November Newsletter
Welcome to Screen Alliance Wales November 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:
A Local HETV Studio are seeking a Facilities Manager
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:
A crazy month for Bad Wolf as they celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the iconic time lord, Doctor Who, with a special celebration at The Pierhead with Russell T Davies and Jane Tranter. But the fun doesn’t stop there! RTS held a special screening and panel at Chapter with Jane Tranter and Russell T Davies and our SAW trainees currently placed on the series. It was brilliant to see Abdoul Ceesay and Luke Smith take the stage to speak on their experience with working on production.
The first episode of the 60th Anniversary Specials for Doctor Who aired on Saturday 25th, and what an episode it was! A perfect introduction to Jane, Julie, and Russell back together with the iconic duo The Doctor and Donna. We can’t wait for the next episode to air.
Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls, Bridgeton) has joined the cast of Doctor Who this month, and we’re beyond excited to see how her character adds to the series!
A very special episode of Doctor Who premiered on BBC Children in Need this month, with David Tennant returning as the 14th Doctor, alongside massive talent Mawaan Rizwan.
The Winter King and Bafta Cymru held a screening and Q&A with the cast this month, it was amazing to hear from the lead cast and producer, Catrin Lewis Defis hosted by Jane Tranter. The first episode was amazing, but you’ll have to wait until December 21st to view it. Keep your eyes peeled on ITVX.
Let Bad Wolf take you back to the 1920’s with their new production Dope Girls. Filming has begun and the incredible cast has been announced. We can’t wait to see this one hit BBC iPlayer.
RTS Cymru Wales
Join RTS Cymru Wales as they host The Winter King: Panel Event at USW Atrium on 7th December.
So come down and have a first look at the 1st episode of Bad Wolf’s The Winter King and hear from some of the HOD’s and Executives for the show, and even a special appearance from cast member Emily John, who plays Ceinwyn.Tickets are free, so make sure to book your spot before they sell out!
Entertainment Partners:
Join us for a special presentation at FOCUS on Tuesday December 5, where FLB Accountants' incentives experts Sam Collett and Lloyd Gunton, and their special guests, will discuss how to maximise the value of both the current and incoming UK production incentives. They’ll cover the Cultural Test, qualifying expenditure, effective production structuring (including foreign incentives) and more.
4WOOD TV and Film
4Wood was behind the sets for the BBC’s Doctor Who 60th anniversary episodes. The highly anticipated three-part series premiered on Saturday night with The Star Beast featuring the almighty Meep Ship built by 4Wood in their facility in Cardiff.
The massive creation required the use of many different specialist set construction skills including metal fabrication, carpentry, model making and the use of a robotic arm. Creating the effect of the crash site and concrete rubble was finessed by 4Wood’s expert scenic finishers.
4Wood were the main set construction team who worked on this series of Doctor Who. Their creations will also be on display across the following two episodes, including the Tardis, another huge set build.
James Thorne, Creative Director, 4Wood said: “Being asked to build the sets for the 60th anniversary series of Doctor Who has been a real source of pride and a rewarding creative challenge for all of us at 4Wood.”
Thorne continued: “The Meep Ship is unlike anything that we have built before. This is the fun part of set construction, finding ways to create brand new worlds. There is no reference for these in reality and definitely no manual. It takes the expertise from across all the different skills in our team to build a believable set, which also works practicality for all the mechanics of a large-scale TV production.”
The 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who feature the return of the 14th Doctor, David Tennant and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. The series continues for another two episodes: Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle.
Writer and Executive Producer Russell.T.Davies had this to say about the Tardis "The Tardis is a masterpiece. I know nothing about engineering or architecture, but I know that’s a miracle of both - its design and construction are giddying. It literally impresses everyone who sees it, and inspires directors to go further. It is, quite simply, a thing of beauty. And, I guess, an awful lot of work! Which has paid off. Congratulations to 4Wood, it’s magnificent."
Painting Practice
After nearly two years of hard work and sealed lips, we were thrilled by the release of The Star Beast last week - the first of three epic Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials. Following the success of BBC's His Dark Materials, we were once again entrusted by Bad Wolf, to deliver end-to-end design for this exciting new chapter. Working closely with the show's Production Designer Phil Sims, and the wider production team, we helped design many of the episode's key characters, environments and sequences through our blend of visual development, previs and motion graphics.
Across the entire process, we were delighted to take on board work shadowing placements in our Cardiff studio, aiding the immense outreach work undertaken by the Screen Alliance Wales team. We want to thank all of the amazing placements and hope the time spent with us has inspired long and successful careers in VFX!"
Facilities by ADF
Fuel Project Study 2023 Official
ADF and Location One have participated in an inaugural study focused on improving decarbonisation information for the industry, bringing together film agencies, sustainability consultants, academia, suppliers, producers, broadcasters, streamers and major studios. This is one of the largest sustainability studies of our industry, focusing on our collective vehicle and mobile power (generator) fleets. The study is looking at creating a picture of London’s audiovisual sector’s vehicle and mobile power footprint and a pathway to decarbonisation.
The two key goals of the study are to:
• Build the most reliable carbon footprint to date for all of London’s audiovisual sector’s (film, TV, music video, commercials etc) road transport and mobile power (generator) emissions.
• Create a just and equitable decarbonisation pathway for London’s audiovisual suppliers’ (i.e. caterers, facilities, set build, camera rental, lighting, etc) road transport and mobile power fleets.
The study is being run by Film London (NFP) and Creative Zero (collaborative consultancy organisation) and results will shared with us and the wider industry early in the new year.
Facilities By ADF had a wonderful day at the @WeAreALBERT Production Summit in Cardiff. Great insight to what the industry is currently doing & what the next steps are. The industry is changing and we are happy to be apart of it. @ffilmcymruwales @mediacymru @cymrugreadigol @baftacymru 🌱♻️🌏
Facilities by ADF CEO Marsden Proctor talks about the concept of the "eco base", but the need to factor this in with production execs so can build them into budgets; importance of fuel, waste & grey water data-gathering to pass learning on to future productions.
Cardiff Commitment
St Mary the Virgin/Passport to the City:
Learners at St Mary the Virgin CiW Primary have collaborated with the Cardiff Curriculum Team, Passport to the City and Buffoon Media to produce their own film this term. With support from Arts Council Wales funding the editing and camera workshops, this really was a brilliant opportunity. Learning camera skills, animation and editing, the Year 3s have produced a film with a powerful message. They wanted to encourage the Butetown community to explore what Cardiff as a city has to offer their community and have created a brilliant short film that does just that.
Thanks to partners at Into Film Cymru and BBC Studios there will be an exciting premiere for learners, families and VIPs at the Porth Teigr Studios. With workshops and a studio tour to prepare them for their futures in the industry!
Kitchener Primary/Documenting our Diversity
Cardiff film-maker Liana Stewart, the visionary behind Black and Welsh a film documenting shared experiences of what it means to be black and Welsh has been sharing her expertise with the next generation of film-makers. Learners at Kitchener Primary, Canton were given lucky enough to learn from Liana before setting off on producing their own documentary celebrating their diverse community. Keep an eye out for their film coming soon!
We’re FINALISTS!
Very exciting news for Team SAW this month, as we’ve been shortlisted in the Production Guild’s The Duke of Edinburgh Film & TV Inclusion Award 2024’ We’re beyond excited, and grateful to receive this nomination and look forward to attending the Awards in February.
Congratulation to all the other nominees for their hard work throughout the year.
To read the full press report please head to: bit.ly/4127dUo
We’re attending FOCUS 2023
We are heading down to London for this year’s FOCUS 2023 event at Business Centre London on Dec 5th and 6th. We’ll be working alongside some of the best Welsh TV/Film industry companies such as, 4WOOD TV and Film, Dragon Studios, Aria Film Studios, Compass Travel Management and Creative Wales.
This is an excellent opportunity for us to shine a light on all the incredible opportunities the Welsh industry has to offer.
Wales Screen Academies Launch and SAW Awards
Next month, we are officially launching the Wales Screen Academies and hosting the Screen Alliance Wales 1st ever awards night. We’re excited to share more about the event in the next coming weeks.
Rhys speaks at the Albert Production Summit
Rhys was invited to speak on the panel ‘Skills of the Future’ at the Albert Summit this month. Rhys spoke about the importance of sustainability and how to ensure the workforce reflects the communities in which it is based.
Our good friends Lee from Wolf Studios Wales and Mardsen from Facilities by ADF also spoke on a panel, and of course did an excellent job.
It’s great to see such steps being taken to ensure the future of our planet within the industry.
Farewell Wolfpack
A bittersweet moment this month as we said a farewell to our Wolf Pack Zelo and Nenet. It’s been a pleasure to see their growth over the past 6 months, but it’s hard to say goodbye. We wish them all the very best in their future careers and are very pleased to be a small part in their journey.
Careers Wales Valued Partner Awards.
An unfortunate outcome for our Rhys, as he missed out on taking home the award at the Careers Wales Valued Partner Awards. We would like to congratulate all the winners for their awards, and a big well done to all those nominated for their hard work throughout the year.
Don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date on all the latest news and vacancies.
Twitter (X): @ScreenAllianceW
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