Kudos Knight and Mama Youth Project have teamed up for a drama ‘bootcamp’ to train up 12 people from the West Midlands across all areas of production.
The four-week scheme, to be delivered this August by Mama Youth in partnership with Birmingham Film Academy, is open to anyone aged 18 and above in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
In line with Mama Youth’s mission statement, it is primarily for people from under-represented or challenging backgrounds, and those with limited educational or employment opportunities.
The scheme will offer training in areas such as casting, location management and talent management, and technical skills in sound, art, hair and make-up.
Led by Mama Youth’s production arm Lickelmor Productions, participants will work independently and in teams, culminating in the production of a short film written by Peaky Blinders and This Town creator Steven Knight, shot in and around his Digbeth Loc. Studios.
They will also be able to access professional support, mentoring and potential employment as Mama Youth alumni.
The scheme is the first major training investment from Kudos Knight, the partnership set up in 2022 between the Banijay production company and the screenwriter to galvanise the region. It builds on their recent collaboration on This Town (pictured).
“It is still very difficult for young people from under-represented communities to forge a career in television, especially scripted production, and it is even harder for those outside of London,” said Mama Youth Project chief executive Bob Clarke.
“The wraparound support required to nurture new talent with challenges is so important and companies creating content cannot do this work on their own.”
Knight added: “The leap into TV scripted television can seem daunting. It’s our job to show talented people that it’s not a leap in the dark and if you’re good enough there’s a real career to be had. This initiative is for all generations of West Midlanders who have a passion for storytelling.”
Applications are now open and run until 18 July, with the scheme due to kick off on 12 August.
For more details, click here
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