Hope everyone has had some kind of a break this summer or at least got to enjoy the weather. We are closing the office for the rest of this month for our summer holidays, back on 5th September! UPCOMING IN SEPTEMBER We are in the process of finalising our course programme schedule for Autumn, so more details on courses next month but as a little teaser, we will be running courses for Production Buyers, Set Decorators and transferring architects and architecture graduates into the Art Department, as well as the Industry Sessions programme with more insights and advice from industry guests. More information will be released once dates are confirmed. Keep an eye out on social and in your inbox! Overview of the Art Dept – Thursday 22nd September 10:00-12:30 Online This 2 hour session examines all the different job roles and art department teams, how they work together and what you need to succeed in them. We also discuss CVs, portfolios and who to call for work and when. It is full of advice for anyone starting out or wanting more information. Cost £70+vat. All details and how to apply here. Working in Locations with Amie Tridgell Saturday 24th September 10:00 – 11:30 zoom Amie is a Location Manager with over 15 years experience. Her recent credits include Matilda, Cruella and The King. Amie will be discussing the role, and how it changes across different budget levels, the importance of negotiation and how she collaborates with the art department. Cost £30. Apply here Props Training Course We have confirmed the next group of TP Props trainees and are looking forward to starting their programme in September. They will be looking at how the department works, the different job roles, what is expected of them, what to have in their kit and how to be generally brilliant! A great starting point. INDUSTRY SESSIONS We had a great Industry Session this weekend with Stand By Mat Bergel. Lots of great advice and insider tips! INDUSTRY TOP TIP Production Designer/Supervising Art Director, Denis Schnegg (Hanna, Napoleon, DEVS) offers some great advice: "This is common knowledge by now, but it can't be stressed enough: don't be tempted to rely on emails to really sort things out. TALK TO PEOPLE !!!" Emails, texts, WhattsApp, messenger, Slack – nuance and positive intentions can often get lost in translation! Pick up the phone! Same goes for networking for jobs – you can make a much bigger impact in a 2 minute phone call than you can in an email. Be brave! THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING Autumn dramas! They will all be gearing up now – yay! – and the first one is the much anticipated House of the Dragons. We had lots of trainees, mentors and mentees on this show (working in Art Dept, Props and Set Dec) so are looking forward to seeing all your hard work this week. Congratulations to you all. The next 5 year BFI strategy is currently being developed and Director of Skills and Industry Neil Peplow spoke recently on the importance of inclusive practices on film and tv drama. The BFI is “keen to advocate for workplaces that are more representative through behaviours and cultures that are more inclusive”. They will be looking to address covert and subconscious attitudes (bullying and harassment, racism etc) on productions and ensure workplaces are safer as a result. Pampelle – we need to include something slightly more frivolous here and here it is! The delicious grapefruit aperitif. Perfect in the sun on ice, with soda, in a spritz instead of Aperol. Summer in a glass.

Hope the summer is treating everyone well so far and the cooler weather is more bearable on productions! UPCOMING SESSIONS PROPS COURSE September/October We will be running a new Props Course this Autumn. This will run on Zoom during September and October, with a practical workshop session at the end of the programme. We will cover everything you need to know to work successfully in Props – how the department is structured, the skills and kit you need, what you can expect and what will be expected of you. It will help you get onto your first job and understand what you need to do to get asked back. It is ideal for anyone looking to start in Props, as well as those who have recently joined the department on features and tv dramas but would benefit from more knowledge and some support. Cost £375+vat. More info and Application Form here “this course made such a difference to how I started on my first film job. It helped me get onto it in the first place and then really helped when I was there. ” (props trainee, summer 2022) Prop Masters – please share with anyone you think would benefit from the training. INTRODUCTION TO SET DECORATING Wednesday 17th August 10:00 - 12:30 Are you looking to work in the Set Decorating team on features and HETV dramas? Or would you like to know more about it before you decide where you are best suited? This Introduction to Set Decorating session will help answer your questions. Cost £75+vat. Details here INDUSTRY SESSIONS We are looking forward to relaunching the Industry Sessions programme in August with two fantastic guests. These are informal workshops where we learn about the role and specific aspects of the job. They are small, friendly groups with questions submitted in advance so that you get to hear what you need to know. A great way to learn from the best. Standing By with Mat Bergel Saturday 20th August 10:00 – 11: 30 zoom Mat is an experienced Standby Prop and Standby Art Director with nearly 30 years experience on features and tv dramas. His recent credits including Sam Mendes’ Emipire of Light, All Quiet on the Western Front and Riviera. He will be discussing the role of Stand By, his process and breakdowns and working with cast and directors. Cost £30. Apply here Working in Locations with Amie Tridgell Saturday 24th September 10:00 – 11:30 zoom Amie is a Location Manager with over 15 years experience. Her recent credits include Matilda, Cruella andThe King. Amie will be discussing the role, and how it changes across different budget levels, the importance of negotiation and how she collaborates with the art department. Cost £30. Apply here INDUSTRY TOP TIP Don’t let one bad day ruin your week. Everyone has bad days but if possible, try and draw a line at the end of it and focus on the many other positives that there are – and that you bring! It makes the following day much more bearable and keeps everything in perspective. Always a good thing. THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING Prima Facie – if you missed this at the theatre, NT Live is screening performances over the next week. It is a phenonemal performance from Jodie Comer and a production that has broken all previous records of event cinema – rightly so. Go and see. BECTU/PACT negotiation You will have seen updates on social media about the proposed deal from PACT on crew working hours for the TV drama agreements. This proposal has a lot of loopholes and will have a direct impact on crew deals going forward. If you haven’t already done so, please join BECTU (currently offering a reduced rate) and vote to reject the proposal. If you don’t engage, you can’t complain! Ikea oat and chocolate biscuits - these were recommended and swerved us away from the traditional Dime choice. Definitely worth putting in the trolley next time you petty cash buyers are there!

MENTORING NETWORK Our latest round of TP mentees – 8 new freelancers working in the art department and post production - have now completed a series of workshops and are beginning one to one sessions and time with their industry mentor. If you are looking for trainees who are ready to hit the ground running in props, post, set dec and the art dept, please let us know. UPCOMING SESSIONS ONE-TO-ONE CAREER SESSIONS 60mins Online This one hour session looks at where you want to be in the film and television drama industries and what you need to do to get there. We look at your CV, who you need to be sending it to and when and how to fill your skills and knowledge gaps; "All the stuff that you need to know but no-one ever tells you". £125+vat Details here OVERVIEW OF THE ART DEPRATMENT Wednesday 20th July Our popular session which examines the scale and scope of the art department on feature films and HETV dramas and how to work successfully in it. We cover all the job roles – if you are interested in working in set dec, graphics, props or the art department this is the perfect starting point. You will understand what everyone does, where you are best suited, what will be expected of you, what to put in your cv and get onto productions and how to do well. £75+vat Details here RETURN TO WORK PROGRAMME We are in the process of confirming placements for some of our Return To Work participants – if you are crewing up and would benefit from an extra pair of hands in Production Buying, Set Dec Art Directing and Art Directing , please let us know. If your production is contributing to the HETV Skills Fund, we can cover up to £6,000 of their salary. Please contact info@talkingpointfilm.co.uk for more information. BFI SKILLS REVIEW The BFI Skills Review 2022 published this week is a detailed look at workforce development in Film and HETV production sector. The report highlights the key skills challenges currently facing production and sets out recommended actions. Helen was the industry consultant on this report and would like to thank everyone who contributed to it, both formally and informally. It was a comprehensive piece of work and the aim was to get physical production’s voice and concerns heard. Let us know what you think – we would love to hear. Read the review here INDUSTRY TOP TIP “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” Prep is a word we use a lot. It’s important. But it’s not just about the time leading up to the shoot…..it’s for the duration. A mindset if you will! Prep your day as much as you can – get in early and calmly go through your to do list, make notes and prioritise properly. Give yourself a rough idea of how long each element will take to do. Refer back to it throughout the day, communicating progress with others. Enjoy crossing thing off and making notes so you are ready to pick up the following day. The more prep you do, the more you will get through and the more rewarding it will all feel. THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING Summer blockbusters are well and truly hitting the screen – although not sure many will come close to box office success as Top Gun Maverick, a whirlwind of big screen entertainment. Proper homage to all things Simpson/Bruckheimer and well worth the cinema ticket. If staying in is more your thing and you haven’t caught it yet, Sherwood is TV drama at its absolute best. Writing, direction, performances and craft/tech achievements are all absolutely on point. The news is grim these days as we seem to hurl from one horror to another – reading and watching it all can be draining. So thankfully political commentator Lovely Lydia provides a weekly round of up politics and international events. She has worked in many UK government and Foreign and Commonwealth departments so has an excellent understanding of all news and its impact and explains it clearly and insightfully. She is also an artist, printmaker and seamstress – so lots going on!

The BFI Skills Review 2022 published this week is a detailed look at workforce development in Film and HETV production sector. The report highlights the key skills challenges currently facing production, existing approaches and initiatives that could be expanded or learned from, and sets out recommended actions to help inform a future strategy.

We have had some great Sessions this month, including Production Design with Mark Tildesley, Scenic Prop & Painting with Tess Faria and our ever popular, Overview of the Art Dept. Production Designer -Mark Tildesley Scenic Prop & Painter - Tess Faria MENTORING NETWORK We are very excited to introduce our new round of TP mentees – 8 new freelancers working in the art department and post production. They will work with us over the next 3 months, participating in a series of workshops, one to one sessions and time with their industry mentor. More from them soon. We also had a great meet up with mentees in London – so good to see everyone in real life and hear how well they are all doing. We have mentees working on a wide range of productions, including Empire of Light, One Day, And/Or, Never Let Me Go, Spiral Damsel, Fast and Furious, Our Man from Jersey and Bridgerton. UPCOMING ART DEPARTMENT SESSIONS INTRODUCTION TO SET DECORATING Friday 10th June 10:00-12:30 Are you looking to work in the Set Decorating team on features and HETV dramas? Or would you like to know more about it before you decide where you are best suited? Details here OVERVIEW OF THE ART DEPARTMENT Tuesday 14th June 10:00-12:30 Our popular session which examines the scale and scope of the art department on feature films and HETV dramas and how to work successfully in it. Details here UNDERSTANDING THE FILM INDUSTRY Tuesday 21st June 10:00-12:30 Are you wanting to work in the film industry? Have you started your career but need help progressing? This workshop will answer all your questions and point you in the right direction! Details here INDUSTRY TOP TIP This month the top tip comes from a couple of our set dec mentees, who when recently asked for advice offered, “always go for a wee before you go out buying” and “make sure you have a car full of snacks” – solid advice for us all! THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING The RHS has brought moments of calm, inspiration and art this week. Impressive and relaxing in equal measure – and humbling to see Deborah James’ rose in full bloom. Also, if you are a gardening type Caroline Quentin on insta has a myriad of top tips for the green fingered and an envy inducing garden to enjoy. Dr Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist and has a great way of visualising anxiety and providing tools to manage stress. She is on insta/tik tok and gives good pointers on how to stay mentally well in challenging circumstances. River Cottage Kombucha – yes, kombucha is good for us and all the rage but is often undrinkable. This one is tasty and a great non alcoholic alternative on a hot day – also a good energy boost mid afternoon; (sipping slowly is a must, it’s still vinegar whatever you put in it!)

It is positively Spring-like now – hope everyone is managing to get some nature fixes at lunchtime. Lots going on this month…. UPCOMING SESSIONS PRODUCTION DESIGN INDUSTRY SESSION with Mark Tildesley Saturday 30th April 10:00 -11:30 Mark Tildesley is one of the world’s leading Production Designers, currently designing Sam Mendes’ feature Empire of Light. His recent credits include The Bubble, No Time to Die, The Two Popes and Phantom Thread. Having designed some of the world’s biggest feature films, he will be discussing his journey into production design, his design process across different budget ranges and how he collaborates with Set Dec, Props and Construction to achieve the look. Details here SCENIC & PROP PAINTING - INDUSTRY SESSION with Tess Faria Saturday 7th May 10:00-11:00 Hear about the roles of scenic and props painters, how Tess creates different paint finishes and get some top tips on the techniques she uses. Ideal for anyone dressing on low-mid budget jobs where there isn’t a props painter. Details here OVERVIEW OF THE ART DEPARTMENT Tuesday 3rd May 10:00-12:30 Our popular session which examines the scale and scope of the art department on feature films and HETV dramas and how to work successfully in it. Details here LUKE WHITELOCK DESIGN - 50% Discount on SketchUp Tutorial Art Director Luke Whitelock (Enola Holmes 2, The Sandman, Cruella) has offered us a 50% discount on his Sketchup tutorial. The tutorials include the workflow from start to finish, tutorials on window design, door design, CNC and basic steel fabrication as well as a pack of 6 license free door models for your own use. It’s a great way to understand Sketchup and how it can be applied to set design. Luke is also happy to answer any questions you may have. Use the code lw22 at checkout for your discount to be applied. PROPS TRAINING COURSE We have wrapped on the latest Props Course which finished with a great day's workshop in Brighton with Prop Master Ben Johnson and a suprise visit from Storeman Quentin Davies. A genuinely brilliant group of trainees, we wish them every success! MENTORING NETWORK - LAST CALL FOR APPLICATIONS! The Network provides a community of support so that you can make the first steps into the industry or move up a grade successfully. Lots of information, guidance and advice, as well as access to networking events and introductions to practitioners. This is a successful scheme – we have 140 Mentees on the Network, 90% of whom are now working in the department of their choice on Band 2 and 3 feature and tv drama productions all over the UK. More details and how to apply here INDUSTRY TOP TIP Don’t stop doing your best just because someone isn’t giving you due credit. Film is a collaborative venture but there will always be those who think they are creating the magic on their own! Don’t let that deter you from doing your best work every day. People will notice. THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING Renowned film stills photographer Greg Williams has launched an online magazine, Hollywood Authentic, where he shares behind the scenes footage and interviews. Think old-school film magazines or Life with interesting stories and beautiful stills. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this weekend’s Bafta TV Craft Awards. Great to see proper attention being given to those working behind camera. Particular shout out to the art department on Landscapers (and to our mentees and mentors who worked on it!) Tree-free rainbow seed paper – one step further than recycled paper, this stationary pad is made with tree-free coloured paper and embedded with wildflower seeds, so when you’ve used it, you can plant it immediately and bring some nature inside!

The days are finally getting lighter and longer which is good as we all need more hours in the day it would seem! Productions and Covid are both ramping up – let’s hope neither are all too consuming and we can all hang on to some balance. TP INDUSTRY SESSIONS - PRODUCTION DESIGN with Mark Tildesley Saturday 30th April 10:00 -11:30 Online Mark Tildesley is one of the world’s leading Production Designers, currently designing Sam Mendes’ feature Empire of Light. His recent credits include The Bubble, No Time to Die, The Two Popes and Phantom Thread. Having designed some of the world’s biggest feature films, he will be discussing his journey into production design, his design process across different budget ranges and how he collaborates with Set Dec, Props and Construction to achieve the look. COST £40 +VAT Click through here to apply online RETURN TO WORK PROGRAMME Participants on this ScreenSkills supported programme have finished their workshops and 6 will now be offered paid placements on a range of HETV drama productions. Thanks to all the guest speakers who have been so generous with their time and expertise. OTHER SESSIONS IN APRIL We will be releasing further Industry Sessions later in the month but also offering our regular sessions which are invaluable for anyone starting out in the Industry or those needing extra support moving up. Details and dates listed below: UNDERSTANDING THE INDUSTRY Tuesday 26th April Details here OVERVIEW OF THE ART DEPARTMENT Thursday 28th April Details here CV'S & NETWORKING SESSION Tuesday 3rd May Details here PROPS TRAINING COURSE We are completing the Props Course at the end of this month and now have 13 Props trainees ready for work! Prop Masters, if you would like details of their experience please get in touch and we can connect you. MENTORING NETWORK Applications for the next round of the Mentoring Network are now open! This is a successful scheme – we have 140 Mentees on the Network, 85% of whom are now working in the department of their choice on Band 2 and 3 feature and tv drama productions all over the UK. More details and how to apply here FOOT IN THE DOOR AT FFILM CMYRU We are very much looking forward to working with Ffilm Cmyru and the Foot in the Door team evaluating their innovative approach to meeting skills needs. This is an initiative that works with partners, including Housing Associations, local authorities and job centres, to connect people who might not otherwise think a career in film was for them. More info here. INDUSTRY TOP TIP This month’s top tip comes from UPM Ben Dixon (Meg 2, The Batman, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ) who has a good reminder for those who are a few weeks out from shooting...."In the final weeks before principal photography the feeling that you will never get this ready in time is completely normal. It always comes together in the end, just possibly not as you were expecting." THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING The trailer to The Bubble – this Judd Apatow film for Netflix was one of the first new productions to shoot in the pandemic; the trailer looks good and it might bring some relief to the covid doom. The Wellcome Collection (a great museum/library/collection which focuses on connecting science, medicine, life and art) has released a 5 episode podcast called Hello Happiness - discussing hope, joy, ecstasy, tranquillity, the history of emotions and how to re-wire your brain to promote positive emotions and reactions. Much needed! Attire Care – this small Manchester based eco-business has (amongst many other great cleaning products) a Red Wine Stain Remover. It does what it says on the tin in an eco and sustainable fashion - extremely useful and one for every standby’s kit!

We have had some great Sessions this month, including Art Dept Intentions, Managing Conflict and Negotiation, CVs and Networking and an Overview of the Art Department. These were all popular session so we hope to run them again Location Intentions for Art Directors with Matt Kerly PROPS TRAINING COURSE We have now completed the recruitment for the Props Course – the busiest round we have had yet, so much so that we are going to run two courses in parallel. Congratulations to successful applicants and we really look forward to working with you. Prop Masters – we will send out the list of new trainees once they have completed the course. Read about the course here TP MENTORING NETWORK There will be an online networking event for TP mentees on Thursday 3rd March. Sign up via email for the usual catching up and mayhem! Read about TP Network RETURN TO WORK PROGRAMME We have also completed recruitment for the Return to Work programme and are looking forward to working with the 8 established art dept freelancers looking to come back into the industry. At such a busy time, retaining experienced talent is critical and we hope this is the first of many schemes that can address this. Read about the progamme here INDUSTRY TOP TIP This month’s top tip comes from Camera Operator and President of the ACO Peter Robertson. Peter’s recent credits include Wonka, Cyrano and The Little Mermaid. His advice is to “make a special point of learning everybody's name and position on set each time you change jobs. You will be appreciated for not shouting 'oi mate' when you need to grab someone's attention especially if it’s the director or producer who aren't always the most obvious people when you first walk on a set.” THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING At a time when the existence of the BBC is being questioned, it feels like a good reminder that there has been some great drama produced recently – Chloe, Responder and This Is Going to Hurt are all great examples (and always good to see mentees in the credits!) Diary dates – BFDG Awards 12th March, BAFTA Awards 13th March, Oscars 28th March. Good Luck to all the nominees! Wintering by Katherine May – late to this but well worth the hype. Perfect grey Springtime reading and a reminder that taking some time to rest and reflect is never a bad thing, whatever the season.

And in the blink of an eye, we’re almost finished with January……that went fast! Hope it was successful and productive for you all. The light is getting brighter and the evenings are getting longer, which is always good – and we have lots of great courses and sessions coming up over the next few months….. COMING UP Tuesday 8th February 8pm Zoom This session has been extremely popular – so much so that we are going to split into two groups. This one with Sara Putt will be for Heads of Department and senior practitioners in the art department – there will be one for more junior grades soon. That way we can ensure that each session is as meaningful and bespoke as we can make it. Places available for both sessions, apply via the website here. Starting out in the Props Dept in Film and TV - Thursday 10th February 8pm Zoom If you are interested in learning more about the Props department, what they do and how to get in to the teams, come to the free session we are running in association with Filmbase. A panel of established practitioners will discuss their roles and answer questions. More information and details on how to register here. March - May We have been developing this ScreenSkills programme for a while and are now very excited to get it going. It is for 12 craft and technical freelancers who have taken time out of their feature/tv careers and are looking to return to productions. This free, modular course offers a wide range of mentoring, networking and training to ensure participants feel more confident and ready to come back. We will then offer 6 of the participants a 10 week paid placement on an HETV drama. This is a great opportunity for anyone about to step back into it who could do with some gentle hand holding. It also gives us an opportunity to promote more flexible working options. We need to retain the talent we have and make it easier for people to come back – so this is great first step. More details and how to apply on the website here Thursday 10th February 10am Zoom This workshop examines what you need to know and do to be a great assistant in production roles and - importantly - get asked back. We look at the do’s and don’ts, what to expect and what will be expected of you, how the industry and productions are structured and an overall view of how to succeed. This session is ideal for anyone considering a career in features and HETV dramas, those who are relativelynew to it and looking to consolidate their experience and freelancers looking to move up a budget level. Heads of Department – if you have new people starting with you, please direct them to this session. It really does make a huge difference to their knowledge and confidence levels and how they start. It also ensures they can hit the ground running and support you better. Win! March - Zoom and Workshop We will be launching a second version of our modular Props Training programme course in March. This 6 week programme looks at all the roles, responsibilities of the team and what you need to know to get onto a job. The sessions will be on Zoom with a practical workshop day. Applications are now open, full details and application form on the website here Location Intentions for Art DIrectors - Thursday 24th February 8pm Zoom Led by Matt Kerly this session will examine the process of creating and communicating art department intentions. More details coming soon. There will be other art department courses and sessions coming over the next few months – if you are aware of any specific areas that we should be looking at, please get in touch with us. INDUSTRY TOP TIP As productions gear up and recces start, we are reminded of some great advice from producer Mark Murdoch. “Technical Recces can set the tone for the whole job. It’s the first day much of the crew meet the production; if the recce is well planned, organised and efficient it gives everyone confidence - and never under estimate the importance of coffee. Make sure a coffee order is taken on day one and never ask the question again. If someone wants an triple shot latte on Monday, they will be happy when they are handed another one on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I had a PA on a scout who jumped on the Tube and got to the next location ahead the recce coach. She had gone to Starbucks and was handing out coffees to the crew as we go off the bus. The point is try to pre-empt what makes the production run. Try to make the lives of the cast and crew a little easier by anticipating the pressures and demands they face. Lastly as a producer, you are still capable of making the coffee. “ THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THIS MONTH Our new website! Have a look and let us know what you think. All constructive feedback is welcomed! www.talkingpointfilm.co.uk Award season is upon us and it’s fantastic to see so many of our mentors and supporters nominated already. Really strong, interesting group of films this year and some beautiful work to celebrate. Huge luck to all of you – it’s going to be a tough call! For days when you want a bit of background noise (and lots of people have found this very helpful over the last couple of years) check out the London Sound Survey - a collection of audio recordings of London life between 2008- 2020. You can hear specific sounds (Hackney wildlife, 19thcentury London life, Thames Estuary, ) or go into the audio tube map and click on a specific area – great way to hear how London locations differ.

It’s that time of year….and it seems to have come round again very quickly. It’s been a busy 12 months – challenging, in lots of ways but also extremely productive with lots of exciting achievements, big and small. There’s been a lot of work done recently on identifying how we can improve the industry and the steps we need to take to do so – how we ensure we have enough talent to work on the increased number of productions and how we create a positive work environment for everyone. Thanks to everyone who has engaged with this and here’s to 2022 being the year the changes are implemented and succeed. COMING UP We have an exciting programme kicking off in January to support those working in craft and tech roles who have taken time out and are now looking to return to work. Successful participants will access a range of workshops and mentoring before going onto a paid placement on production. It’s a fantastic opportunity for those considering coming back and allows us to hold onto our talented practitioners. There will be more information on this in the New Year. We will also be running an Overview to the Art Department session in January. This session examines the different job roles and teams in the art department and looks at how to successfully access jobs on productions. Perfect for anyone looking to work in craft roles or move onto larger scale shows. If you are interested in attending this zoom session, please register interest at info@talkingpointfilm.co.uk More details will be released in January THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THIS MONTH Grey days, cups of tea and Christmas films – so many to choose from, new and old. Tis the season. BFI iplayer has a 14 day free trial – perfect for catching up over the holidays. We are aware of the many ‘which is the best mince pie?’ competitions happening …..we can certainly add to these with our own nomination – the Waitrose brown butter and cognac version. Delicious and we would state the best there is this year. Sainsburys deep filled seems to be a strong contender….. We hope that everyone has a chance to recharge and rest over the holidays. And enjoy it! You all most certainly deserve it. We will be heeding our own advice this year and closing the office between Friday 17th December – Tuesday 4th January. Have a good one everyone. Stay safe and well and we will see you on the other side!

And suddenly we are almost at the festive season….that has gone quickly…but not there yet, still lots to be getting on with. More studios are being announced, more productions ramping up and nowhere near enough crew! So lots to be doing and we have been busy… COMING UP WELLBEING FOR THE ART DEPARTMENT – Thursday 9th December 20:00-21:30 This Industry Session is part of the 2021-2022 programme supported by ScreenSkills as part of the BFI Future Film Skills programme using funds from the National Lottery. We have been made aware of the heavy toll productions have had on people’s mental health and well-being. So, we are running this session for art department practitioners who are looking to learn how to prioritise and maintain wellbeing for the Team, how to maintain energy levels and come back in the New Year feeling rejuvenated. This free Session will be led by Solas Mind psychotherapist Sarah McCaffrey who offers mental health support, counselling and training to those working in film and media.Full details and application criteria on our website here ART DIRECTING COURSES We have been running two great programmes for art directing – one on using Sketchup with Luke Whitelockand one for Supervising Art Directors with Patrick Rolfe. Participants on both have noted how ‘extremely useful’, ‘informative and inspirational’ they have been. Luke Whitelock Patrick Rolfe JOB SHARE & FLEXIBLE WORKING We also ran a hugely informative and positive session with Filmbase, looking at more flexible approaches to working on productions. Huge thanks to Phil Sims, Kathy Heaser, Heather Pollington, Corina Floyd and Dom Capon who all shared their experiences of either working flexibly, job sharing or employing those who choose to work in a more flexible way. At a time when working hours, job conditions and work/life balance are being regularly discussed, it was reassuring to hear how different approaches are being implemented with positive effect. More on this next year! MENTORING NETWORK We have just completed the final round of the Mentoring Network and were delighted to finally meet all the mentees we have been working with on Zoom. Cocktails were consumed, contact details exchanged and most importantly all the networking skills they learned were put into use. Very successfully! We will launch a new round of the Mentoring Network in 2022, with the first focus being on those who are already established in the industry – mentoring is equally important for people moving up as it is for those coming in. Contact mentoring@talkingpointfilm.co.uk if you would like to register interest. THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THIS MONTH The BFI skills review – this extensive review of the industry is highlighting where the crisis points and opportunities are and identifying what needs to be done, short and long term. The work will be published next year as part of the review of the 5year Film Skills Strategy. Helen will be on a panel discussing the work so far at the TLG Focus Conference in London, 7th December. Come and say hello if you are there! Free to register and lots of interesting panel discussions on global production. Lebkuchen – these are going to be a regular fixture now that we are in December….too good…. Succession – just as we wondered if the story was slowing down, the party episode hooked us back in. Heartbreakingly good.

Autumn is well and truly upon us. Beautiful colours and sunlit skies – it usually only lasts a few weeks, so hope you can make the most of it. Getting outside for 10 minutes in these extremely busy days makes a huge difference to sanity levels. Things have been busy here. We ran a fascinating Industry Session with Action Prop Buyer Jonathan Downing(Indiana Jones, No Time to Die, Men in Black, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald) looking at all aspects of how to manage the job and do it successfully. Huge thanks to Jonathan for his generosity and advice. INDUSTRY SESSIONS There are more art department and production courses coming up. Some have been funded by the Film Skills Fund so are free to established practitioners. SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR for Film SESSIONS with Patrick Rolfe Saturdays: 6th, 13th, 20th November via Zoom , 4th December Central London A programme of 4 sessions to examine the role of the Supervising Art Director and provide information and guidance for people making the step up. Full details here. FLEXIBLE WORKING & JOB SHARING SESSION Thursday 18th November 20:00-21:30 via Zoom CAN FLEXIBLE WORKING WORK IN THE ART DEPARTMENT? THE ANSWER IS, YES! COME AND HEAR HOW… We are running a job share and flexible working Session with @filmbaseuk where we’ll be talking to a panel of Art Department crew who have successfully job shared, or negotiated flexible working conditions, on Film and TV productions. Full details and how to register for this event, click through here. ART DIRECTING in Film USING SKETCHUP with Luke Whitelock Thursday 25th November & Thursday 2nd December 20:00-21:30 via Zoom A programme for art department practitioners looking to enhance their knowledge and skills of SketchUp. Full details here ART DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW – Tuesday 2nd November This session provides a thorough overview of the different teams and roles within the art department, how they work together and how to succeed in these roles. Full details here CV & NETWORKING SESSION – Tuesday 9th November Our CV and Networking Workshop will check that your CV is written in the correct film industry format and that it is reaching the right people at the right time. Full details here MENTORING NETWORK We also wrapped on the latest round of the TP Mentoring Network. Ollie, Rob, Chloe, Eleanor, Laura, Gabriel and Zoe are all now ready to go, in fact some of them have gone onto jobs already! If anyone is looking for art dept trainees, please let us know and we can connect you. The next round of mentees will start their workshops next month and we look forward to working with them. PROPS TRAINEE SCHEME We are also in the midst of the Props Training Course, a 6 week programme covering all aspects of working in Props. There will be 10 new trainees available for work in the next couple of weeks….again, if you need people let us know. BFI REVIEW Helen has been working with the BFI on a review of skills provision in physical production, for which lots of senior practitioners have contributed to. Thank you to everyone who picked up the phone and discussed the challenges and possible solutions. The key challenges were (obviously) around the need for more practitioners and how to avoid inexperienced crew being stepped up too quickly. This report will now go to the Film Advisory Committee who will agree next steps. INDUSTRY TOP TIP Our top tip this week is Support Each Other. Whether it is making someone a cup of tea, helping them out with their workload or demonstrating support for the well-being of your team. Support is key to success. You will be aware of the incredible momentum IATSE gathered in America recently (and if you don’t Bectu and Filmbasehave some great information on it on their social media sites). It is a timely reminder that there is power in togetherness – let’s all work hard to remove the disconnect that exists across all elements of the industry and genuinely support each other, in the big things and the day to day small things. It makes a big difference. THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THIS MONTH Wes Anderson exhibition at 180 The Strand, for the month of the LFF 14th October – 14th November, The French Dispatch is released in cinemas Friday 22nd October. Not been yet, but heard it is good, as one would expect! The Flock – an online newspaper which collates key stories with a smart, ethical focus – creating a kinder creative and political climate. They also have a pay it forward policy which is great. Helen McCrory and Damien Lewis performed a reading of love poems from a collection called The Love Book as part of the Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2014 – these were not filmed so as to retain the sense of intimacy – but a recording was found and Damien has released it in her memory. Lovely and heartbreaking all at once.