Category: Uncategorised

North East Screen announces ten North East indies set to be the champions for the region’s TV and film industry

Posted on 21 July 20238 August 2023 by North East Screen

Pact and North East Screen joint initiative – Future North East – names its ten participating indies aiming to fast track them to global businesses.

Pact and North East Screen have announced the ten ambitious North East indies who are the beneficiaries of their supercharged development programme, Future North East, following an in-depth selection process by a panel of leading UK TV and film industry experts.

Future North East is based on Pact’s successful Future30 scheme – which launched in 2021 as part of its 30^th anniversary celebrations – and is designed to identify promising indies in the North East and unlock their potential to grow as global businesses.

The ten successful indies are: Gateshead-based Candle & Bell, Motif, TwentySix-03 and Signpost Productions; Newcastle-based Schnoobert Productions, Northern Child and Try Life; Sunderland-based MCC Media; Hartlepool-based Sea & Sky Pictures; and Middlesbrough-based Wander Films.

The two-year scheme gives each indie a tailored leadership and development programme with access to leading industry experts, led by Pact’s Managing Director of Business Development & Global Strategy, Dawn McCarthy-Simpson MBE, providing them with the tools to grow their business ambitions.

Commenting on the successful companies, Lisa Laws, North East Screen’s Head of Talent and Business Development, said:

“The ten chosen companies have already grabbed attention from broadcasters, distributors and potential co-producers. Between them they present a diverse, active slate, and a real desire to grow inclusive companies that deliver global screen content across a range of platforms to current and future markets.

“Future North East builds on North East Screen’s working relationship with Pact, and is going to energise and connect these companies to experts that will enable them to move to the next level.

“We all share a common goal of making the North East a place where sustainable, world class film and TV companies thrive. What makes this a very special group is that they are all backing each other for success and supporting one another to make a difference making sure our region a great place for talent to live and work.”

Pact’s Managing Director of Business Development & Global Strategy, Dawn McCarthy-Simpson MBE, said:

“It’s great to see such talent coming through the North East and a good sign for the future of the British screen sector. Well done to the successful applicants and we look forward to working with them over the next two years to help them develop their businesses.”

Maria Caruana Galizia, Managing Director at Candle & Bell said:

“I’m delighted to be part of Future North East. It’s a really exciting time for Candle & Bell as well as the wider film and tv industry in the region, and it’s great to have the support from PACT and North East Screen as we look to grow as a company. The entire cohort of producers on Future NE are all incredibly talented and experienced, and we’re thrilled to be part of the scheme.”

Paul Irwin, Director of Try Life said:

“Being part of this scheme has come at the perfect time for us as we move into the next phase as a business. The support from Pact and North East Screen is exactly the kind of support we need as we finalise a handful of commissions. Networking with the other nine companies and all working together to bring success to the region is extremely exciting.”

Andrew Eastel, Creative Director at Northern Child said:

“Northern Child are delighted to have been accepted onto the Future North East scheme, and very grateful for the opportunity. There is huge potential for a thriving TV industry in this region but that starts with sustaining and growing businesses like ours and the other indies on the scheme – all of which are led by super-talented local creatives who will be hugely successful given this kind of support.”

James Craggs, Co-Founder of Motif said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to be selected as one of the companies to benefit from the Future North East initiative. It’ll be an amazing two years which will help us improve every facet of our company. We’re at the start of our journey now and having access to PACT as well as a network of other North East-based companies to grow with will be of huge benefit.”

Adam Bouabda, Founder of Sea & Sky Pictures said:

“It’s fantastic to be supported by PACT and North East Screen. As a self-confessed ‘Cowboy’ of this industry, it’s very important that someone has got our back and can guide us through the building of the business so that we can focus on being creative. PACT has been a great resource for us in the past and with this programme, it will take us to the next level as a production company.”

Gareth Deighan, Creative Director at Signpost Productions said:

“Everyone at Signpost Productions is very excited that we have been named as one of the companies on the Future North East scheme. We are delighted to be among the other exciting North East-based companies who were also selected. We’re really looking forward to learning lots and continuing to grow.“

The cohort have already come together in person for an introduction to the programme, with more bespoke support planned for the forthcoming months including peer-to-peer sessions, introductions to commissioners, and strategy building workshops.

As the screen industries continues to grow in the North East under the steer of North East Screen, regional indies will be a vital piece of the jigsaw in creating a sustainable industry and ensuring there are opportunities for people wanting to work in film and TV in the North East.

Click here to learn more about the companies selected.

https://northeastscreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pact.png

Fulwell 73 Receive 11 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations

Posted on 14 July 202314 July 2023 by North East Screen

Fulwell 73, the independent production company behind the highly anticipated reboot of the North East-based TV classic Byker Grove, has received 11 nominations for the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards.

The production company has been nominated in a range of categories for programmes such as Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl and the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Fulwell 73 have also partnered with Cain International and put forward plans to build the Crown Works Studios in Sunderland. The studio will be one of the largest filmmaking complexes in Europe, creating some 8,450 jobs across the North East over the next decade.

The awards ceremony will take place in Los Angles on Monday, September 18th at 5pm (on Tuesday the 19th at 1am UK time).

Read on for a list of Fulwell’s nominations. A full list of all of this year’s nominees is available at Emmys.com.

Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special

Encanto At The Hollywood Bowl • Disney+ • Fulwell 73 Productions, Production Designer Misty Buckley, Art Director Joe Celli, Set Decorator Raquel Tarbet

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • Fulwell 73, Production Designer Julio Himede, Art Director Kristen Merlino

Outstanding Choreography For Variety Or Reality Programming

Encanto At The Hollywood Bowl • Routines: Family Madrigal / Surface Pressure • Disney+ • Fulwell 73 Productions, Choreographer Jamal Sims

Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Special

Encanto At The Hollywood Bowl • Disney+ • Fulwell 73 Productions

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • Fulwell 73

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium • Disney+ • Disney+ Presents in association with Rocket Entertainment / A Fulwell 73 Production

Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama Or Variety Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series • Apple TV+ • CBS Studios in association with Fulwell 73 and Apple

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium • Disney+ • Disney+ Presents in association with Rocket Entertainment / A

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards • CBS • Fulwell 73

Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork For A Special

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium • Disney+ • Disney+ Presents in association with Rocket Entertainment / A

Encanto At The Hollywood Bowl • Disney+ • Fulwell 73 Productions

Six Tees Valley creatives share their love for Hartlepool as it welcomes the world-famous Tall Ships race

Posted on 5 July 20236 July 2023 by North East Screen

North East Screen in partnership with Hartlepool Council, have provided six Tees Valley creatives with an opportunity to develop their own unique ‘Postcard from Hartlepool’ taking inspiration from their surrounding area and the arrival of the Tall Ships as the race comes to the town for the second time on 6-9^th July.

The six creatives represented a broad spectrum of talent, from experienced content creators to promising new talent. They all received a bursary from North East Screen as well as mentoring support from project lead, Jen Bradfield, to enable them deliver their short showcasing Hartlepool and why it makes a great place to live and visit. The format of the shorts was entirely at the discretion of the creatives which has resulted in some truly brilliant Postcards from Hartlepool.

North East Screen’s Head of Talent and Business Development, Lisa Laws, said:

“This has been a fantastic partnership with Hartlepool Council allowing us to support six brilliant Tees Valley creatives to deliver a short taking inspiration from Hartlepool, the Tall Ships and its tall tales.

“The slate of shorts developed give a rounded audience experience from corporate to comedy and everything in between, highlighting some very personal and touching experiences of Hartlepool.

“This opportunity has given these creatives a launch pad into the North East screen industries and allowed them to share their love for their local town. We are really looking forward to seeing what’s next for them.”

The creatives include experienced content creators, 33mm Ltd; entrepreneur photographer and drone operator, Jamie Bulman; emerging comedy talent, Jess McDonagh and Beth Chapman; Tees Valley Screen Fast Track recipient, Chris Tritschler; and BBC Comedy Creator Bursary recipient, Scott Turnbul, aided by the superb directorial talent of Teesside local Andy Berriman.

Each short is between 90 and 120 seconds and will be shared across digital platforms in and around the Tall Ships event.

Click here to learn more about the creators.

A new series of the beloved TV classic, Byker, in development with Fulwell 73 and Mitre Studios

Posted on 4 July 20234 July 2023 by Jo Macleod

17 years after Byker Grove closed its doors for the last time, the North East based TV classic is set to make a comeback. Emmy award winning entertainment company, Fulwell 73, the team behind Friends: The Reunion, The Kardashians and Gavin and Stacey: Christmas Special, and Ant and Dec’s Mitre Studios, who co-produce BAFTA-award winning Saturday Night Takeaway, DNA Journey and Limitless Win, announced they are entering into a development period to relaunch the celebrated show, which will be entitled BYKER, and will be filmed and produced in and around the North East.

Originally broadcast between 1989 – 2006, Byker Grove became a household favourite as it told the story of a youth club in Newcastle. Celebrated for its handling of hard hitting and controversial storylines, the programme ran for 18 series and launched many famous faces both in front of and behind the camera, including Ant and Dec themselves as fun-loving duo ‘PJ & Duncan’.

Now the reboot, aimed at a primetime audience, will return as BYKER, engaging with a new generation of teenagers navigating the different challenges faced by young adults today. Touching on youth and adult storylines, the series will serve a cross generational audience including stories for a nostalgic audience of past fans as well as teenagers today, all set against the backdrop of Newcastle and the North East.

Fulwell 73’s Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood will serve as Executive Producers with Ant McPartlin & Declan Donnelly as Executive Producers and Creative Consultants for Mitre Studios.

Leo Pearlman, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Fulwell 73 said:

“Working in collaboration is vital to the North East’s success. Partnering through our Sunderland office with Ant and Dec’s company Mitre Studios, an unlikely and yet dream team of Mackems and Geordies, to bring back a series starring and made by local people, is something we’re incredibly proud of at Fulwell 73. We can’t wait to share BYKER with new and old fans alike, showcasing the very best of our region to the world as part of our long-term commitment to a sustainable industry in the North East.”

Declan Donnelly said:

“Byker Grove will always be very special to us as the show which gave us our break, so we are beyond excited to be working together with Fulwell 73 on bringing it back. We are looking forward to bringing this fresh incarnation to a whole new generation as well as those who remember it as fondly as we do.

As proud Geordies, we’re looking forward to help shine a spotlight on the North East and the talent the region has to offer both in front of the camera and behind it.”

Ant McPartlin said:

“We owe such a lot to Byker Grove and the North East so we can’t wait to start working with Fulwell 73 and the team to bring this iconic series back to life. The original series was the starting point for a lot of North East talent so we’re excited to see what the new team will bring.”

Mitre Studios said:

“We’re delighted that Mitre Studios and Fulwell 73 are joining forces to bring Byker back to life. The show obviously holds a very special place in the heart for Ant and Dec as it was where it all started for them. The North East is a hotbed of emerging talent both on and off screen, so we’re extremely proud to be able to tap into that and help give something back to the region.”

Speaking of the news that BYKER will be rebooting, North East Screen Chief Executive, Alison Gwynn said:

“Byker Grove was such an iconic North East TV show and I’m delighted to see Fulwell 73 and Mitre Studios announce that they are developing the reboot. We are looking forward to working with them to bring their vision to life, and the opportunities it will bring for those already working in the North East screen industries, and those looking to get into the industry.”

Behind the scenes, BYKER will aim to be a returnable series providing sustainable training both in front and behind the camera, including new talent in a North East focused writers’ room and work placements. Fulwell 73 and Mitre Studios will unite to film across Newcastle and Sunderland as part of both companies’ commitment to their home region and North East based production offices. Ant and Dec will also look to integrate their successful Prince’s Trust, Making it in Media course as part of the production to help give experience and confidence to young people in the North East who are looking to pursue a career in the media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mitre Studios (@mitrestudios)

Top North East location features in newly released Indiana Jones film

Posted on 28 June 20233 July 2023 by North East Screen

The fifth and final instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise, that filmed in the North East in 2021, is in now in cinemas.

The production took over Bamburgh Castle in the summer of 2021 to shoot the opening sequence of the film.

The North East Screen Film Office support this production when they filmed in Bamburgh by helping them source crew, locations and permissions from the relevant local authorities.

When speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, Locations Director Duncan Broadfoot said, “When we brought our director [to Northumberland], he immediately knew that Bamburgh was the right choice.

“We were there for two weeks dressing the castle and it looked really fantastic when we came to film.

Duncan continued: “We had two key hooks that we were looking for that would tie us into a specific location.

“One was a castle – we needed a castle that had a nice entrance, grand court yard and grand interior space, and we found that in Bamburgh.

“It has such a diverse, rich tapestry of locations up there – we are spoilt for choice really.”

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is in cinemas now.

New original drama supported by the North East Production Fund begins filming in the North East

Posted on 19 June 202320 June 2023 by North East Screen

New original drama, The Red King, has recently begun filming in the North East, joining an array of productions using the North East as their filming base.

The six-part series, supported by the North East Production Fund, is written by Toby Whitehouse (Being Human, The Game) and produced by Quay Street Productions, has been commissioned by UKTV for leading crime drama channel, Alibi.

North East Screen Chief Executive, Alison Gwynn, was thrilled to hear that The Red King had started filming in the North East. She said,

“I am delighted to welcome Quay Street Productions to the North East to film their new original drama, The Red King. Having this production based in the region not only shows faith in the adaptability of our stunning locations, but also supports our highly-skilled crew who are based here, being able to work in the region and sleep in their own homes.”

Following the successful North East Production Fund pilots, children’s TV series Cooking With the Gills (MCC Media Ltd), and feature film, Jackdaw (Anton Corp); The Red King is the last North East Production Fund pilot which is managed and delivered by North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership. The Production Fund is now open to expressions of interest and those interested parties should complete the form on our Production Fund page.

Open to both local and national companies, the fund aims to catalyse the sustainable growth of the North East’s film and TV production sector by investing in a portfolio of distinctive, high-quality project that will collectively contribute to the region, increasing the on-screen visibility and actively contribute to employment of locally based crew, spend in the region and improved equality, diversity and sustainability.

Speaking about the North East Production Fund being open, Alison Gwynn said,

“With the North East Production Fund now live, we will attract more high-end TV productions, feature films and returning series to the region. For every £1 we give out, we expect productions to spend at least £10 in the region driving inward investment and developing the region’s reputation as a destination for high level TV and film production.”

In the past year, North East Screen’s Film Office has supported 57 productions filming in the region, including The Old Oak, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Vera, The Dumping Ground, Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, Danny and Mick, who have in turn spent over £12 million in the region. These join a growing list of feature film and tv productions who have filmed in the North East including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves, Blue Jean, I, Daniel Blake, 1917, The Last Kingdom, Emmerdale and Inspector George Gently.

The North East Screen Film Office supports both indigenous and incoming productions to the region with a vast network of locations, crew, facilities, studios, and a wealth of local knowledge. With a filming friendly agreement in place with all 12 local authorities, they can support facilitating productions in gaining permissions, road closures, parking permits and securing locations. For more information head to www.northeastscreen.org/film-office

Alibi commissions Toby Whithouse drama The Red King

Posted on 12 June 202312 June 2023 by North East Screen

UKTV’s catalogue of original drama continues to grow, with the latest commission of The Red King (6×60’) for leading crime drama channel Alibi, which is currently filming in the North East.

The six-part series is created and written by Toby Whithouse (Being Human, The Game) and produced by Quay Street Productions, in association with ITV Studios, which will handle international distribution, and supported by North East Screen.

Filming starts today and features a star-studded line up with Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project, Vigil) playing Grace Narayan, Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte) as Lady Heather Nancarrowand Marc Warren (Van Der Valk) as Dr Ian Prideaux.

Further cast include Jill Halfpenny (The Long Shadow, Everything I Know About Love) as Ann Fletcher, Mark Lewis Jones (Keeping Faith) as Gruffudd Prosser, Oliver Ryan (Steeltown Murders, Pennyworth) as Mihangel Pugh, Sam Swainsbury (Mum, Fisherman’s Friend) as Father Douglas Carrisford, Lu Corfield (Showtrial) as Lowri Bain, James Bamford (Luther: The Fallen Sun) as Owen Parry and Maeve Courtier-Lilley (The Outpost) as Winter Bain.

Toby Whithouse said: “Working with Quay Street and UKTV has been a genuine joy. This has been a passion project for all of us. A genre bending mystery, combining drama, suspense and horror, starring some of the best actors in television. We’re so excited to share these characters and their stories with you.”

Smart, capable and by the book Grace Narayan (Mohindra) was flying high as an inner-city police sergeant before being forced into a ‘punishment posting’ on the small, antiquated island of St. Jory. Confronted by the forgotten and unsolved case of missing teenage boy Cai, Grace quickly discovers that she must overcome scarce evidence, extraordinary local characters, and the island’s strange cult history to uncover the truth.

The Red King is a character-driven mystery-thriller, that combines the powerful story of a knotty police investigation with chilling, atmospheric folk-horror through the island’s eerie past devotion to a pagan God called the Red King and the cult of the True Way.

The UKTV Original series has been commissioned by Philippa Collie Cousins, senior commissioning editor, with Pete Thornton, head of scripted, and ordered for Alibi by Emma Ayech, channel director, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Executive producers are Nicola Shindler (Nolly, It’s A Sin, Stay Close) and Davina Earl (Men Up, Safe, Come Home) for Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios), Philippa Collie Cousins for UKTV and Toby Whithouse. The series will be directed by Daniel O’Hara (Stay Close, The Stranger, Brassic), who is also executive producer, and produced by Guy Hescott (Without Sin, Whitstable Pearl).

Hilary Rosen said: “Toby Whithouse has created a clever and ambitious crime drama set in a vivid island location, and this dark and original tale will have audiences gripped. We are delighted to be collaborating once again with Nicola Shindler and her fantastic team at Quay Street Productions.”

Emma Ayech added: “We’re so excited to be working with the team at Quay Street Productions on this brilliant new series. The ensemble cast will perfectly bring the story to life, making this a fantastic addition to our growing portfolio of UKTV Original dramas on Alibi.”

Davina Earl, Executive Producer, Quay Street Productions said: “The Red King has been such an exciting project to bring to the screen, working with the team at UKTV. Toby Whithouse has a wonderfully distinctive voice, and his scripts are deeply intriguing, darkly funny and truly scary. The cast are a stellar mix of some of our most well-known and beloved actors. Plus, we get to showcase the North East as we create this compelling and atmospheric drama, which, as a North Easterner, is incredibly rewarding.”

The Red King is the latest UKTV Original for Alibi and will air in 2024. Other original dramas include The Diplomat, produced by World Productions, and Annika, which stars Nicola Walker and will return to Alibi for a second series later this year.

Two North East organisations awarded BBC Comedy grants

Posted on 26 May 202326 May 2023 by North East Screen

Laurels and Felt Nowt have both been selected to receive £5,000 from BBC Comedy to support their comedy outreach and inclusion projects.

The recipients of the comedy grants were announced by Jon Petrie at the BBC Comedy Festival in Cardiff on Thursday the 25th of May. The grants are an opportunity for BBC Comedy to increase engagement with companies and organisations that want to support growth and access opportunities in comedy.

Laurels, a popular entertainment venue in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, will be using their BBC Comedy grant to help move comedy talent from lower socio-economic backgrounds off social media and into larger-scale development.

Felt Nowt plan to use its grant to extend its programme to focus on workshops for LGBTQ+ comedy performers in the region. They said: “We were delighted to receive this grant, it will help us on our mission to bring more comedy to the region and we are excited to find some exciting new comedians from underrepresented communities”

Lisa Laws, Head of Talent and Development at North East Screen said: “I’m really excited to see what Laurels and Felt Nowt can bring to the region’s emerging comedy scene supporting talent and audiences to imagine possibilities for crossing over from theatre to screen. They are both already doing some amazing work, and I looking forward to seeing what’s next.”

Deadline extended for Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager role

Posted on 25 May 202325 May 2023 by North East Screen

You now have until the 13^th of June to apply for the Skills Cluster Evaluation role with Screen Alliance North.

This role is full time (37 hours per week) on a three year fixed contract. You can be based at any of the partner offices in Sunderland, Hartlepool, Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds and will see work across all of the partner regions.

Screen Alliance North, a new £2.3m BFI Skills Cluster led by Screen Yorkshire, Liverpool Film Office, Screen Manchester and North East Screen, has been created to support the development and training of the screen sector workforce across the North of England.

Visit our careers page to learn more about this role.

https://northeastscreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screen-Yorkshire.jpg

The BBC and Middlechild Productions bring career workshops to Sunderland and Hartlepool Colleges

Posted on 18 May 202318 May 2023 by North East Screen

BBC Academy and Middlechild Productions visited two colleges in the North East today, bringing an interactive Q&A workshop for students looking to start a career in factual filmmaking and production.

The visit was to celebrate the launch of BBC Three’s Therapy: Tough Talking documentary, which features North East actor and rapper Kema Sikazwe (aka Kema Kay). The film follows Kema’s journey through therapy as he faces his past traumas. Students at Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form got to speak with the producers about job opportunities and gaining experience for a career in television.

Students also pitched their own ideas for factual programmes, inspired by their own lives in the North East, and received feedback from television professionals. A special recorded message from Kema was also played for each college, and his therapist Hayley Tyson- Adams discussed the importance of mental health support and finding help.

This workshop is part of the BBC’s Across the UK Strategy, which seeks to invest more in training and production outside of London to better represent and serve the whole UK. This comes after the BBC announced to commit £25 million to the North East, partnering with companies like Northern Child, Middlechild’s sister company, to increase production and opportunities in the region.

Diana Hare, Commissioning Editor at the BBC, said: “Therapy: Tough Talking is a unique project. Kema’s courage, in allowing cameras in the therapy room, will help demystify and destigmatise the process. We’re grateful that we can continue to foster creativity in the North East by bringing this workshop to local colleges.”

Andrew Eastel, Creative Director at Middlechild, and the director of the documentary, said, “Everyone on the team has felt extremely privileged to have worked on Therapy: Tough Talking. To be granted the unique access to film Kema’s therapy has been both enlightening and fulfilling. By bravely allowing cameras into the room, Kema and Hayley have shone a light on the power of therapy and addressed many of the misconceptions associated with it, especially amongst younger people. We’re delighted to have this opportunity to screen the film to students in Sunderland and Hartlepool. Not just because some of them may relate to the subject of the film, but also to highlight the power of documentary filmmaking, and hopefully inspire some filmmakers of the future.”

Ruth Magnus, Director of Student Services at Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College, said: “We were pleased to be among the select number of colleges involved in the screening of the Therapy: Tough Talking documentary. Across our colleges, we have a responsibility for the positive mental health of our students.

“Through this experience, we will be able to challenge the misconceptions of mental illness, raise awareness of symptoms and demonstrate compassion.”

Watch Therapy: Tough Taking on BBC iPlayer here.