Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Pinewood support Second Light talent scheme

27-Feb-2010 • Bond News

Press Release - Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and First Light are delighted to host the launch of a brand new talent development scheme for young people of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds across the UK entitled Second Light.

The programme has been created by Pinewood's nominated charity First Light, a leading nationwide initiative enabling disadvantaged young people throughout the UK to realise their creative potential through filmmaking. Originally the brainchild of filmmaker Sir Alan Parker and now chaired by James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, First Light has helped almost 30,000 young people between the ages of five and 19 to write, act, shoot, produce, edit and screen more than one thousand films and hundreds of media projects since launching in May 2001. These films are funded by National Lottery cash through the UK Film Council and as well as via its Mediabox programmes on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Building on First Light's excellent connections within the film and broadcast industry, Second Light is a new, guided training scheme supporting 30 talented young people from BME backgrounds seeking careers in the film industry. Funded by Skillset and the UK Film Council with the support of Pinewood Studios, BAFTA, the Cultural Diversity Network, Framestore and PACT as well as other prominent industry partners, Second Light will provide these young people with bespoke training, work placements and mentor support over a sustained period of 15 months.

The scheme launches with the thirty participants aged 18-23 from Glasgow, Bristol and London taking a tour of one of the world's most iconic film studios and gaining exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to some of the most prolific film sets.

Pinewood is further endorsing the scheme by offering industry placements to its participants at the end of the training period in film and television post production.

In helping these young participants realise their potential, Second Light will contribute to the UK film industry's endeavours to broaden the diversity of its workforce and change perceptions about barriers to entry.

Second Light is being managed by First Light in partnership with three delivery organisations; The Video College (London), the Glasgow Media Access Centre and Calling the Shots Films (Bristol).

Pinewood's CEO Ivan Dunleavy comments "As a cornerstone of the UK's film and TV industry, educating the next generation of creatives forms part of Pinewood's legacy. Second Light helps us achieve this whilst breaking down the barriers of this traditionally exclusive industry. I'm very proud that Pinewood is able to assist in teaching filmmaking skills to youngsters from a diverse array of backgrounds through such positive and proactive initiatives."

Barbara Broccoli adds, "The success of the British industry is dependent on the talent and skills of people both in front of and behind the camera. Second Light offers young people from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to work with industry professionals and realise that a career in filmmaking is within their reach."

Dinah Caine, Skillset's CEO comments, "We're delighted to be supporting this pilot scheme of Second Light - it's a fantastic start for these young people across the UK to gain skills, knowledge and hands-on experience in production. One of our key aims is to develop and nurture talent from under-represented groups and give them access to opportunities they might not otherwise have. Opening up the industry to a wider, diverse pool of talent is not only beneficial for the filmmakers but also strengthens the industry as a whole."

Second Light participant Raisah Ahmed shares "From the age of eleven I've been writing stories and plotting scenes in my head, I've always considered myself a storyteller. Having studied literature at university, I strengthened my writing skills, and gained invaluable knowledge on the world outside of the cultural bubble I felt I was brought up in. My main goals for this apprenticeship are to learn as much of the film production process as possible, to experience first hand how ideas go from thoughts or brainstorming to a final product. The three main areas I aim to focus on are Script Writing (with a focus on the production of ideas), the production process and directing."

Second Light participant Corina Skerritt adds "I want to do the scheme because it's an amazing opportunity, I want to be the best and what better way to do that than to be trained by the best. This would be an opportunity for me to spend a year doing what I absolutely love as well as feeding my thirst for learning. I'd of course like to get a job at the end of the scheme but more importantly I'd like to meet people as passionate about film as I am so when I come to make my own films I'll have a group of talented people that I know and trust to help me".