October Newsletter
Welcome to Screen Alliance Wales October 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:
Wales Millennium Centre are seeking:
Sales and Purchase Ledger Clerk
Bartender
BBC Studios have Upskilling Opportunities
A Binocular Production for Sky are seeking:
Director's Assistant
2nd AD
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...
Vocal Histories from Wales:
We are pleased to announce, that Screen Alliance Wales has Secured Creative Skills Fund Grant to Nurture Talent and Diversity in Welsh Creative Industries. The upcoming project 'Vocal Histories of Wales' will build on the current work within South East Wales and expand across Wales.
SAW’s project, ‘Vocal Histories from Wales’, will build on its extensive work in South East Wales and expand to reach communities across the entirety of Wales. This programme is designed to address the diversity and inclusion gap within the TV and film industry, providing underrepresented voices with a platform to share their stories and shape the narratives about their own communities.
Are you interested in Documentaries? Want to learn more about the documentary world? Are you interested in Directing or being a Camera Assistant, Sound Assistant or Edit Assistant? Then look no further! We're crewing up for the 'Vocal Histories from Wales' and we want to hear from YOU!
If you're interested in finding out more, please email [email protected]
Bad Wolf:
A massive congratulations to the team at Bad Wolf, as Julie Gardner and Ncuti Gatwa both took home an award at this year’s BAFTA Cymru. Julie Gardner, co-founder at Bad Wolf was awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Television’ for her incredible work towards the Welsh TV industry. Ncuti Gatwa took home the ‘Actor’ award for Doctor Who.
Exciting news from Bad Wolf, as they announce an upcoming production ‘The Other Bennet Sister’, based off Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice overlooked sister ‘Mary Bennet’. The Other Bennet Sister is a 10x30 Drama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Industry Season 3 landed on to BBC iPlayer, and the reviews have been incredible! If you are looking for an addictive drama to binge watch, we’d highly recommend logging into BBC iPlayer and giving it a go!
You can watch all 3 series of Industry on BBC iPlayer now.
Facilities by ADF:
At Location One we now run all our vehicles exclusively on renewable HVO!
We now run our vehicles exclusively on Renewable HVO. This means we’ve ended our direct use of fossil-fuel diesel and have massively reduced our vehicle running emissions, saving over 500 tonnes of CO2e annually. There are powerful direct benefits for your production and the UK Film Industry too. Not only will our shift automatically reduce your production’s Scope 3 emissions for upstream transportation, but the increased capacity of our fuel tanks at each of our 7 depots means facility and production vehicles can now swing by any time to refuel.
We can even install a temporary HVO tank on site for your production, and it goes without saying that we’ll continue to deliver HVO to unit base, location and studio.
https://locationone.co.uk/renewable-hvo-were-exclusive/
Dragon Fire and Water: Exciting Developments at Dragon Fire and Water It’s been a bustling start to the winter season here at Dragon Fire and Water as we continue to deliver high end health and safety services across the Film and TV industry in Wales and the South West. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to and some exciting news about our expanding services. Empowering Future Production Managers Andrew Hearne, our Director of Operations, recently had the pleasure of speaking to future Production Managers on a course facilitated by Screen Alliance Wales. Andrew shared invaluable insights on managing health and safety on set, offering practical advice and expert knowledge that will serve these emerging professionals as they navigate the dynamic demands of production. This engagement reflects our commitment to educating the next generation of industry leaders in safety best practices. Water Safety and Camera Boats in Beautiful North Wales While our primary focus is often on comprehensive health and safety, did you know we also specialize in water safety and camera boats? Recently, our team provided these services in some of North Wales' most stunning locations, ensuring safe, smooth shoots for productions navigating challenging aquatic environments. This lesser-known capability has allowed us to work in breathtaking settings while safeguarding both cast and crew in unique conditions. Dragon Fire and Water Training Expansion We’re thrilled to announce that our training arm is growing! The Dragon Fire and Water training courses have now been accredited by Screen Skills, a significant endorsement that will strengthen our commitment to delivering high-standard training for industry professionals. With two accredited courses currently available, we plan to roll out several more by the new year, expanding the suite of safety skills we can offer our colleagues across Film and TV. Let’s Work Together If your production requires professional health and safety services—from fire and water safety and camera boats to accredited training—don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team at Dragon Fire and Water is here to support your needs with expertise and dedication. Contact us at [email protected] or through our Cardiff office at 02921 203221. Here’s to safe, successful, and inspiring productions ahead!
Real SFX:
Industry roundtables on AI, Innovation & Apprenticeships
We’ve recent been involved in two key industry roundtables, with our company director, Carmela joining a discussion with Wales Business Insider, focusing on AI and innovation, where she shared insights on how Real SFX stays ahead in the ever-evolving SFX landscape. Her input shed light on the ways we embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovations to deliver our unique, high-quality physical special effects.
She also took part in a roundtable hosted by Bristol Creative Industries on apprenticeships in the creative sector, where she discussed the vital role of hands-on experience and mentorship. Real SFX is committed to nurturing new talent, and our apprenticeship programs continue to provide aspiring professionals with the skills they need to succeed in the field of physical special effects.
KIT4CREW needs Winter wear donations
As winter approaches, we’re reaching out for donations of jackets and outerwear to support our KIT4CREW initiative, which provides recycled workwear to crew who need it. A big thank you to all the productions and studios placing donation bins on site! For those needing kit, please get in touch at [email protected] , or if you are a production/studio who would like to get involved.
Circular Economy Hotspot Site visit at Real SFX
In October, Real SFX welcomed international delegates as part of the Economy Hotspot Cymru 2024 event in Cardiff. Directors Danny and Carmela led a workshop tour, showcasing our innovative approach to sustainability within SFX. Delegates experienced live demonstrations of our sustainable techniques and explored our pioneering use of environmentally friendly materials, highlighting our commitment to a circular economy.
Our award-winning KIT4CREW initiative was also in the spotlight, underscoring our dedication to sustainable resource management in the creative industry. We believe in inspiring others to join the shift towards environmentally responsible production methods, and we’re honoured to have been part of this significant event.
BAFTA Cymru:
An epic night in Welsh Television this month, as Welsh TV Stars and Legends graced the carpet for BAFTA Cymru 2024.
An evening of celebrating Welsh talent, at it's finest. The Doctor himself, Ncuti Gatwa won 'Best Actor', Euros Lyn, Director of the hit TV series 'Heartstopper' won 'Best Director, the team from 'Chuck Chuck Baby' took home two seperate awards, and our friend Julie Gardner won the 'Outstanding Contribution to Television' awards, for the brilliant work she has done across the Welsh industry.
Check out the full list of winners HERE.
Missed it? The ceremony can be watched again here from the comfort of your own home: BAFTA Cymru Awards 2024 - YouTube
Sgil Cymru:
It is a pleasure for Siop Un Stop - One Stop Shop to announce that they have appointed Zoë Rushton as their new mentor. Zoë will provide one-on-one consultations for expert advice and guidance to those just beginning their careers in the screen industries, in addition to those wanting a change in their existing careers who are looking to upskill or change direction within film and TV in Wales.
Zoë is a broadcast industry expert with over twelve years’ experience in talent, recruitment, mentoring and outreach and a further twelve years in TV production. She has worked at all levels from Runner to Senior Producer/Director. She is very well connected within the creative industries in Wales and throughout the UK having worked across multiple genres including Factual, Music & Events, Documentaries, and Drama.
A few words from Zoë… “My passion is finding opportunities for those who may face barriers and supporting them through their early careers. If you’re just starting out in the industry and need some advice, help with navigating the job market or searching for training opportunities, feel free to get in contact. There’s no such thing as a silly question!
Or if you’re an established freelancer looking for advice on upskilling, switching paths or industry training, the door is always open.”
Mae’n bleser gyda Siop Un Stop – One Stop Shop gyhoeddi eu bod wedi penodi Zoë Rushton fel eu mentor newydd. Bydd Zoë yn darparu ymgynghoriadau un-i-un ar gyfer cyngor ac arweiniad arbenigol i’r rhai sydd newydd ddechrau eu gyrfa yn y diwydiannau sgrin, yn ogystal â’r rhai sydd eisiau newid yn eu gyrfaoedd presennol sy’n edrych i uwchsgilio neu newid cyfeiriad o fewn ffilm a theledu yng Nghymru.
Mae Zoë yn arbenigwr yn y diwydiant darlledu gyda deuddeg mlynedd o brofiad mewn talent, recriwtio, mentora ac allgymorth a deuddeg mlynedd arall ym maes cynhyrchu teledu. Mae hi wedi gweithio ar bob lefel o Rhedwr i Uwch Gynhyrchydd/Gyfarwyddwr. Mae ganddi gysylltiadau da iawn o fewn y diwydiannau creadigol yng Nghymru a ledled y DU ar ôl gweithio ar draws sawl genre gan gynnwys Ffeithiol, Cerddoriaeth a Digwyddiadau, Rhaglenni Ddogfen a Drama.
Ychydig eiriau gan Zoë… “Fy angerdd yw dod o hyd i gyfleoedd i’r rhai a allai wynebu rhwystrau a’u cefnogi trwy eu gyrfaoedd cynnar. Os ydych chi newydd ddechrau yn y diwydiant ac angen rhywfaint o gyngor, help i lywio’r farchnad swyddi neu yn chwilio am gyfleoedd hyfforddi, mae croeso i chi gysylltu. Nid oes y fath beth â chwestiwn gwirion!
Neu os ydych chi’n weithiwr llawrydd sefydledig sy’n chwilio am gyngor ar uwchsgilio, newid llwybrau neu hyfforddiant diwydiant, mae’r drws bob amser ar agor.”
Bydd Siop Un Stop – One Stop Shop ar agor i fusnes yn yr wythnosau nesaf!
TIME TO SAY FAREWELL TO OUR BBC & REAL SFX 2023-2024 APPRENTICES
Recently we said goodbye to BBC & Real SFX apprentices 2023-2024. The year has flown! It is a great pleasure to reflect on the growth and development of these wonderful individuals and we would like to wish them all the best of luck on their life paths.
FFARWELIO Â PHRENTISIAID BBC CYMRU WALES A REAL SFX
Buon ni’n dweud ffarwel i brentisiaid BBC & Real SFX 2023-2024 yn ddiweddar. Mae’r blwyddyn wedi hedfan! Pleser mawr yw adlewyrchu ar dŵf a datblygiad yr unigolion rhyfeddol yma ac hoffwn estyn pob hwyl a phob lwc iddynt ar eu llwybrau bywyd.
WELCOME TO THE NEW INSPIRATIONAL MEMBER OF OUR ASSESSORS TEAM AT SGIL CYMRU
After starting her career as a trainee a long (long) time ago,- despite her youthful appearance Rhian has worked on over fifty productions. Although she specialises in Drama Production she has also worked on many aspects of Television and Film, including Live Broadcasts, Travel Shows, Documentaries, Music Performances, Politics and Current Affairs, Reality and Quiz Shows recorded in Studio and on Location both in the UK and abroad. Although Rhian will occasionally continue to work whilst her knees hold out she is extremely excited to join the fabulous dedicated team at Sgil Cymru.
CROESO I AELOD NEWYDD YSBRYDOLEDIG I DÎM ASESWYR ARBENIGOL SGIL CYMRU!
Ar ôl cychwyn ar ei gyrfa fel hyfforddai amser maith yn ôl, er gwaethaf ei hymddangosiad ifanc mae Rhian wedi gweithio ar dros hanner cant o gynyrchiadau. Er ei bod yn arbenigo mewn Cynhyrchu Drama mae hi hefyd wedi gweithio ar sawl agwedd ar Deledu a Ffilm, gan gynnwys Darllediadau Byw, Sioeau Teithio, Rhaglenni Dogfen, Perfformiadau Cerddoriaeth, Gwleidyddiaeth a Materion Cyfoes, Sioeau Realiti a Chwis a recordiwyd yn stiwdio ac ar leoliad yn y DU a dramor. Er y bydd Rhian yn parhau i weithio o bryd i'w gilydd tra bod ei phengliniau'n dal allan mae hi'n hynod gyffrous i ymuno â thîm ymroddgar gwych Sgil Cymru.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN MORGAN, FORMER CRIW APPRENTICE (2022-23)
Huge congratulations to Daniel Morgan, winner of the "Life Change and Progress" category at the recent Inspire! Awards.
We are so proud of Dan, who came to us in 2022 and since then has successfully established himself as a reliable, active and solid member of the industry's production teams in Wales.
Award sponsors:
The Open University Wales and Agored Cymru
LLONGYFARCHIADAU I DAN MORGAN, CYN-BRENTIS CRIW (2022-23)
Llongyfarchiadau enfawr i Daniel Morgan, enillydd categori “Newid Bywyd a Chynnydd” yn y Gwobrau Ysbrydoli! diweddar. Rydym mor falch ohono! Daeth Dan atom yn 2022 ac ers hynny wedi llwyddo sefydlu ei hun fel aelod dibynnol, gweithgar a chadarn yn nhimoedd cynhyrchu y diwydiant yng Nghymru.
Noddwyr y wobr:
Y Brifysgol Agored Cymru & Agored Cymru
CURRENT AND PAST CRIW ON MADFABULOUS!
Flo Bavertock / Fiorella Wyn Roberts / Elin Glyn Jones
Mad as Birds Films’ latest production, Madfabulous, has just wrapped filming in north Wales. Working on the production we had 3 current or previous CRIW apprentices! The team included past apprentices Elin Glyn Jones and Fiorella Wyn Roberts and one of our current CRIW apprentices Flo Baverstock.
Elin was working as a runner in the production department, Fiorella was in the make-up department and Flo was working in the costume department.
Congratulations to you all, it’s wonderful to see our apprentices and past apprentices working together on brilliant projects like this!
CRIW Y PRESENNOL A’R GORFFENNOL AR MADFABULOUS!
(Llun chwith i de)Flo Bavertock / Fiorella Wyn Roberts / Elin Glyn Jones
Mae cynhyrchiad newydd Mad as Birds Films, Madfabulous, newydd orffen ffilmio yng ngogledd Cymru. Yn gweithio ar y cynhyrchiad roedd 3 o’n brentisiaid a chyn-brentisiaid CRIW! Roedd y tim yn cynnwys cyn-brentisiaid Elin Glyn Jones a Fiorella Wyn Roberts ac un o’n prentisiaid cyfredol Flo Baverstock.
Gweithiodd Elin fel rhedwr yn yr adran gynhyrchu, Fiorella yn yr adran golur ac mae Flo wedi bod yn gweithio yn yr adran wisgoedd.
Llongyfarchiadau i chi gyd, mae’n wych i weld ein prentisiaid a chyn-brentisiaid yn gweithio gyda”u gilydd ar brosiectau ffantastig fel hyn!
Screen Alliance Wales:
To celebrate Black History Month, we took the ‘My Community My Story’ documentaries into Butetown and Grangetown for 3 special screenings.
The two documentaries highlight two stories from the area, one being the story of the CIACS Rugby Club, a black and brown Rugby club formed after World War 2 and the story about the Butetown Carnival and how it became the go-to summer event in Cardiff.
We also had the pleasure of inviting the documentary trainees down to SONY HQ, in London for the ultimate screening. We premiered to documentaries in the SONY screening cinemas, as well as a 10 minute sneak preview of Zaid's piece about the Cardiff Bay Warriors time out in Canada. The team hope to hold a screening of the full video soon!
If you didn’t get the chance to join us at one of the screenings, you can watch the documentaries below.
As schools are back in action, the team have been here, there and everywhere, and we love it!
We’ve been at Careers Fairs across schools, introducing students to what the Welsh Creative Industries has to offer.
We’ve also had the pleasure of hosting workshops which has allowed the students the opportunity to get their creative ideas flowing.
One Stop Shop: Screen Alliance Wales, in close partnership with Creative Wales and Sgil Cymru, are excited to launch the brand new online recourse for those just starting out or working as freelancers in the industry. Siop Un Stop – One Shop Stop brings together training providers, FE and higher education, a calendar of events and courses and general screen industry news on one cohesive platform. We are also pleased to announce a mentoring service for advice and guidance on how to progress in the creative industry. Visit the site now: www.siopunstop-onestopshop.com
Rhys spent the evening at the Deri Arms pub soaking in all the Welsh TV magic for the celebration for Pobol y Cwm’s 50th anniversary.
The evening was a brilliant event, celebrating Wales’s longest running Drama Series.
SAW, alongside BBC and One Stop Shop are happy to be supporting the Pobol Academy, which will ensure that we continue developing Welsh crew for the next 50 years.
University of South Wales alongside Screen Alliance Wales and Wales Screen Academy, are delighted to announce that we won the award for ‘Impact on Creative Industries’ at this years USW Engagement and Impact Awards 2024! Thank you so much for the award, we can’t wait to continue the brilliant relationship with University of South Wales and can’t wait to see what the future holds! Congratulations to those who were nominated, and a massive congratulations to all those who won!
A special visitor at Wolf Studios Wales this month as Minister of Creative Industries Jack Sargeant MS took charge of the Tardis and landed into the SAW Classroom, where he met some of our brilliant trainees currently on a Bad Wolf Production.
It was brilliant to welcome Jack into the classroom and to introduce him to all the work we do here at SAW, he particularly enjoyed our custom Cardiff Bay Warriors kit.
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
Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @ScreenAllianceWales