Skillset is giving 60 trainee-level film crew a unique opportunity to gain experience on major UK film productions through the new Film Craft and Technical Trainee Placement Scheme.

The Skillset-funded scheme will give trainees the chance to develop their skills and cultivate strong networks within the industry by placing them on film productions for between four to 18 weeks at a time. The scheme is being delivered by the Ealing Institute of Media and will be integrated into the Skillset Craft and Technical Academy when it is established in early 2011.

Skillset’s director of film, Neil Peplow, said: “This £150,000 programme is an integral part of Skillset’s A Bigger Future 2 strategy for raising skill levels in the UK film industry. When we devised the strategy last year, we made it one of our key aims to build up the depth of talent in priority areas such as craft and technical. We are confident that this scheme will do just that.”

Skillset is seeking up to ten trainees in the following seven categories:

Camera/lighting
Wardrobe
Hair and make-up
Editing
Animation
Runners
Grips

To be eligible for this scheme trainees must have either worked in the film industry for less than 12 months, or have graduated from a Skillset Film, Media or Screen Academy or completed a Skillset-supported New Entrant training programme in the past 18 months.

All productions who have access to the trainees will be contributors to the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), which is a training levy on films wholly or partially produced in the UK that is used to directly support the next generation of filmmaking talent through programmes such as this.

Skillset is working to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to move onwards and upwards in the UK film industry. The Film Craft and Technical Scheme aims to nurture and develop new talent from diverse backgrounds so that the best people, regardless of background or situation, can establish a career in the UK Film industry.

Trainee applications for the scheme open on Tuesday 2 November. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 31^st January. To apply for a place on the Film Craft and Technical Trainee Placement Scheme, or for more information, please visit: http://skillset.org/film/training_and_events/article_8080_1.asp

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