Leading Lights Offer Students a Taste of Their TV and Film Careers

Make-up artists and filmmakers have offered a glimpse of their careers to inspire our next generation of talent.

Students from Hurworth Academy, Stockton Riverside College and Prior Pursglove College, Stockton, all got a taste of opportunities available in the TV and Screen industry in our region with the help of some of the Tees Valley’s leading lights.

The TV and Screen Industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in our region and the workshops were arranged as part of Creative Careers Week 2024 with the help of the Tees Valley Careers Hub.

Adam Bouabda, from Sea & Sky Pictures, visited Hurworth and hosted sessions to inspire students and giving them an insight into the day-to-day life in the industry.

Caroline Broome, a live broadcast events Floor Manager, spoke to media students at Prior Pursglove College about her career pathway and skills necessary to succeed.

And Laura Tallentire, a Make-up artist/Supervisor & Prosthetics specialist for Film, TV, Commercials, hosted students from Stockton Riverside College about her career pathway, tops tips from the industry, and she also delivered a practical session to offer hands-on experience.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’re fast becoming a go-to place for the film and TV industry.

“We’re committing money to Hartlepool, in particular, through the development corporation to supercharge the town centre, build on the success of the Northern Studios, and provide the facilities needed to keep our brilliant creative talent here in the region.

“Sessions like these are absolutely vital in letting our young people know you can stay local in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and go far.”

An online event in partnership with NECA and North East Screen also helped provide an update on current and future opportunities across the wider region.

Freelancers who supported the online webinar included Ashmita Randhawa, from Proto, Jake Hobbs – a freelance Boom Operator, and Jay Finlayson – a freelance location manager.

It comes as the £11.4million North East Screen Industries Partnership, backed by £4.5million from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, delvers more successes through North East Screen.

It was set up to capitalise on the BBC’s commitment to invest £25million in the region to help fund TV production and talent development across the region’s creative sectors.

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director at North East Screen, said: “It’s great to see a number of our talented regional-based crew passing on skills and tips to the next generation.

“We are working strategically across the North with our Screen Alliance North partners to ensure we have sustainable pipelines to industry. We work with productions and crew to identify skills gaps and create bespoke programmes to address these, providing more opportunities to people over 18 looking to get into the screen industries.

“With production increasing by 89% over the past two years, the North East is a rapidly becoming the best place to live, work and create content for international audiences.”