Over 400 careers launched thanks to Liverpool Film Office's Action! programme

Thanks to Liverpool Film Office’s Action! programme, more than 400 individuals have jumpstarted their careers in the film and TV industry.

In just the first six months, Action! has facilitated paid work for 130 participants on high-profile productions, including This City Is Ours and a major feature film.

An additional 108 people have received free, introductory training to prepare them for work in the film and TV industry and the further 191 are signed up to receive career support and take advantage of the training opportunities over the next two years.

Since its launch in January, the training programme, has hosted six free introductory training courses covering topics such as location sourcing, working effectively in art make-up and hair, sound departments, the role of assistant directors and the production office, as well as hosting a masterclass with Supervising Location Manager Emma Pill, who has worked on the likes of major feature films such as 1917, Captain America: The First Avenger and Inception.

There was also a popular Q&A session with The Responder creator, Tony Schumacher as well as career surgeries introducing new entrants to the range of career options available and what life as a freelancer is like.

Coming up over the next few months, there are plans for further masterclasses and training in areas such as camera, lighting and grip, special effects make-up and costume department.

Action! members will also be offered CV advice as well as workshops and courses to boost their soft skills and improve competency with regularly used spreadsheets, documents and equipment.

Action! has been made possible through £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding which was awarded to Screen Alliance North, a new skills cluster partnership delivered by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire.

The partnership aims to make the screen sector more accessible and representative and to build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England.

Action! will be running until 2026 and is free to anyone aged 18 and over, lives in the Liverpool City Region and not in higher or further education. For full T&Cs and to sign up, visit Liverpool Film Office’s website.