It's Lights, Camera, 'Action!' for new film and TV training programmel

LIVERPOOL City Council's Film Office is looking for people who want to kickstart their career in film and TV, by joining:- 'Action,' a brand new skills initiative.

Over the next 3 years, the Film Office aims to support around 1,000 people into the industry by delivering an innovative, free to access skills programme to build a stronger and diverse screen sector in the Liverpool City Region.

The programme will include:- career surgeries, training, workshops, industry bootcamps, access to additional employability assets, masterclasses with established crew and opportunities for paid placements on set.

To be eligible for the programme, applicants must be aged 18 and over, live in the Liverpool City Region and have the right to work in the UK and cannot be in further or higher education.

Those interested must register on the Liverpool Film Office Crew database as a:- 'New Entrant' and select the field / department that is of most interest to them.

Once registered, new entrants will be told of upcoming opportunities and, due to the limited places available on each activity, will be asked to fill in an application form.

Action! has been made possible through £2.3m of BFI National Lottery funding which was awarded to Screen Alliance North, a new skills cluster partnership delivered by Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire.

The partnership aims to make the screen sector more accessible and representative and to build a thriving and skilled workforce across the North of England.

For more information about Action! and how to register, please visit the official Liverpool Film Office website.

Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said:- "Action! will provide fantastic opportunities for those dreaming of a career in film and TV to make it a reality. The Film Office is working hard to open doors to anyone, no matter what their background, to have the opportunity to work in such an exciting industry. This training will not only assist in tackling the skills gaps within the film and TV industry in the North, but provide potentially life-changing opportunities for those who need it most."

Councillor Lila Bennett, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, said:- "Developing skills can make dreams a reality and Action! has the potential to be a transformative journey for those lucky enough to be part of the programme. As a City Council we are committed to doing everything we can to give residents the skills they need to be employment-ready, and in doing so make sectors like the TV and film industry as diverse and inclusive as possible."

Head of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders said:- "We're thrilled to be able to announce Action! and cannot wait to see a whole new cohort of film and TV crew coming through our training process and beginning their career in the industry. Under Screen Alliance North, we want to bridge the gap when it comes to training and securing a 1st job in the industry, working closely with our partners to build a stronger and more inclusive workforce. These opportunities will be tailored to specific skill set to ensure we are providing a real taste of what it's like to work on a production. I'm looking forward to meeting the new cohort and watching them kickstart their careers."

Ask your questions about policing in Merseyside

MERSEYSIDE'S Police Commissioner is inviting people to submit their questions for the Chief Constable and her senior team as she prepares for her next public Scrutiny Meeting.

Emily Spurrell is responsible for holding the Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, to account for delivering on her policing and community safety priorities and maintaining an efficient and effective Police service in Merseyside.

1 of the key ways the Police Commissioner undertakes this crucial role is through quarterly public Scrutiny Meetings, which include questions submitted by the public which she then puts to the Chief Constable and her Chief Officer team.

While the focus for the next Scrutiny Meeting will be Merseyside Police's response to 999 calls and road safety, the Commissioner is inviting questions on any policing or community safety issue with the aim of further increasing the openness and transparency around policing in our Region.

The meeting will be live streamed, at:- 1.00pm on:- Monday, 11 March 2024, to enable everyone to watch and hear the responses to their questions.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "1 of my top priorities as Commissioner is to listen to what our residents have to say and to be their voice on policing and community safety issues. Your questions and opinions matter to me and can help to make Merseyside a safer place for everyone. It's vitally important the public trust the Police and can see that money and resources are being used wisely to deliver the best possible service to keep our communities safe. I hope by providing this opportunity it will help to reassure people that both myself and the Chief Constable are committed to being as open and transparent about the Police's work as possible. Don't miss your chance to put your question to the Chief Constable and her team!"

The meeting will provide Chief Officers with the opportunity to give the Commissioner a detailed account of the force's progress and how they are working to make our communities safer.

How to ask a question?

Please submit your questions by:- Sunday, 3 March 2024, online, or offline by writing to:-

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Mather Avenue Training Centre
Mather Avenue
Liverpool
L18 9TG

A selection of questions which are received by this deadline will be asked by the Police Commissioner and addressed by Chief Officers. Questions should not focus on individual cases as these cannot be addressed in a public domain.