Major new 3D training initiative unveiled
London – 16 February 2010 – A ground-breaking partnership between Skillset, Sky and the UK Film Council was announced yesterday to develop and run pioneering gold standard 3D training for the UK film and television industries.
The commitment to a £140,000 3D training budget was unveiled at Introducing Sky 3D – an event for the UK`s production community, which was supported by the UK Film Council and BAFTA.
The fund will pay for specialist training across the board – from those needing to know the basics as they start a 3D project, to professionals sharpening up high-level specialist skills.
Principal Large Format, the UK`s leading consultancy for 3D production, run by Phil Streather, has been awarded a 3D stereoscopic innovation grant by Skillset to research and structure the curriculum for delivering this definitive course programme for 3D training for the production sector.
Skillset`s Director of Film Neil Peplow, said: "Skillset is delighted to invest in this incredibly exciting project, which will make sure that the UK is in prime position to the lead the way in 3D technology."
Brian Lenz, Sky`s Director of Product Design and TV Product Development, said: "We want the UK to be at the forefront of 3D`s assault on cinema and TV. With 3D cinema proving a hit at the Box Office, and 3DTV coming to living rooms this year, 2010 is the year for UK producers to grasp the 3D opportunity. We`re delighted to support the UK in becoming a 3D centre of excellence."
John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, said: "This partnership is part of the UK Film Council`s ongoing commitment to securing the UK`s reputation as the home of the world`s best creative talent, giving our filmmakers the 3D training they need to stay ahead in the 21st century skills race."
Media enquiries
Jennifer Walters, Skillset press and PR manager
T: 020 7713 9854
E: jenniferw@skillset.org
Stephen Gaynor, Sky
T: 020 7705 3446
E: stephen.gaynor@bskyb.com
Oliver Foster, UK Film Council
T: 020 7861 7508
E: oliver.foster@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
Sky
Sky operates the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Over 9.7 million homes enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Arts continues to embrace new audiences as the UK`s only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; and Sky News remains a pioneer in multiplatform television news.
6.5 million Sky homes now enjoy the control and flexibility of Sky+ and over 2 million homes have already joined Sky+HD, which provides access to 37 dedicated HD channels, Sky+, and upcoming services such as Sky 3D and broadband-enabled video-on-demand. Sky is also one of the UK`s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony providers.
UK Film Council (http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk)
The UK Film Council is the Government-backed lead agency for film in the UK, supporting the UK film industry, celebrating UK film culture and nurturing UK film talent at home and abroad.
Since its creation in 2000 the UK Film Council has backed more than 900 films, shorts and features, which have won over 300 awards and entertained more than 200 million people around the world. The UK Film Council generates £5 for every £1 of Lottery money it invests.
Its support develops new filmmakers, funds exciting new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad. In addition, it funds the British Film Institute.
Films backed by the UK Film Council include Bend it like Beckham, Bright Star, The Constant Gardener, Fish Tank, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, In the Loop, The Last King of Scotland, Man on Wire, Nowhere Boy, Red Road, St Trinian`s, This is England, Touching the Void, Vera Drake and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
Current UK Film Council funding initiatives include:
the world`s first Digital Screen Network, which has invested in 240 digital screens in cinemas across the country, increasing film choice, bringing the 3D experience to a wider audience, and ensuring the UK has more digital screens than any other European country;
over 200 film societies and independent regional film venues;
UK film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival;
working with Skillset, the UK skills and training industry body for the creative industries, to enable almost 7000 people to further their filmmaking careers;
giving over 20,000 young people the opportunity to get involved in filmmaking through First Light Movies and Mediabox;
sponsoring the pilot and now the current rollout of FILMCLUB to thousands of schools, introducing new generations of children to the best of British and international cinema.
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