04/12/2012 - Skills development and networking programme designed for film and TV crew

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Creative England and Skillset Craft and Technical Skills Academy have launched BAFTA Crew, a programme designed to develop the film production skills and contacts of crew across England with the ultimate aim of supporting the production infrastructure and developing below the line talent outside London.

The initiative includes live and online master classes delivered by film industry professionals, drawn from BAFTA’s pool of winners, nominees and members. The programme will cover creative, technical and operational topics across departments. BAFTA Crew Members will also be part of a network of professional peers and have closer access to Creative England’s Production & Location Services team who help crew national drama and feature film productions.

Tim Hunter, Head of Learning and Events at BAFTA, said, “Our Film Awards give us unique access to some of the world’s pre-eminent behind the scenes film talents, who, our experience shows, are as obsessive as we are about supporting the industry and the next generation of filmmakers.”

BAFTA Crew opens for applications today and the deadline is February 18, 2013. It is open to applicants with two or more TV broadcast or feature film credits that live outside the M25 motorway, and a panel of established professional peers will select the final group at the end of February. Three hundred below the line professionals from Sound, Art, Post-production, Camera, Costume and Production Management will be invited to join the group.