April Newsletter
Welcome to Screen Alliance Wales April Newsletter:
After another busy month here at SAW, we are pleased to bring you another round up of all our news and updates.
Firstly, if you haven’t done so already, we would like to encourage you to create a profile on our website (here). This is an incredible place to showcase any credits, skills, and links to previous work. It also keeps you up to date with all vacancies that we advertise and automatically signs you up to our newsletter. If you already have an account on our directory, do make sure to keep all your details updated with you most up to date information.
Vacancies:
As always, we would like to start off by highlighting all the opportunities that are currently available over on our vacancies page. This is regularly updated, so make sure to keep checking the page on our website here. With more roles available before, 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.
The following vacancies are available on our website:
Bad Wolf is currently seeking:
Production Runner
Production Coordinator
Assistant Production Coordinator
Facilities by ADF are currently seeking a Sustainability Officer
A HETV Drama are seeking:
Crowd Runner Trainee
Floor Runner Trainee
Production Trainee
Sound Trainee
Costume Trainee
Make Up Trainee
VFX Trainee
Art Department Trainee
Set Dec Assistant
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...
REAL SFX:
Real SFX have recently launched KIT4CREW, a new initiative supported by Bectu and CULT Cymru.
What is KIT4CREW?
It's a new way to make-use of unused, or unrequired workwear in a sustainable way, making professional workwear items available to crew who may need them.
How do I use it?
Some productions and studios are signed up and have KIT4CREW bins onsite where items can be donated - only for those working there though. Alternatively donations can be dropped to Real SFX HQ (weekdays 8-6.30pm).
All items donated must be clean and of good quality - this is a really important part of KIT4CREW to ensure we can make proper use of the items to crew who need them.
How do I request items?
If for whatever reason (could be you are starting out in the industry, or you are on a tight budget) you need workwear you can access KIT4CREW and log your request in a number of ways:
- scanning the QR code on the bin,
- emailing [email protected] or speak;
- or, speaking to a studio representative if you have a bin onsite.
What items can I donate or request?
New waterproof footwear (wellies)
Gloves (pairs) & hats
Thermal jackets
Waterproof clothing
Thick jumpers
New socks
Trousers, leggings etc…
Thermals
Gilets and any workwear outer clothing
We can't always guarantee we will have exactly what you need as we are dependent on donations but we will do our best and can log your request for the future.
It's really easy, and will go some way to make sure we are doing all we can to keep our industry sustainable, and making use of any surplus professional workwear we have. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch [email protected]
Bad Wolf:
A lot of exciting news for Bad Wolf this month. Firstly. Setting off with the highly anticipated Thriller ‘Red Eye’ premiered on ITV. The airline thriller has received rave reviews, and many are ready have booked their seats for the next episode.
If you missed out on the first episode, head over to ITVX to catch up!
Doctor Who is being joined by Varada Sethu (Andor,Jurassic World) alongside Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) on their adventures across time and space in Season 2, airing in 2025. Welcome to the Doctor Who Family, Varada!
News just in from 1918! The first look at ‘Dope Girls’ has just landed, and it looks great!
Dope Girls, set in 1918 follows a newly empowered generation of women who loath to simply return to the kitchen, and turn to Soho’s expanding illicit underground scene.
We’re excited for this one!
Congratulations to Bad Wolf on their nomination ‘Arts, Business & Diversity’ Award at the Arts & Business Cymru Awards 2024!
University of South Wales:
Congratulations to the USW Students on their win at this year’s RTS Cymru Awards!
USW students took home 5 wins that evening, starting with Animation, Factual Short, Craft Award Camera, Drama and Craft Award for Sound!
Facilities by ADF:
Developed by Facilities by ADF and Location One, the EcoBase system aims to provide production teams with an Eco-Friendly Unit Base that embraces resource conservation, waste reduction, renewable power integration, and sustainable water supply and wastewater treatments.
The system got its first proper outing on Sky Studios’ Mr Bigstuff, the Danny Dyer-starring comedy due for release in Spring 2024. Below, Mandy Cayford (Responsible Production Lead, Sky Studios), Crispin Hardy (MD, Location One), Olly Hatcher (Unit Manager, Mr Bigstuff) and Paul Jones (Facilities Captain, ADF) talk us through the first outing for the new EcoBase system, as well as the hope for a sustainable future for the industry.
Real SFX:
Green REAL SFX is a key part of the 2024 agenda, and we are doing all we can to reduce our footprint, and sustainable ways of working. Wherever we can we are making the changes and shifting how we do things - we have a Green Voltage e-generator, and encourage the use of HVO wherever possible by Productions. Travel mapping for all crew is just one of the other changes we’ve made, plus new ways of recycling and ongoing internal initiatives including training and education (ALBERT, Greenlancer). on top pf this we have signed up to Ecologi through our accounting system XERO, which includes the process of carbon mitigation using verified carbon credits, and some of our stats to dates include over the planting of over 600 trees, over 100 tonnes of CO2e avoided.
These are just a few of our initiatives, and all Green Policies will soon be updated on our website for more details of everything we are doing.
Dragon Fire and Water:
Our team has also been out delivering our bespoke Film and TV training packages for fire marshal and health and safety, which caters for small and large groups and can be delivered at any location at times to suit your schedules. Thank you to Severn Screen for having train their team for the upcoming production.
As winter came to a close it saw the end of an extremely busy period for our water heating and Recognising the importance of environmental impact we have, the Dragon Team has embarked on a journey to reduce emissions from their water heating equipment. Commissioning work on utilising alternative fuel sources and modifying the equipment in a proactive step towards meeting our sustainability pledges and ensuring operations align with eco-friendly principles.
Andrew and Ryan also paid a visit to Dragon Studios and saw first-hand the spectacular facilities on offer there - whilst taking advantage of the amazing backdrops for photos of the fleet for their new website which is being development. Thank you to Gareth and Lottie at Dragon Studios for having us along, we look forward to coming back to work on the productions which are currently filming there.
For all enquiries please contact our Cardiff Office on 02921 203221 or email [email protected]
RTS Cymru Wales:
The RTS Cymru Awards were back last month, and what a brilliant evening it was!
The Awards were held at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, celebrating the very best content made by students and industry professionals across the past year.
SAWs very own Allison Dowzell presented the award for Student ‘Best Drama’ to Aberystwyth University students, Paulina and Jordan for their piece ‘Woe’.
The evening saw Bad Wolf Crew members take home 2 awards, congratulations to Mair Vinning (The Winter King) for Production Manager (Drama) and to Iwan Roberts (Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road) for Location Manager.
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, a brilliant achievement!
For the full list of winners, head to:
Sgil Cymru:
PRENTISIAETH CRIW 24/25 APPRENTICESHIP GALW CWMNIAU CYNHYRCHU Os ydych chi’n chwilio am brentisiaid ar gyfer eich cynhyrchiad (mewn datblygiad/wedi’i cadarnhau) cysylltwch â Sgil Cymru am fwy o wybodaeth ar [email protected] neu 07843 779870 CALLING ALL PRODUCTION COMPANIES If you are looking for apprentices for your production (in development/confirmed) contact Sgil Cymru for more information on ar [email protected] or 07843 779870 SIOP UN STOP - ONE STOP SHOP CLWSTWR SGILIAU BFI I GYMRU Mae Sgil Cymru yn arwain Clwstwr Sgiliau BFI i Gymru – ‘Siop Un Stop’, mewn partneriaeth agos â Chymru Greadigol a Screen Alliance Wales (SAW). Bydd y Siop Un Stop yn derbyn cyllid ychwanegol gan Cymru Greadigol a BBC Studios, ac yn gweithio fel partneriaeth gydweithredol o ddarparwyr hyfforddiant, addysgwyr pellach ac uwch, a diwydiant, gan weithio gyda’i gilydd i ddarparu llwybrau clir, cydlynol a thryloyw i fynd i mewn neu i symud ymlaen o fewn y diwydiant sgrin. Bydd yn canolbwyntio ar ddarparu cyfleoedd i bawb sy’n cael eu tangynrychioli yn y sector ar hyn o bryd, ac yn ei gyfnod cychwynnol o ddwy flynedd bydd yn ceisio elwa ac ymgysylltu â dros 2000 o weithwyr. BFI SKILLS CLUSTER FOR WALES Sgil Cymru are leading the BFI Skill Cluster for Wales - 'One Stop Shop', in close partnership with Creative Wales and Screen Alliance Wales (SAW). The 'One Stop Shop' will receive additional funding from Creative Wales and BBC Studios, and work as a collaborative partnership of training providers, further and higher educators, and industry, working together to provide clear, coherent and transparent pathways to enter or progress within the screen industry. It will focus on providing opportunities for all those currently under-represented in the sector, and in its initial two year phase will seek to benefit and engage with over 2000 workers.
Premiering the Documentary:
We had the pleasure of inviting our friends from Cardiff Bay Warriors and Foundation 4 Sports Couching to our classroom for a premiere of Amira and Eleeza’s documentary ‘’Somali British Championship League: An Underdog Story’. As it was during the month of Ramadan, the boys and girls broke their fast here with us with an Iftar feast!
Creative Cities Convention:
Allison headed up to Bristol’s Creative Cities Convention this week to join Vicki Ball, Screen Skills, Camilia Chiverton, Plimsoll Productions and Helen Pratt, BBC Talent Agency for a panel talk on ‘Getting into the Industry’ where everyone on the panel shared their knowledge and experience with budding students at University of West England.
BFI Skills Cluster Initiative:
This month, we are very happy to share the news, that we alongside Sgil Cymru and Creative Wales is a key partner in the BFI Skills Cluster Initiative. Collaborative efforts like these are crucial for fostering talent and creating sustainable pathways into the film and TV industry. With dedication and collaboration, we're confident that the project will bring about significant success and benefit to Wales as a whole.
Don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date on all the latest news and vacancies.
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