Boot camp at Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios to fill skills gap

Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios is hosting a free two-day boot camp in a bid to fill a skills gap in high end television drama production.

Home to BBC favourites, including Poldark and Sherlock, the former wine warehouse in Hengrove has carved a reputation for itself in the film and small screen industry, and is now seeking to highlight off-camera roles available for people from a range of work backgrounds.

The BBC’s Poldark is one of the many TV dramas made at the Bottle Yard Studios

While the glitz and glamour of a television career attracts no shortage of actors, camera operators and producers, there are a number of behind-the-scenes jobs – from hair and beauty, to construction and computing – that need filling.

The two-day boot camp will be held at Bottle Yard Studios in Whitchurch Lane, on January 18-19 2018, with support from High End TV (HETV) Levy Fund, managed by Creative Skillset. It will be run by the Bristol-based film and TV production and training company, Calling The Shots.

The Bottle Yard Studios has helped secure Bristol’s reputation as a film and TV production hub

Steve Gear, co-founder and director of Calling The Shots says: “UK production of high-end drama is currently enjoying a boom, as a result of which, the Bottle Yard Studios is busier than ever.

“But recent research into high end TV skills by Creative Skillset shows there is widespread industry concern that future growth will be limited unless more people with the right off-camera talents and skills get involved.

“It takes a great variety of skills to make a top quality television drama, but while many want to act in them, direct, operate the cameras and so on, there is a widening skills shortage when it comes to filling equally vital and interesting practical and technical roles, such as set construction, hair and make-up, costume-making, transport, location management, crane operators, electrics and computing.”

The idea of the two-day event is to let attendees who have developed skills in other areas of work explore how their know-how might transfer to TV drama.

The two-day event will include a tour of the studios

It will include a tour of The Bottle Yard Studios, a location for many television dramas, including Broadchurch, Sherlock, Wolf Hall and Poldark, a visit to a working production set and the site’s set-building and costume workshops, as well as talks by experienced on and off camera personnel.

There will also be chance for attendees to have a go themselves.

ITV’s Broadchurch is produced in the Bottle Yard Studios

Kaye Elliott, Creative Skillset high end TV programme lead, says: “Attracting new talent to the high end TV industry in the regions is vital to sustain growth. These regional boot camps serve as an ideal entry pathway for those interested in a career in High End TV drama.”

The two-day boot camp will take place from 9.30am-5pm on Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19 2018. There are 50 places available and applications can be made using the form available at www.callingtheshots.co.uk/skillset.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, January 8.

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