A new scheme has been set up to address diversity in the screen industries.
Beyond Brontës has been established by Screen Yorkshire and the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and will offer support to young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and circumstances to overcome obstacles that may be facing barriers that have traditionally prevented them from entering the screen industries.
“The screen industries are one of the least diverse sectors in the UK. This is in spite of a desire to be more representative of the population as a whole,” explained Sam Fray, ‘Beyond Brontës’ Programme Manager at Screen Yorkshire.
“Whilst there is strong interest in the film & TV production sector amongst our region’s young people, representation by ethnic minorities and those from working class communities remains very low. ‘Beyond Brontës’ aims to address this by supporting young people to develop the skills, confidence and connections to succeed in the screen industries.’’
Applications are open to individuals aged 18-24 that live in the Leeds City Region area until 03 June.
“The ‘Beyond Brontës’ programme is a great example of the collaboration that is already underway between Channel 4 and partners in the region as we look to establish our new National HQ in Leeds later this year,” added Laura Boswell, 4Talent, Channel 4.
“We’re delighted to be working with Screen Yorkshire and Bradford Metropolitan District Council to create high-quality opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to begin their careers in the TV industry, which is a top priority for Channel 4. This initiative will support the region in developing a strong grassroots pipeline of talent, which will become a huge asset to the local production industry in the future.”
Some of the disciplines on offer will be make-up, set design, accountancy, editing and research.
