The ScreenSkills Podcast

Episode two of The ScreenSkills Podcast is here! We speak to broadcaster, author, motivational speaker and star of his very own animation CBeebies show, Dr Amit Patel. We caught up with him at the ScreenSkills and Adobe Foundation Skills For Change conference where we asked him your questions in our Ask Me Anything feature. We’ll bring you some of the highlights from the conference too where industry leaders spoke across four panels on issues around equity, diversity and inclusion and how to embed practices into productions and workspaces across the UK.

Welcome to episode one! In our debut episode, we sit down with Emmy-nominated sound designer Chad Orororo and screenwriter Tony Schumacher, the creator of the BAFTA-nominated BBC drama The Responder, to explore their career paths and experiences in the industry. Chad and Tony share the challenges they faced throughout their journeys, including navigating feelings of being an outsider, and the training programmes that supported their growth. They highlight the impact of the ScreenSkills New Writers Mentorship and Leaders of Tomorrow initiatives, developed by the High-end TV Skills Fund, as well as the Film Forward programme, developed by the Film Skills Fund, and how these opportunities helped shape their careers. In our "Demystifying" segment, Eli Beaton from the TV Access Project (TAP) joins us to break down the 5As - a set of guidelines for disability inclusion - and offers practical advice on adopting these practices to create more accessible working environments. Finally, in our "Storytime" segment, we chat with hair and make-up designer Annie Little. Annie shares her experience of entering the industry later in life and how participating in Skills Fund programmes like Trainee Finder and Leaders of Tomorrow gave her the confidence to launch BLCKSTR, a platform where she trains artists in working with textured hair and make-up for medium to deep skin tones.

ScreenSkills is launching a podcast! Join us as we go behind the camera to explore the UK screen industry with the help of those within it. From animation to film, TV to visual effects, in each episode we'll meet the people working across the UK and share their stories with you.