The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that it is taking BAFTA members, award winners and nominees into schools and youth groups across the country to speak about their craft skills and career experiences.
The activity, in partnership with education charities Into Film, Speakers for Schools and STEMNET, aims to inspire young people from all backgrounds to enter the film, television and games industries.
The speaker programme is part of BAFTA’s wider ‘Give Something Back’ campaign, which calls on industry practitioners to contribute to the organisation’s charitable activities by sharing knowledge and expertise with new and emerging talent.
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The call was made following the findings of the BAFTA Career Pathways survey, which found that contact with people in the industry was a key factor in persuading and supporting young people from non-traditional backgrounds into a career in film, television or games.
Here’s the list of planned talks:
Monday 7 July
Chris Payne, game mechanics programmer (LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean and LEGO Batman series) – Rose Bridge High School in Wigan, Greater Manchester
Wednesday 9 July
Paul Viragh, screenwriter (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) – Roding Valley School, Loughton, Essex
Tazeen Ahmad, presenter (NBC News, Channel 4 News) – Colchester Sixth Form College, Essex
Friday 11 July
Chris Payne, game mechanics programmer – Wigan UTC Academy, Greater Manchester
Jimmy Akingbola, actor (Rev., Holby City) – Shenfield High School, Essex
Matthew Bird, producer (Inspector George Gently, The Street) – Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Kent
Thursday 17 July
Mark Sherwood, VFX producer (Games of Thrones, Snow White and the Huntsman) – Gravesend Grammar School, Kent
Tuesday 22 July
Spob O’Brien, hair and make-up artist (Rush, The King’s Speech) – The Swinton High School in Salford, Greater Manchester
Monday 15 Sept
Tazeen Ahmad, presenter – Alperton Community School in Wembley, London
Thursday 25 Sept
Tony Humphreys, producer (Test the Nation, Outside Bet) – King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Essex
Wednesday 1 Oct
Richard Warlow, screenwriter (Ripper Street, Waking the Dead) – Brentside High School in Ealing, London
Friday 10 October
Richard Murrell, studio director (BBC News) – St John Payne School, Chelmsford, Essex
Friday 24 October
Richard Murrell, studio director – Shenfield High School, Essex
Schools and youth groups can request a BAFTA speaker directly from Into Film, Speakers for School and STEMNET.
Industry professionals can offer their support to the BAFTA ‘Give Something Back’ campaign.
Photo courtesy: BAFTA
