Nele was also awarded a bursary to take part in CoSE:Y, which she says, “helped hugely”. Nele says: “The 'hands-on' part of the course was invaluable. We had great training from experienced key grips David Holliday and David Cadwallader. Dave Holliday put me in touch with another female grip who passed me on to a job for two days on a commercial just after I finished my course and I’ve been working in the industry ever since.”
Since completing her CoSE:Y training in 2020, Nele has accumulated an impressive list of industry credits, including: Chloe (BBC), Invasion, (Apple TV+), Willow (Disney+), Sanditon' (ITV), Am I Being Unreasonable? (BBC) The Baby (HBO/Sky).
Glyn Middleton, Head of Industry and Skills at Screen Yorkshire says: “It’s incredibly encouraging to see these results for our alumni and we hope this will inspire others to apply to our 2022 programme of courses. These craft courses are suitable for individuals with transferable skills or graduates who have completed their degrees but have yet to establish their careers in the industry. Apart from the Hair and Make-up course, no previous experience or formal training is required.”
The Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire courses are taught by craft specific tutors, alongside top-level industry practitioners, through a combination of practical training in person, one-to-one tutorials, masterclasses and mentoring. A work experience module is intended to be included in the programme, if COVID restrictions permit. CoSE:Y is delivered hand in hand with local industry partners, including ITV and ProVision in Leeds.
Prospective trainees should go to: https://www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/craftcourses for full application details and guidelines.
Applications have closed for the production assistant (scripted) course and on 14 March 2022 for all the other courses.