Focus on new careers at Get Into TV event in North Shields Cultural Quarter
Job opportunities in the North East film and TV sectors were brought into focus at a free North Shields Cultural Quarter event.
45 people signed up to network with industry experts at the Exchange 1856 on 16 April.
The Cultural Quarter is part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plans for North Shields, enhancing and growing the creative economy, with funding from North of Tyne Combined Authority.
There was a presentation from North East Screen, the region’s screen agency, who are committed to growing the screen sector in the North East, boosting the regional economy and making the North East a place where people can live, work and create world-class content for global audiences.
North East Screen Skills Manager Lisa Davidson told the audience that local job opportunities are expected to double in the next year alone, with its Crew Academy helping people from all backgrounds find a foothold.
She talked about the many screen productions made in the North East including ITV’s Vera, Alibi’s The Red King, BBC’s Boat Story, CBBC’s The Dumping Ground, movies including 1917, Dungeons and Dragons, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and factual programmes such as Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, Charlotte in Sunderland and Angels of the North.
Lisa said: “I’m passionate about getting out across the North East to encourage people to have the confidence and the knowledge to work in the film and TV industry. It doesn’t matter what your background is, there will be a pathway if you have a spark and want to get out there and learn new skills.
“We do find that people are nervous and feel they can’t do it, but they really can. At North East Screen we provide free bootcamps, masterclasses, workshops, careers events, on-set open days and shadow placements through our bespoke skills development pathway.
“We offer advice on how to get your foot in the door of the industry and how best to get your career started. We also support production companies recruiting people from the North East who are new to the industry, providing them with training opportunities across the duration of a production.”
More opportunities were presented by Claire Wilson from ITV Signpost Productions. Based in Gateshead, it has a training programme called Making Creativity Works which encourages people who are deaf, disabled or neurodivergent into the screen industry.
Claire said: “We’re very much about putting diversity into the production sector. It can be difficult to bring people from these diverse backgrounds on board because they don’t feel the industry is for them.
“We come to events like this which are invaluable for us, getting out and about in the region and asking people to be part of our training programme. It’s all free as long as you have an NE postcode. It’s 100 hours, you don’t need any experience whatsoever. You’ll be learning camera skills, edit skills, how to work as part of a team and finding creative pathways into the industry.”
Crew Gal, a working tech crew from North Shields, were at Get Into TV to offer information about the free, six-week skills bootcamps from Susan French Events.
These are designed to prepare people for work in all areas of live events and creative industries tech, with guaranteed job interviews and help establishing contacts.
The courses include tutorials in drum and guitar tech, sound engineering, tour management, festival power, local crew work, pyrotechnics, lighting, music photography and more.
Susan French said: “We’ve had a really exciting couple of years working with local people to upskill them in film, TV, music and theatre production, getting them employed and building a localised workforce. It’s funded by Skills for Life, North of Tyne Combined Authority and the Department for Education.
“As long as you’re dedicated to it there’s no reason why it couldn’t be you, on the road, tour-managing a really excellent band and living the dream. Those opportunities are here in the North East, there’s no need to move away. We’ll be there to train you up and put you in front of the right people who can offer real workplace opportunities.
“We want to make people aware that this industry isn’t something that’s scary, it is accessible, you can work in it. The creative industries in the North East are growing rapidly and there are more opportunities than ever before.”
Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and cabinet member responsible for Regeneration, Economic Development and Culture said: “The creative economy in North Tyneside is going from strength to strength and the TV and screen industries are no exception.
“North Tyneside Council is proud to be one of the partners behind North East Screen, helping to ensure that local talent is trained up to work in this exciting sector, and getting our borough’s stunning locations featured in TV and film.
“Seeing creative businesses based in North Shields spearheading this kind of training is exciting and inspiring. North Shields Cultural Quarter will continue to support their work, as part of its aims to grow the creative economy of North Shields to help regenerate the town centre.”