Welcome to the Screen Alliance Wales’ August Newsletter! We’ve had a great month this August and are so excited to be able to share all our news (and news from our sponsors and supporters) with you all!

We are thrilled to announce that our brand new showreel has been launched and can be viewed here. A lot of hard work has gone into the fabulous showreel, and we are delighted that we can finally share it with the world. A huge thank you to our former alumni who took the time to talk about how they started with us, and a big thanks to Tony and John from JM Creative who have created a truly spectacular video. We are so pleased to watch our SAW family going from strength to strength and progressing in their careers. This showreel is a celebration of their achievements and demonstrates how hard work, tenacity and determination can lead to amazing things.

We invited several special guests to the grand unveiling of our brand-new showreel. We provided a feast fit for kings (as you can see) and everyone got the chance to view the showreel which we are very proud of. The screening went without a hitch and even the weather stayed bright for us!

Vacancies

We have many opportunities currently available over on or vacancies page. This is regularly updated, so make sure to keep checking the page on our website. Now is such a great time to explore the varied roles that are on offer to join the booming Film and TV industry in Wales.

·     Bad Wolf are looking for an Office Administrator

·      Boom Cymru are seeking an Edit Producer and a Casting Producer

·      Boom Social are currently looking for an Editor.

·      Painting Practice have extended the closing date for applications for the below roles a Producer, a Production Manager and a Production Co-ordinator

·     Gorilla are looking for a Booking Coordinator in Post Production

·     Wales Millennium Centre are seeking an Assistant Producer, a Technical Apprentice, Apprentices & Training Assistant Producer and Casual Stage Technicians

·     Real SFX require a Production Manager

Careers Café - This month we welcomed Angela Clarke as our special guest for August’s Careers Café. Angela has been working in the world of documentaries for nearly twenty years, giving her opportunities to go all over the world and meet with a wide range of interesting and fascinating people. In 2019 she founded ‘Wheest Films’, an independent Welsh-based production company that focuses on creating thought provoking and evocative documentaries. To read more about Wheesht films, click here.

At our 10th Careers Café, Angela discussed her wealth of knowledge from the world of Directing and Producing documentaries and went into detail about the processes involved with creating this type of content. She discussed her background in medical ethics before moving on to work in documentaries, an area she has always loved and wanted to work in.

In order to get into this area of work, she suggested doing your research on production companies that create the type of documentaries that you enjoy then tailor your CV and cover letter for each role you apply for, demonstrating your keenness and knowledge for that specific company. She also recommended experiencing roles in other departments, giving you a more rounded idea of all the different areas within a production. Work experience is also a great way of getting an idea of the kind of work different departments do, whilst giving you an idea of the type of work environment you will be working in.

A huge thank you to Angela who took the time out to talk with us. Make sure to sign up to our 11th Cafe when Screen Alliance Wales’ very own Rhys Bebb will be discussing the structure of a production. This is a MUST for anyone looking for a career in this field, as a basic understanding of how a production works is vital for any role in TV and Film, so do make sure to come along.

Sponsors and Supporters

The work we carry out is only made possible by the fantastic contributions from our wonderful Sponsors and Supporters. Here’s what they have been up to this month…

Bad Wolf – There is so much exciting news coming from Bad Wolf! Not only is filming for His Dark Materials season 3 storming ahead, but the company have several exciting events coming up. On the 25th of August, Lin-Manuel Miranda will be interviewed by Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter as part of the Edinburgh TV Festival (for more information see below).

University of South Wales are incredibly excited soon be welcoming all their new students for this September. We wish all the future first years the best of luck with their university journey. We know you’re all going to do brilliantly.

S4C have several roles being advertised at the company. They are looking for a Social Media Officer (deadline 25-8-21), Director of Content (deadline 06-09-21) and Junior Finance Clerk (deadline 31-8-21).

Mae S4C yn recriwitio am Swyddog Cyfryngau Cymdeithasol (dyddiad cau 25-8 21), Cyfarwyddwr Cynnwys (dyddiad cau 06-09-21) a Chlerc Cyllid Iau (dyddiad cau 31-8-21).

Facilities by ADF are proud to continue their sponsorship with Tondu FC for another year, teaming up with ITCS who recycle previous season playing kits by shipping them to Manenberg High School (Cape Town).

Panalux are still the leading lighting rental company for a multitude of productions for both Film and Television shows. They have recently announced a new LED soft light “…which is capable of producing a broad, even spectrum of white light with full green/magenta control”. To see this and all the other equipment they offer, visit their website here.

4Wood are still incredibly busy constructing world class sets for high-end productions across Wales. They have announced that ‘Sex Education’ Season 3 will be on Netflix from the 17th of September, with their amazing sets providing the show with a unique quirkiness that has made it one of the most popular shows around. 4Wood also regularly post behind the scenes exclusive snaps on their social media so follow them @4woodtvandfilm on Twitter to see some of their amazing creations.

BAFTA Cymru are incredibly excited to announce that the nominations for the BAFTA Cymru Awards will be announced on Tuesday 7 September via their website and social media channels. Make sure to follow them on social media to stay up to date on all the latest information about the awards.

Coleg y Cymoedd in the classroom – At long last, we were finally able to invite guests back into our classroom this month. Students from Coleg y Cymoedd were invited to a talk with the brilliant Props Art Director, Michael van Kesteren, who is currently working on the 3rd series of His Dark Materials and the mastermind behind the design of some the show’s most unforgettable props: including Lyra’s Alethiometer and the Subtle Knife. All the students had a wonderful time, and we are so thrilled that our brilliant classroom is back in use once again. We cannot wait to receive more guests over the next few months, showing people the amazing work that goes on here at Wolf Studios Wales.

Lin-Manuel event with Jane Tranter – Creating Pathways for the Next Generation - We are thrilled to be bringing you an amazing event that will be taking place at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday the 25th of August. Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter will be sitting down with the incredibly talented Lin-Manuel Miranda to discuss the future of the industry, and the importance of supporting the next generation of talent. Miranda will be discussing his journey in the industry, and his passion for creating pathways for new, vibrant and exciting voices.

The ‘His Dark Materials’ star will also be answering questions directly from emerging creatives from Screen Alliance Wales, the TV Foundations talent scheme and more. Make sure to get you ticket for the event, it really is one not to miss!

Pen-Y-Bryn resources – The fantastic team at Swansea’s Pen y Bryn school have partnered with us in creating some brand-new learning resources for educators in Wales. There are a number of resources that are available including Production Design Skills, Film Skills, Costume Skills, and Special Effects. Each of these packs contains lesson plans with suggested time limits and a breakdown of equipment needed for each session. The guides are extremely easy to navigate and simply require a device that can scan QR codes. A huge thank you to James from Pen-y-Bryn for putting these lesson plans together- they really are great! All these resources are free to use and can be found on the ‘Education’ section of our website here, so make sure to check them out! We jump at every chance to work with Pen-y-Bryn and are so pleased to be able to call them one of our closest supporters. To read more about the amazing work Ysgol Pen y Bryn does, please visit their website here.

Women in film - Screenwriter and award-winning filmmaker Jeda Cacioli is hoping to start a small writer's group in Swansea/Cardiff. She is looking to connect with 3-4 female/female-identifying screenwriters to discuss ideas and help each other progress in our careers. It would be online to start with and be monthly so that we can see if we are the right fit. All ideas, genres and styles are welcome. If you are interested, please email Jeda with a short bio and why you would like to be involved. Her email is [email protected].

Lastly, we would love to encourage you to explore our brand new ‘Events Page’ where you can promote any upcoming events to our network. It is free to use, and a fantastic resource so do make sure to check it out!

Don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date on all the latest news and vacancies. 

Twitter: @ScreenAllianceW /@SAWeducation

Instagram & Facebook: @ScreenAllianceWales

LinkedIn: @Screen Alliance Wales