Guiding Lights of UK film take on new mentoring role

Paul Greengrass, Gurinder Chadha and Stephen Frears among mentors for brightest new film talent

LONDON: Top names from the world of filmmaking are taking on a new mentoring role to help support the next generation of UK film talent. Guiding Lights, launched today by Skillset and Brighton based training provider Lighthouse,  pairs established names, including writer Julian Fellowes and producer Michael Kuhn, with 26 of the hottest new talents in the UK for 12 months of mentoring, advice and support. The initiative is part of A Bigger Future, the UK film skills strategy, a joint project between Skillset and the UK Film Council funded by national lottery money and industry investment.

James Purnell MP, Minister for Film, said:

"Mentoring is an excellent way to tap into the invaluable knowledge and skills of people with a vast working experience. And it's a rewarding way of sharing that experience and developing the people working alongside you. The film industry has embraced this idea through the Guiding Lights scheme and should be congratulated - as should Skillset and Lighthouse for creating and delivering this groundbreaking and innovative project."

Judy Counihan, Director of Film at Skillset, said:

"Over 12 months these new talents will learn from the best and most experienced practitioners working in the UK film industry today.  It is an amazing opportunity for young professionals to further their careers and for the industry to help nurture the new talent needed for future success. Our film industry always seems to suffer from a cycle of peaks and troughs and Guiding Lights is just one of many initiatives Skillset and the industry is working on to help build stronger foundations for the next generation of filmmakers."

The full list of mentoring pairs are as follows:

Gurinder Chadha said:

"I am keen to work with Skillset and be involved in Guiding Lights as it encourages us to have a bigger, better film culture here in Britain.  This project will help ensure the future talent in our industry is supported. Mentoring and inspiring others - from 8 to 80 - to tell their stories on film is immensely rewarding for me."

Norma Heyman said:

"If the film industry is to flourish, training is essential. Therefore, it must bring in fresh talent and encourage it to reach exciting new heights. By identifying able young individuals and providing them with experienced professional mentors, the Guiding Lights scheme is perfectly designed to achieve this." 

Deborah Moggach said:

""Skillset and Lighthouse are bringing together the new and the experienced through Guiding Lights and both sides have a great deal to learn. Mentoring is not a one-way activity, after all, if a writer is any good, they're learning something every single day."

Sarah Flint, Chief Executive of Lighthouse, said:

"Mentoring is an excellent way for new talent to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen profession. The 26 talented up-and-coming filmmakers we have selected for Guiding Lights will have a unique opportunity to learn from the extensive experience of top UK film professionals who can advise and assist them in formulating a clearly focused and structured route through the industry."

A nationwide call for applications for mentees opened in September 2005. Eligible applicants were writers, directors, producers, distributors, exhibitors, marketing executives, film publicists, sales agents, talent agents and business affairs executives who could demonstrate experience within the film industry. Mentors and mentees were carefully matched and a personal development plan agreed with each mentee. Final selection of successful candidates was made by the Lighthouse Project Team, a mentoring consultant and members of the Guiding Lights Steering Committee Chaired by Tim Bevan, Co-Chairman of Working Title. As well as having regular monthly contact, mentees will get the chance to shadow their mentor in the workplace.

Tim Bevan said:

"Training in film is very difficult as most skills used in the movie business from producer to production runner are learnt on the job. This is why the concept of mentoring is such a good one for our industry. Having a formal bond where someone learning about their chosen career in the industry can have ongoing advice from someone with great experience should be invaluable and help in the demystifying of all of our roles."

-ENDS-

SKILLSET PRESS OFFICE:         Eve Ragout      020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325 eve@skillset.org

Notes to Editor

1.       Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector.  SSCs are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.

2.       A Bigger Future is a joint strategy developed by Skillset and the UK Film Council with the support of the Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, Scottish Screen and Sgrin Cymru Wales.

3.       The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. Investing Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in film development and production; training; international development, export promotion; distribution and exhibition; and education, with the aim of delivering lasting benefits to the industry and the public alike.

4.       Lighthouse is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing high quality creative and professional development opportunities for aspiring and practising filmmakers, animators and digital artists. Lighthouse's programme of work encompasses productions, commissions, mentoring, training schemes, bursaries and networking events, all of which are designed to support artists and filmmakers trying to establish and further their professional practice and their careers.