What a brilliant day it has been at Screen Manchester as we invited 70 of the applicants for our Waterloo Road Production Development Trainee Schemes to our HQ at Space Studios Manchester. This was Training Day Number One and the final cohort will be chosen after today.
This follows the huge success of our previous similar schemes. Wall to Wall North and Rope Ladder Fiction in association with Screen Manchester have been on the search for applications from anyone keen to join the next 15 week paid programme, which starts next month.
The aim of the initiative is to provide on the job training in junior roles for the next generation of talent for the scripted broadcast drama sector. It offers hands-on experience designed to build skills by directly working on this Greater Manchester-based prime-time production.
Today was all about finding the final seven to occupy roles in the following departments:
- Costume
- Hair and Makeup.
- Art
- Assistant Directors –
- Camera
- Sound
- Props
Rope Ladder Fiction’s founder Cameron Roach says: ‘We’re thrilled to work with our partners at Screen Manchester and invest in a further cohort of trainees at Waterloo Road. It’s been incredibly energising to see the trainees go on and secure work elsewhere in the sector, and we really feel the benefit of a long-term investment in content and talent in the region’.
Elli Metcalfe, Screen Manchester’s Crew and Facilities Manager says: “It is always wonderful to meet and then watch the progress of all our trainees who are thriving and already finding their way into the industry across a range of departments. Our aim is to supply the talent pipeline in the North and keep it flowing in a positive direction. Waterloo Road is helping us to achieve precisely that and we are so grateful to the team there for their unbridled access and support as are our trainees who appreciate this hands-on and practical approach which sits central to all our training. Access is everything!””
The Waterloo Road Production Development Scheme is made possible with the support and assistance of Screen Manchester, part of the BFI and National Lottery funded Screen Alliance North.