Your say / channel 4
‘Bristol is a city where ‘giving it a go’ is rewarded’
Bristol is in the running to become the new home for Channel 4 and broadcasting bosses paid the city a visit last week. With a decision due this October, Bristol24/7 has been asking people across the city to share their stories of the city.
The step up from GCSE to A-Level was too much for me and despite going to a good school and trying hard, I flopped my A-Levels. I didn’t feel that going to university was an option, but luckily, being 16-24 meant I was able to engage with a lot of the city’s free youth services and social enterprises, such as Creative Youth Network, Ujima, Trinity Community Arts and Babbasa.
From there, I was recommended for a job at a startup social enterprise and was able to build my media skills. While working there, I was introduced to more and more people, from a multitude of different backgrounds and ages, working on exciting projects across the city.
is needed now More than ever
Eventually, this led me to the opportunity to produce one of Channel 4’s Random Acts called First Acts (short art films). With the support of my mentors and Calling the Shots, I was able to produce a film. The whole process made me realise that the team behind the camera was one I wanted to be a part of.
Quite quickly after this, I was passed a link to Channel 4’s Diversity Production Training Scheme, which is delivered by ThinkBigger!. Coming from a city where “giving it a go” was rewarded, I thought why not apply.
And here I am, nearly a year later, at one of the fastest growing UK indies, which also happens to be one of the most welcoming and supportive places to work, Plimsoll Productions (plug, plug).
Christine Owen, the managing director of Plimsoll Productions
Whilst being on the scheme – after an intense bootcamp – I have been lucky enough to visit Channel 4 every month and meet professionals in the television industry. We have great people, including commissioners, head of creative diversity & special projects Angela Chan and Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon. After every introduction, I have been overwhelmed by the openness and interest shown in what we, as a group of young and diverse individuals, have to say.
So, from my experience, there are people in Bristol that really care about pushing and nurturing diverse creative talent. I think that’s fundamentally what makes Bristol so appealing, it’s a big city with a lot going on – and a lot of work to do – but at its core, there is a community and network of passionate people behind it.
Which is really why I rate Channel 4, from my experience it’s a public broadcaster which has a real commitment to diversity and innovation from its leaders through to its output.
MeeMee Sharry
MeeMee Sharry is a Bristolian and trainee researcher at Plimsoll Productions on Channel 4’s Production Training Scheme.
Read more: ‘Bristol breeds and nurtures artists’
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