Ep 23: Emily Gunn - ScreenSkills

Unlock the potential and support for your next project with ScreenSkills! Emily Gunn, HETV Engagement & Projects Manager for the South and Midlands, is here to guide us every step of the way as to how ScreenSkills could help you us navigate this industry and come out on top.
 
Emily works across engagement and training for HETV freelancers across the UK, supporting the growth and expansion for a diverse workforce in the screen sector. She has worked the last ten years in television starting in camera in Soho, working her way through to film licencing for multiple London boroughs and now championing skills through diversity and inclusion programmes for High-end TV at ScreenSkills.
 
 You can get in contact with Emily via Linkedin here 

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Recorded and Edited by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website: www.benleondraws.com

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:25:14
Ashley Golder
Hello and welcome back to TV makers, the industry podcast, where we learn from leading professionals to help you get to where you want to go without too many stumbles along the way. I'm your host, Ashley Golder, a factual director, and I'm excited to bring you episode three of this series, which has a slightly different focus from usual. Today I get to speak with Emily Gunn from Screen Skills.

00:00:25:16 - 00:00:47:20
Ashley Golder
Now, I thought I knew what screen skills was all about, but it turns out I did not. After bumping into Emily at an event and chatting about her work, I quickly realized there is so much more to the organization than I thought. So I knew I had to invite her on to share those insights with you all. Not just keep them for myself and know before you ask, this episode is not sponsored in any way by screen skills.

00:00:47:22 - 00:01:08:10
Ashley Golder
There's just some genuine great things happening from them that I thought would be useful for us all to know about. However, that's not to say off screen skills are listening. You are welcome to sponsor future episodes. Emily works as a high end TV engagement and project manager for the South and Midlands, but we'll be talking about the organization as a whole and what they can do for you.

00:01:08:15 - 00:01:31:07
Ashley Golder
From well-known programs to resources that might surprise you. We also talk about how she's championing skills through diversity and inclusion programs. Her perspective on the future of TV and her advice, and how we can prepare for those changes in our industry. Whether you're new or seasoned professionals, TV, there's something in this conversation for everyone. So without further ado, here is screen skills.

00:01:31:13 - 00:01:40:00
Ashley Golder
Emily Gunn. Emily, thank you for joining me for a TV makers podcast and your Screen Skills Central London offices.

00:01:40:05 - 00:01:43:03
Emily Gunn
Now, while it is nice to have you here, ash, thank you.

00:01:43:05 - 00:01:49:03
Ashley Golder
First of all, for anybody that doesn't know about screen skills, what is your remit?

00:01:49:05 - 00:02:18:03
Emily Gunn
Yes. I mean, firstly, how dare there were no skills. Where are you? Have you been? No, I'm only joking. Screen skills is the industry led skills body for the screen industry in the UK. So, basically we have five different funds that we work with. It's green skills. And you're testing me now because, I need to know all of them, but we have, the television, fund, which, actually has obviously goes into different categories.

00:02:18:03 - 00:02:44:15
Emily Gunn
So high end television, children's and also, unscripted. Then we have film, the film fund, we have animation. So, how that works is we obviously train the people that makes the show that everyone loves, throughout the UK. So that's obviously supporting continue a growth and future innovation kind of across the country. So we invest in the people that, do the work across the UK for production.

00:02:44:15 - 00:03:09:14
Emily Gunn
So really important organization in my mind and, and I hope many others. So you know, we're an advocate for diversity and inclusion and making sure that we're supporting people. We're supporting people and freelancers throughout the UK on their journey. And you know, we love the screen industry in the UK. It's so important to us. So, it's just about sustaining that and making it workable for everyone.

00:03:09:16 - 00:03:28:23
Ashley Golder
Lovely. Who do you target? Because obviously the industry is made up of beautiful freelancers and staffers alike. There's a huge diversity in in where we've come from and what we do. But who do you. Who does screen skills? Who is screen skills for?

00:03:29:00 - 00:03:50:20
Emily Gunn
Yeah. So a whole variety of individuals really. I mean, in terms of career stages, we work with everyone across the board. We work with new entrants. We work with trainees that come through the door. We work with mid-level. We work with professional shows. So career stage is everyone basically. We also work with people throughout the UK.

00:03:50:20 - 00:04:10:21
Emily Gunn
So we have cohorts in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire, Liverpool, also all across the UK as well. But really it's for anyone who's looking to get in the industry or looking to get back into the industry. We do a lot of programs about transferring back into screens, so maybe someone's been off on maternity leave or someone's been off for health reasons.

00:04:10:21 - 00:04:27:09
Emily Gunn
We do a lot of programs about getting back into the industry, so maybe they've had to leave for a few years. But yeah, honestly, a very different, diverse range of individuals. And I would just recommend getting in touch if you would like to get into the industry or have thought about it.

00:04:27:14 - 00:04:46:22
Ashley Golder
Absolutely. I mean, I'm obviously really passionate about training that, that, that is kind of how this podcast was born. The fact that we as, especially as freelancers, are never told how to do the next thing that we want to do, whether that's a runner wanting to be a researcher or a producer wanting to be a series producer, or.

00:04:47:00 - 00:04:59:05
Ashley Golder
Exactly. So being able to have the opportunity to interview you at Screen Skills, I jumped at the chance. Why do you feel screen skills is so important to our industry?

00:04:59:07 - 00:05:20:04
Emily Gunn
Yeah, I think I was I was really happy to talk to you, do an interview. I know when we met in Brighton, we had some questions and I was like, we need to talk more about this. But yeah, definitely. I think number one screen skills is is so important because it, it's bringing a community of everyone together in terms of training.

00:05:20:04 - 00:05:43:22
Emily Gunn
And I think we support so many individuals and we have for so long. One is we have so many case studies of people that have come through the industry, which is which is incredible. And, you know, we have that we have that data and that information to show their support. We have. But I think it's just so key within the UK because, you know, we really do channel such a sustainable workforce here for diversity and inclusion.

00:05:44:00 - 00:06:00:14
Emily Gunn
We do programs that really bring people together. And also it makes people feel visible. You know, these are individuals that want to be in our industry and we're making them feel like they belong there, you know? And that's what's really important. And anyone belongs in the film industry and television industry. So it's about making that really visible.

00:06:00:14 - 00:06:19:17
Emily Gunn
Whether someone is disabled or it's a woman or it's someone from a lower socio economic background, you know, we're really looking at at that and it's, it's it's there for the industry and it's there to, to bring and make sure everyone feels, united within that. So, yeah, I think it's really important and I hope everyone else does.

00:06:19:19 - 00:06:37:22
Ashley Golder
Yeah. And I think we're going to talk more about why screen skills and how screen skills is important with everything that you guys do. But before we get into that, let's talk about you as a person. You're not just somebody who applied for a job at a charity, and you now run a section of it. You came from the industry.

00:06:38:00 - 00:07:01:15
Emily Gunn
I did, yes, and just enough. I came from filming music videos about ten, ten years ago and was filming kind of jazz music videos and more on the commercial side of it. And then I landed a job at film office, in London, which was which is amazing because it really got me exposed to large scale shoots very early on in my in my kind of career with television and film.

00:07:01:16 - 00:07:22:05
Emily Gunn
I was assisting shoots for Top Boy, The Crown, Marvel. I watched Spider-Man, Mission Impossible. Yes, I came from men. I came from that background of licensing a lot of shoots. And then I really took it in my stride to work for a charity after that, because I think I had started to work with programs for diversity and inclusion.

00:07:22:07 - 00:07:44:01
Emily Gunn
I worked with Netflix and Enola Holmes two when they came and filmed in Tower Hamlets, and I got two very local trainees to come and work on the production and get experience within that, which I spoke with Netflix about. I also kind of worked with Sony on getting some of the, actual Peter Rabbit to go and speak to the children in hospital, who, with our long term sicknesses to walk around.

00:07:44:01 - 00:08:02:18
Emily Gunn
And, Peter Rabbit did that around around hostel, which is amazing. So that's where I started to think about what we could be doing more for the industry, how it could be really seeing what we could do in terms of diversity and inclusion and making it more accessible for individuals. So that's where I think all of my kind of ideas came across into screen skills.

00:08:02:18 - 00:08:06:22
Emily Gunn
And then I I've been here for the last two years kind of doing that as well, which has been amazing.

00:08:06:22 - 00:08:30:12
Ashley Golder
Well, I mean, it's great to know that there are people with on screen skills have come from the industry, because that can only mean that you understand us as an industry to then help better the industry as a whole. So let's talk about screen skills. And so we touched upon it. But like give me a really basic rundown of how diverse your organization is in terms of what it can offer.

00:08:30:15 - 00:08:52:01
Emily Gunn
Oh, I could be here for like days talking about what we offer. Sometimes I feel, yeah, we offer a lot. And I think it depends on the individual. But I will of course give a scope of what we offer. We offer, and we funded e-learning. So e-learning is a fantastic way of just understanding or watching or being engaged with learning.

00:08:52:01 - 00:09:17:04
Emily Gunn
So, e-learning, we have a script to screen, which is an amazing, e-learning that we have at the moment, but we have all others full kind of senior managers, which we made. So we have a leadership in management. We have e-learning for kind of unconscious bias. We have an anti-bullying harassment. So these are all kind of e-learning that senior managers can go on and think, right, I'm now I am now on as someone who's kind of managing a team.

00:09:17:04 - 00:09:40:15
Emily Gunn
And I really like some e-learning to understand that better within the industry. So loads different e-learning. We also have obviously our training. So you can go on to screens because website and go on to the training page and kind of filter out which if you are a freelancer, which training program you'd like to look at pending on whether you're in camera, lighting, hair and makeup, we tend to out for all of our training and different trainers all over the UK apply for that.

00:09:40:17 - 00:10:01:05
Emily Gunn
And then we also have oversee our programs. So just to name a few, we have within hi in TV we have our Leaders of Tomorrow program, which is a three year program which looks at basically getting mid-level individuals and freelancers into that kind of senior stage of their life. So we train them for three years about how to be better leaders.

00:10:01:06 - 00:10:26:00
Emily Gunn
We have a trainee finder, which is a program which is amazing. We take on like 220 trainees a year and place them on to high end TV shows. We have Make a Move Again, an incredible, incredible program which is run and we have make a Move plus as well. They're both mid-level careers, but yes, we have programs and then we also have bursaries, just kind of a cash, incentive for any individual who needs to elevate their career.

00:10:26:00 - 00:10:44:22
Emily Gunn
We give out last year and the high end TV skills fund, we gave 350,000 pounds away for bursaries. We awarded about 300 odd bursaries within that. And this year we'll be doing a similar amount. Hopefully. So yeah, we have a lot on the website resources as well, free resources, that we give out and obviously we run events as well.

00:10:44:22 - 00:10:52:05
Emily Gunn
So I could speak for days, but yes, I'll stop there. But we do have a lot, a lot to offer hopefully for anyone listening so much.

00:10:52:05 - 00:11:20:23
Ashley Golder
I mean, someone I interviewed for this podcast at the start of the series, Amelia Never Gamma, who is a commissioning exec at UK TV. He came through screen skills as a producer director, wanting to move up to series producer. Yes. And he he couldn't say more about it. He found it exceptionally helpful and even too helpful because he became a series producer for what felt like five minutes, and then became a commissioning exec very soon after that.

00:11:21:00 - 00:11:29:07
Ashley Golder
So yeah, not just, as you said, not just for emerging entrants and mid-level, but senior people who want to move into other roles.

00:11:29:09 - 00:11:51:11
Emily Gunn
Yeah, definitely. We recently had, I don't know if, you know, BBC responder, a great, great show, Liverpool based show starring Martin Freeman, but Tony Schumacher, was part of our Screen Skills New writers program. You know, he came through that program and he went on to write these amazing shows so that there is so many individuals who we support.

00:11:51:11 - 00:12:07:02
Emily Gunn
We have Maria organically. She is a make a move out on mode. And she was making Move on moved which is a BBC series. She's just been written in the podcast the last two days for being one of the top stars. So the TV access project stars, she came through as a make a move a bit.

00:12:07:02 - 00:12:26:03
Emily Gunn
She's a producer on Apple TV show trying. She was and I and Ruth, she was on top boy. You know she came through as a make a move on our program as well. So also we've had, Daniel Kennedy, who was recently at the, in the art department on Lost Boys and Fairies, who was Our Lady of Tomorrow and is Our Lady of Tomorrow.

00:12:26:03 - 00:12:33:06
Emily Gunn
So, yes, great examples of individuals who are, you know, that mid-level professional, support as well.

00:12:33:07 - 00:12:37:14
Ashley Golder
So Screen Skills is a charity. Where does it get its money from?

00:12:37:16 - 00:13:06:18
Emily Gunn
The money question. Yes. So it is a charity. Yes. And we do have different forms of funding within that. So obviously we have our funds, so the high end TV skills fund works within. Well, ten years ago, basically in 2013, when the high end TV tax relief came in, it was agreed that any high end TV production would voluntary pay into the high end TV skills fund if they were making use of the high end TV tax relief.

00:13:06:20 - 00:13:33:07
Emily Gunn
So the high end TV skills fund has been going for ten years. We had our celebrations that 11 last year, which was amazing. And how that works is 110 productions we usually work with on average a year, we'll pay in 0.5% of their production budget into our fund. So paying into our fund there means that they can, claim back that money 60% of that money on some of our programs.

00:13:33:09 - 00:13:53:02
Emily Gunn
So, I'll give you an example. There's a trailer for Sweet Pea that came out. They paid into our fund and they used, a lead of tomorrow. They then had a make a move to make a movie. Plus is on there and a trainee. So, you know, they get to use fully funded placements because they've paid into our fund.

00:13:53:04 - 00:14:12:20
Emily Gunn
So that's the way that it works. Our fund is, private money. It comes from productions, it comes from industry. And that's how it works in the high end TV skills fund. Within screen Skills, there are partnerships as well that come through. So, Screen Skills landed a partnership with Adobe this year as well to support programs for underrepresented backgrounds.

00:14:12:22 - 00:14:25:23
Emily Gunn
And also we do have funding from the BFI which we work with for bursaries. So yeah, different avenues for the charity. But predominantly within the skills funds, we do work with industry and it is industry money.

00:14:26:01 - 00:14:42:19
Ashley Golder
So Emily, you work for the high end TV skills fund for the South and Midlands. So anybody who might be a little bit confused as to what high end TV is, just give me a brief blurb as to what that is and how can people access training for that funding.

00:14:42:21 - 00:15:10:18
Emily Gunn
Yes. Great question. Yeah, I work with an amazing team 12 CV. There's 18 of us. It's incredible. Then the high end TV skills fund. But basically any production that is over 1 million pounds an hour per episode is classified as high end television. So, there's different bands within that. So we have band one, which is 1 million pound and over band two, which is 1 million to 3 million, I think band three, 3 million to 8 million.

00:15:10:18 - 00:15:33:15
Emily Gunn
And this year were last year, band four is 8 million and over per episode. So, you know, that's the House of Dragons that she brings power. You know, there's there's then the higher budgets within that. So we do have a very, very big workforce of high end TV freelancers. Within the UK, which is amazing. And we do do research every year to see where the skills gap is with that.

00:15:33:15 - 00:15:50:04
Emily Gunn
We meet with industry and we meet with working groups. And then what happens within that? They tell us what needs to be trained for the year. And that's when you'll see all that training on our wonderful website. So yeah, I would I would recommend is having a look at that and what departments are kind of coming up. We have virtual production training that's going to be happening this year.

00:15:50:04 - 00:16:09:02
Emily Gunn
Obviously. Virtual production is something that's quite new within the industry, but we'll be doing training within that. We're doing a lot of training around access and disability. So, bringing more disabled, talent and crew to set. So we're doing a lot of training within productions to be able to, understand working with the DDA and community.

00:16:09:04 - 00:16:28:07
Emily Gunn
Yeah, we have we have a lot of different training, within the hind TV skills fund that you can be part of. And then we also have all of our programs that you can apply for, which come with placements, which is very exciting. Last year alone we did 260, I think it was placements, paid placements across the UK and we supported 20,000 people last year.

00:16:28:07 - 00:16:32:06
Emily Gunn
So. So yeah, there's a lot of opportunities there for you.

00:16:32:08 - 00:16:35:01
Ashley Golder
All of these courses and training for free.

00:16:35:02 - 00:16:54:14
Emily Gunn
Yes. All of our courses that we run within the high end TV skills fund are free. So how that works is it's a really lovely model that the funding comes from industry and it supports anyone within our industry. So all of our online courses are free. So you can go on, all the courses that we do throughout the UK, are free.

00:16:54:14 - 00:17:07:07
Emily Gunn
So you can go on and see, those courses and see what's available. But they are funded by the DV skills fund. So if you are a freelancer and you can show that you're working within high end TV, that course will be free for you.

00:17:07:09 - 00:17:30:12
Ashley Golder
Is it on the onus of the freelancer to to look for this training, or is there a way where a production company can run courses via you? I mean, it's something that I always feel like is missing for me as a freelancer. I will join a production immediately, go into the filming whilst my staff colleagues have like a training day on on a Wednesday or whatever it might be.

00:17:30:12 - 00:17:44:08
Ashley Golder
And I don't get any of that. And there's no time for me to find that training, because I'm always trying to get work. So if I'm working, I can't train. Do you work with production companies to try and bridge that gap?

00:17:44:10 - 00:18:00:11
Emily Gunn
Yeah, I mean, we tend to support freelancers individually, but we do get requests from obviously production companies wanting sometimes training. Would you put them in contact with training providers because the production houses sometimes will fund that themselves?

00:18:00:12 - 00:18:24:23
Ashley Golder
I think in my ideal world is that every production that somebody goes on, there's at least 1 or 2 days of training that is somehow funded. That's extra. You know, no production will say, okay, start on the Monday and we'll just give you some free training because they want to keep their budget. But can they work with you to mitigate that cost?

00:18:24:23 - 00:18:25:21
Ashley Golder
Is that even a thing?

00:18:25:21 - 00:18:50:08
Emily Gunn
I think it's down to the obviously the exact and the producers on who is and who's an advocate for so training as well. I think it comes down as an owners of the individual in terms of like themselves as a freelancer, and I think it's becoming more, you know, working standard. You know, people are understanding there is this need for understanding the roles, understanding the support or understanding.

00:18:50:08 - 00:19:09:09
Emily Gunn
There's kind of a spot diagram of how I can get somewhere now in production instead of just like, what are the roles? I don't really know what they are anymore. I never got the support. And I think that is happening more and more. There is more now a standard. We now have a screen skills passport that, you know, ITV are using and different ball courses are using.

00:19:09:10 - 00:19:29:18
Emily Gunn
And I think it's it's really important that that whether it's a broadcast as a streamers, you know, it's being trickled down within that of, of what of what should be done as well in practice. You know, and as standards. But like you said, yes, I think in the future we're all hoping that there, there is this, this kind of just it's normalized.

00:19:29:18 - 00:19:43:22
Emily Gunn
But training is what it is, you know, and it should be like anything, you know, training in other industries. It's just just inevitable. It just happens. And in the screening industry, it's happening more and more and more. And it's it's only helping people get to where they want to be. Step up. You know, stepping up is really hard and production.

00:19:43:22 - 00:20:03:17
Emily Gunn
But, you know, if you can see from our skills checklist and our skills, roles where you can go, you know, there's, oh, I can go from a camera operator to DOP to, you know, etc. I can get hungry for a makeup assistant, then I can go to a designer, you know, if you can see that path by looking on our website and you can really see where you're going.

00:20:03:17 - 00:20:22:18
Emily Gunn
And I think it just really helps individuals. So I think that, yeah, there will be a future, I think, where not only is it on the onus of the individual, but I think production companies are taking it more and more now and we have all the boxes on our working group. We have we have Apple, we have someone from Disney, we have BBC, ITV, Netflix.

00:20:22:18 - 00:20:39:11
Emily Gunn
We have everyone on those working groups advocating for it. So it's getting more and more within our industry. And I think the question about production companies and selves, yeah, I think it's down to obviously the production company and who's running that, but I think it is it is happening more and more. Definitely.

00:20:39:17 - 00:20:59:00
Ashley Golder
Where do you see the challenges then with training? Do you want production companies to approach you so that you can then deliver more training? Or is the focus for screen skills to get the word out to the freelancers, to upskill themselves via yourselves with the free training, in the hope that they can then better themselves and the industry as a whole.

00:20:59:02 - 00:21:20:09
Emily Gunn
Yes, definitely. It's definitely down, I think. And I'm like I said, I'm speaking for the high end TV skills fund. So it's very different in other funds maybe. But for the high end TV skills fund, we definitely work with freelancers. And it's, obviously freelancers because that's what we were here to do. We're here to create a, a inclusive skills force and, and support freelancers through that.

00:21:20:14 - 00:21:40:09
Emily Gunn
I mean, in high end TV, people are freelance. You know, it's mostly, how it works. People are freelance that they're jumping some high end TV show to high end TV shows and TV shows. So but obviously we have all of our, working group members we have in our subcommittee. You know, we have, the industry, which we go to and speak to, kind of on that as well.

00:21:40:09 - 00:21:53:13
Emily Gunn
So, so yeah, I think, I think it's down to, to the freelancers. We obviously work with a lot of production companies who are freelancing as well, but predominantly we're down to we work with freelancers that that is our is our work and that is our as our nutshell.

00:21:53:15 - 00:22:07:18
Ashley Golder
Absolutely. So if you're listening to this and you're a freelancer, get on the screen skills website, see what might be there for you, because that there is there's so much there. Even if it's just understanding what that next role or that pivot role might be.

00:22:07:20 - 00:22:23:20
Emily Gunn
Even if it's just understanding what freelancers is. Because I feel like when I was yeah, I think it's just even freelancing itself. We have so many resources about being a freelancer. Like how the how do you become a freelancer? I think a lot of people even struggle with that. You know, sometimes you could be in an in a full time role and then jump to be a freelancer.

00:22:23:21 - 00:22:31:23
Emily Gunn
You think, well, how how am I going to do that? So, you know, even that as a stepping stone in itself, we, we support that and and do that. So yeah, definitely.

00:22:32:01 - 00:22:45:05
Ashley Golder
So as screen skills as an organization, you must have data and knowledge above the usual layman like myself as to where the gaps in our skills are in our industry. Can you talk about that?

00:22:45:07 - 00:23:06:03
Emily Gunn
Yeah, of course. It is really interesting. It's something that I found really interesting before I joined Screen Skills actually. But we do an incredible job at it. Everyone does across screen skills. We're looking and researching about where those skills gaps are within different departments, and also just advocating and talking about that to people who want to get into the industry.

00:23:06:03 - 00:23:24:11
Emily Gunn
Because I think if you do want to get into the industry, you want to know where the gaps are, right? You want to know where you can try and get a job and what's new and what's exciting. So, so this year we did our annual research, and it was really interesting because the proportion of participants actually suggested that skills related issues were getting better.

00:23:24:13 - 00:23:31:01
Emily Gunn
It actually showed it was 33%, and it outweighed the proportion of people who said it was getting worse.

00:23:31:05 - 00:23:34:12
Ashley Golder
So so is that people are having more skills.

00:23:34:14 - 00:23:57:12
Emily Gunn
People are having more skills, and people are seeing that the gap is closing a little bit with roles. So for example, the year before, I mean, we look at 30 odd, different varieties of roles. But the production accountant has always been involved. That's come up in every year as one of the highest roles, which is there is a big gap with production accountants.

00:23:57:12 - 00:24:17:12
Emily Gunn
We're in the high end TV within the high end TV industry, but this year that gap was slightly less so. Just showed that there is more production accountants. We still have a little bit more work to do, but there was there was more production accountants, across the industry, which is good, but it did still come up as the number one rule, which there is still a skills gap within.

00:24:17:14 - 00:24:25:14
Emily Gunn
And then we also had line producing location manager, editor and production manager as the top kind of five, also with skills gap.

00:24:25:16 - 00:24:46:15
Ashley Golder
So screen skills for those of us that do know about it, which is, you know, 99% of us in the industry really known for its e-learning, really known for its training. When I was speaking to you on that networking event, I was so surprised about the bursaries. I was really intrigued about the mentoring, the leaders of tomorrow.

00:24:46:17 - 00:24:48:11
Ashley Golder
How can people get involved in that?

00:24:48:11 - 00:25:14:03
Emily Gunn
Yeah, it's a really good question. It's so interesting because I'll sometimes meet people at events and they're like, oh my God, yeah, I got a meet. Screen skills. Like to start my career like 15 years ago. And it was, you know, it was some training that I did with them, which on your call, it was, I got some driving lessons because I couldn't drive at the time and it, it so the there's such a range of different things that you can get when it comes to bursaries.

00:25:14:03 - 00:25:33:10
Emily Gunn
And I think sometimes people think it could just be one thing when actually there's such a variety. And we have some great cases in our website, of individuals who have got equipment or they've got, support for travel. Like, you know, travel is expensive these days. We all know that it's it's expensive. What's happened to the UK drains.

00:25:33:12 - 00:25:52:07
Emily Gunn
But yeah, I think it's it's really helpful in terms of if it's a short term travel best fit, you might need to get somewhere for something. And we offer very, you know, short term travel for that. Maybe it's accommodation care. You know, we have individuals who they have caring responsibilities and they have to go on production. So they need support with that.

00:25:52:07 - 00:26:15:06
Emily Gunn
So we offer bursaries and funding to care, which is which is amazing. I think it's great that we do that equipment training. And, I think people have really thought outside the box with, with equipment you know, we've had people that really as well as just access needs people have applied for, whether it's equipment on set. Maybe someone needs something for access requirement or an access needs for them on set as well.

00:26:15:06 - 00:26:31:18
Emily Gunn
So we have like a real variety within that. But yeah, you can apply for something from 100 pounds all the way up to 1500. So for something that can kind of help elevate your career, you obviously have to show where you need it and which helps support your career. But bursaries is so important. Yeah.

00:26:31:19 - 00:26:51:02
Ashley Golder
I mean, I think that's incredible. I think being able to give someone a gift where they thought that might be, you know, something that they'd never be able to do, especially if you're from a lower economic background. You see it all the time. We see it on the Facebook pages or people asking me, you know, I would love to, but I can't afford those driving lessons.

00:26:51:02 - 00:27:09:14
Ashley Golder
You know, if you're a runner and you don't know how to drive, that is unfortunately you you are going to be a barrier. It is a barrier. They'll go for somebody who can drive, because unfortunately, most running jobs, you do need to drive or travel or care. I didn't even think about people with care needs. So that is stunning.

00:27:09:14 - 00:27:31:16
Ashley Golder
So a big thank you from me to screen skills and for the people who are using those bursaries, mentorships I think is maybe not one that's utilized enough. I think in our industry, you know, we're all using other people's experience and we try and give what we can. But official mentorships, talk to me about that with screen skills.

00:27:31:16 - 00:27:32:04
Ashley Golder
Yeah.

00:27:32:04 - 00:27:58:15
Emily Gunn
So we do offer mentorships. Within some programs, which is great. I mean to look at mentoring really if you have a look at, I'll make a move, for example, which is, as I said before, is such an incredible, complex, amazing hard work program that, individuals on our team look after, which is incredible, is basically someone gets to be on set with a mentor, throughout their placement.

00:27:58:19 - 00:28:18:08
Emily Gunn
So, you know, it's really key, I think. I think mentorship and mentoring really helps the individual understand their next step. And you're speaking from some of them industry, you know, it's so important. And also within TV there's so many different departments. So you know stepping up and realizing where you are and having a mentor is, is so, so, so key, within that.

00:28:18:08 - 00:28:36:02
Emily Gunn
So yes, we have mentors within, make a move and we have mentors within leaders of tomorrow as well, which is super important. So they get a mentor throughout their three years, all in different departments. In industry, who, who have, you know, will professionals and have been in this industry for a long period of time. But it's like anything, you know, giving back as well.

00:28:36:02 - 00:28:52:20
Emily Gunn
These individuals, I think, also love giving back to the industry. And I'm sure some people you've had a new podcast, but incredible people as well would would love giving back. I think once you get there in your in your, in your industry, it's about how can you bring that next generation in what can you teach them there and you wish you had at that time.

00:28:52:20 - 00:29:00:13
Emily Gunn
So yeah, there's, there's, there's a great way of of mentoring and, and we do that within some programs at the moment within the home TV skills fund.

00:29:00:15 - 00:29:09:12
Ashley Golder
So obviously you're speaking from experience, from the high end TV fund that you work with for the South Midlands. But this is across screen skills as a whole, right? Yes.

00:29:09:12 - 00:29:29:00
Emily Gunn
And also I think there's a program within unscripted. There's a great program that's coming up soon, a series producers shadowing for gallery productions. So, you know as well as I and at the unscripted fund, I mean all funds do but as well the unscripted fun do an amazing range of training throughout the UK as well. And this is one that's coming soon.

00:29:29:00 - 00:29:45:17
Emily Gunn
It's a training program which will include basically shadowing placements on active productions. So giving that gallery access to series producers who have not yet gained experience in a gallery setting. So yeah, really, really important. And then yes, you'd see that soon on the website as well, which would be good.

00:29:45:19 - 00:30:13:03
Ashley Golder
Screen skills, have this wealth of knowledge behind them. But as we know, the TV landscape is changing. We're seeing so many changes and some for better, some for worse. Definitely within my genre, for unscripted, we're seeing that there is a squeeze. There is a contraction of the industry, you know, after the boom of 2021, when it felt like you can have enough freelancers.

00:30:13:05 - 00:30:24:01
Ashley Golder
There's a lot of fighting for work out there. So so that the industry is changing and we're having to change with it. What are you seeing and how as screen skills combating that?

00:30:24:03 - 00:30:56:19
Emily Gunn
Yeah, definitely. And there is a lot changing I think within the high end TV skills fund, I can obviously speak for what we've been doing, in the last couple of years. I think obviously, in terms of working with freelancers across television, we're obviously supporting where we can as, as changes are happening. So, you know, we we put on, a recent training for, freelancers from doctors, who after kind of that show did unfortunately start.

00:30:56:19 - 00:31:06:10
Emily Gunn
We wanted to offer some support, at screen skills in the high end TV skills fund. So we did put on a CV building workshop for the freelancers who were working on doctors.

00:31:06:11 - 00:31:23:09
Ashley Golder
Oh, wow. So so doctors finished, unfortunately, you know, and that was a massive sort of nursery training ground for that. A lot of a lot of freelancers, especially directors. So so that stopped. And then you took them under your wing to like show them where to go or how.

00:31:23:11 - 00:31:40:05
Emily Gunn
Yeah. And in all honesty, you know, these individuals, they're they're professionals, you know, there and I think that's what it is. It's understanding, you know, their next step. And they have all this. They have all the skills. I think it's just understanding where that they can go within the industry. And I think now more and more people are working across genre.

00:31:40:05 - 00:31:58:13
Emily Gunn
You know, people are working in film and also in high end TV and also in, in scripted and, to be more want to go into games. And oh, when it was an animation, you know, it's, it's so across screen now and I think that's why we have such a thriving screen industry. But I do think, within the high end TV skills, we're really trying to support where we can in that.

00:31:58:13 - 00:32:21:16
Emily Gunn
So we did do a program last year, which was high end TV building your career portfolio. And what we did was we took, individuals from an unscripted background who necessarily hadn't worked in high end television and wanted to understand how on television a bit more and also, you know, be introduced to people in high end TV. So we did a program where they were trained on, what high end TV years.

00:32:21:18 - 00:32:42:16
Emily Gunn
We gave them kind of career coaching. How to get jobs in high end TV. And then we introduced them to nine TV productions and, production managers, producers. And then they could go into and, and successfully try and get a job themselves within high end TV. So yeah, it's all about kind of understanding, educating as well what high end TV is.

00:32:42:16 - 00:32:52:21
Emily Gunn
But offering as, as the landscape changes, you know, we we want to be able to, offer opportunities as it is changing quite a lot and, and support within that.

00:32:52:23 - 00:32:59:04
Ashley Golder
Where do you see our industry going? Where does screen skills as a as a charity seal industry going?

00:32:59:09 - 00:33:22:04
Emily Gunn
That's a mad question. As to that, I have to leave the room. I know, no, it's a good question. I mean, it's a huge question to tackle 27, I think, something that came up obviously in our research, this year is obviously the huge name of AI. And that lingering comments, obviously, that we hear everywhere now in our industry.

00:33:22:04 - 00:33:37:03
Emily Gunn
And I think there is there is a fear, obviously, with job roles, we're doing a lot within screen skills just to, you know, evaluate that and have a look at that. We're doing a project this year in the high end TV skills fund that I unfortunately can't speak about, but that will be coming out, which is exciting.

00:33:37:03 - 00:33:56:16
Emily Gunn
The unscripted fun are doing training within AI, looking at development, and also image generation. They've been doing that for the last year. So that's something that we were kind of at the forefront of. I actually went to an AI conference and they were screen skills came up as you know, someone who's leading in training in that and were in the unscripted fund are doing that at the moment, which is great.

00:33:56:16 - 00:34:23:01
Emily Gunn
But I do think there's new technologies, and I do think where we're at the forefront of that, but we're also listening and understanding and, and, seeing how that can affect our future. I think Screen skills is very good at looking at the future and kind of assessing how it's going to change and really supporting that. So I think our industry, if I can say one thing is, is is changing because of obviously, I think technologies, but we're underway at looking at that and seeing how that's going to change.

00:34:23:05 - 00:34:27:14
Ashley Golder
What's your outlook then on the industry? Is it a doom and gloom or is a hope?

00:34:27:18 - 00:34:45:20
Emily Gunn
It's bonkers. I'm joking. It's no that I, I honestly think there's how I, I've always been an advocate for for spreading awareness and hope. I, I can't tell you when I go to an event now and I have my screen skills lanyard. I mean, I haven't with you, actually, when you came over to me and you were like, are you screen scanning?

00:34:45:21 - 00:34:50:05
Ashley Golder
I mean, be like straight for you? I was like, oh, we need to talk.

00:34:50:06 - 00:35:08:14
Emily Gunn
But it's so nice because whether or not we're there just for someone to come and do some free training and back in the community of the, of the screen industry, I think is so important. But just to feel like an ally and just be, you know, people are so passionate about TV and film in this, in this country, like we are.

00:35:08:16 - 00:35:27:05
Emily Gunn
We're so passionate about it and we do such incredible things. And I think it's about being, you know, resilient but also understanding where you are and and being part of that. So yeah, I do really want to spread positivity. I think we do so much for training, and I don't want people to lose hope that, there isn't anything out there for them for skills.

00:35:27:05 - 00:35:45:17
Emily Gunn
We have so many different departments you can look at for like the skills checklist to see where you want to go next. Maybe it's not in your department, but it's somewhere else. So yeah, I really do kind of want to say that there is so much support out there for you. Have a look at our website, get in contact with some of my screen skills, have a chat and see because yeah, don't lose hope.

00:35:45:17 - 00:36:07:07
Emily Gunn
It is an amazing industry and there's a reason why you got into it. So I understand it's really hard for people and it has been the last few years. I completely, completely resonate with that. But I do think there is there is some positivity out there. We work with over 110 high end TV shows a year. And yeah, I hope that I hope that it comes out that people, are there and enjoying their experience.

00:36:07:07 - 00:36:11:17
Emily Gunn
And however hard it can be that there is support there for you with screen skills.

00:36:11:19 - 00:36:27:00
Ashley Golder
With the unfortunate contraction of some of our industry, we are losing some incredible people. And what's being most affected are all people from minority backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds, lower income backgrounds, off screen skills, doing anything to combat that?

00:36:27:04 - 00:36:55:22
Emily Gunn
Yeah, definitely. We are you know, we have so many different initiatives that are supporting, individuals that you say there. We also, you know, we're looking at diversity, inclusion across the board, something that we're doing, that we've been a kind of advocate for is looking at more disabled, deaf and newer diverse individuals. So, and bringing them into, into productions and, and making sure that that, anyone who works in our industry can work in our industry, whether you're from the and community, or not.

00:36:55:22 - 00:37:16:17
Emily Gunn
So something that we're doing and we're training on is access coordinators, which is so important, is such an important role. And I can't believe it hasn't been within productions all along, really. But an access coordinator is someone who's on set and is looking at and is is there for support for anyone who needs access needs. So, both.

00:37:16:17 - 00:37:18:19
Ashley Golder
From a crew or talent perspective or both?

00:37:18:20 - 00:37:41:11
Emily Gunn
Both. Yeah, both. So there will be there, supporting, access needs. So people might have, an access rider, and they will be there making sure that all their access needs are met, throughout the whole production. So I'll be speaking to the producer, might speak to catering, might speak to, you know, lighting. So I was on a production a few weeks ago, film production.

00:37:41:12 - 00:38:01:03
Emily Gunn
And we have three deaf freelancers, on placement who we're funding to step up into more senior roles that we're funding. So obviously they have BSL interpreters on set. And, you know, they had an access coordinator. They're making sure that all their needs were met within that. So access coordinator is a massively needed with our, our industry.

00:38:01:03 - 00:38:18:19
Emily Gunn
So we're training at the moment for access coordinators. And then next the training will happen January, February, March. And then next March they will go out on placements on high end TV shows. So you know, so important they being trained and they're getting the opportunity to be there. And something that we're doing and making sure that people are aware of.

00:38:18:21 - 00:38:42:08
Ashley Golder
That's such a positive step to try and make sure that our sets, our locations is inclusive for everybody because it is a barrier. Is there anything that unscripted of doing? Like I said, it feels easier if you've got a set, if you've got a stand set, as opposed to having to move from an unscripted side from Manchester down to London, then over to Wales.

00:38:42:10 - 00:39:16:12
Emily Gunn
Yeah, I think on set as well. Yes, there are we the Unscripted fund do online training, disability awareness training. For freelance, for unscripted that is, that is running throughout the year as well. I think with, with any access needs definitely. There is an educational part of it. I think people even if it is understanding the terminology, I think people would miss, some of our courses that that is, you know, one of the basic steps is, you know, understanding the terminology of, of disabled individuals and what, what you should be saying around that and, and being supportive in that as well.

00:39:16:12 - 00:39:47:14
Emily Gunn
So, yeah, there's online training and as well I think there's some placements that the film fund are also doing this year as well. So yeah, there is definitely support there. And I also work with tap the TV access project. I need a Workstream with tap about training, engagement and outreach for deaf disabled neurodiverse community. So I'm working with the, temple courses and streamers within the TV access projects to, look at how we can make sure that training, outreach, and engagement is also inclusive for the deaf community as well.

00:39:47:14 - 00:39:48:10
Emily Gunn
So.

00:39:48:12 - 00:39:58:18
Ashley Golder
Well, Emily, I think you and your colleagues at Screen Skills are doing an incredible job keeping our industry progressing. I want to thank you for your time today and best of luck for all of your upcoming projects.

00:39:58:20 - 00:40:00:02
Emily Gunn
Thank you so much, ash.

00:40:00:04 - 00:40:22:00
Ashley Golder
Thank you. And that's the end of another TV makers episode. Thank you once again to Emily Khan for letting me quiz you on all things screen skills. And thank you all for tuning in. What did you find most useful about this, and have you already perhaps benefited from screen skills in the past? Don't forget to check out what they're offering on screen skills.com.

00:40:22:02 - 00:40:44:23
Ashley Golder
I'd also love to hear what you thought. You can find me on LinkedIn with my name, or join me on Instagram at TV Makers Party, or email me direct on podcast at TV makers echo.uk. Also, don't forget to open up that app, hit that subscribe button and if you haven't already, how about leaving a review? It all helps push this podcast further out there for others to hear.

00:40:45:01 - 00:41:00:10
Ashley Golder
Thank you once again for listening to TV makers. My name is Ashley Golder and I'll see you for the next episode in a couple of weeks. Take care.