Stepping Up

Part of Bectu Vision

Stepping Up

Lighting

Electrician Conversion Programme 

BBC Studio’s River City and Bectu Vision are recruiting for a qualified electrician to work as an Electrician Conversion Trainee in the lighting department on the next series of River City.  The successful applicant will work at River City’s Dumbarton Studio within an experienced lighting department learning about the equipment and techniques used on productions and on-set practice. 

After 13 weeks working on a series of River City the trainee will spend 11 weeks with other productions filming in Scotland, allowing them to meet and work with other lighting teams. They will also spend time at Scotland’s largest lighting hire house Panalux, learning more about how they work alongside productions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified electrician who is wanting to transfer their skills, no previous film & tv experience is required. This is an opportunity to learn about working in the film & tv industry and so you will not be expected to be able to complete all of these duties in advance of applying for the role.

The Electrician Conversion Trainee role will include duties outlined below.

  •      assemble the lighting and filter equipment needed
    ·      ensure all lighting equipment is in working order
    ·      liaise with the gaffer, best boy and other crew to interpret their creative vision into the lighting design
    ·      pre-rig the lighting and ensure all cables and wires are safely concealed
    ·      operate and maintain equipment during the shoot
    ·      change lighting between shots, as necessary
    ·      de-rig all equipment at the end of the production and ensure it is safely transported away from the location and/or stored
    ·      adhere to and understand risk assessments for health and safety purposes
    ·      work as part of a large crew, made up of many different departments

Due to the nature of the funding this opportunity is only open to people currently based in Scotland.

Application Deadline Friday 24th November 2023

APPLY HERE

Read about former Electrician Conversion Trainee Lee Cooper’s experience here.

Watch our Lighting Webinar with Darren Smith, Film & TV electrician and Stuart Guinea, Studio Manager BBC Studioworks.  

ELECTRICIAN OPEN EVENING!

Come along to BECTU Vision’s open evening at Glasgow’s state of the art BBC Studioworks purpose built studios in the iconic Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.

At this event you can find out more about working in the film and TV industry in Scotland and all the opportunities for electricians coming up on productions, including River City, in 2024.

We will be joined by crew from the lighting departments on productions and alumni of the BECTU Vision Electrician Conversation Traineeship who will share their experiences of working in the industry and have a tour of the studios facilities followed by some refreshments in the studio Green Room cafe.

This event is open to anyone who is interested in working in the lighting department for film and TV now or in the future.

REGISTER HERE 

If you have any queries about the traineeship, or if you would like to know more about working in the Film & TV Industry as an electrician and be connected with future opportunities please contact Amy Shaw: [email protected].

This initiative is supported by Screen Scotland, BBC, Scottish Union Learning and Bectu.

Marine department

 

Are you an experienced diver or do you work with boats?

You may be interested in working in the marine department for film & TV.

Bectu Vision in partnership with Screen Scotland and First Stage Studios are supporting people with transferable skills to use them as part of the Marine Department within the film and TV industry.

The Marine department supports all aspects of filming on, under or around the water.  They work collaboratively with the on-set crew and cast, combining logistic, creative and specialist skills to achieve the water shots needed for films and tv productions.

Our one-day training course, led by tutors Matt CambridgeMarine Coordinator and Dive Supervisor & Harriet Lawrence, Supervising Location Manager, will take participants through interactive case studies of the role of the marine department on film and TV productions and include a tour of the underwater tank facilities at First Stage Studio.

Course content includes:

  • An understanding of film & tv crew structure
  • The practical and creative role and responsibilities of the Marine department
  • Professional and set etiquette.
  • Health & safety on set
  • Industry and Marine Department terminology​
  • Advice on working as a freelancer.
  • Signposts for next steps

Watch our information webinar hosted by Amy Shaw, BECTU Vision and course tutors Matt Cambridge & Harriet Lawrence discussing the Marine Department here

Applications for this course are now closed.  If you are interested in working in the department please contact [email protected]

This programme is supported by Screen Scotland, BBC, Scottish Union Learning and Bectu.


Getting to Grips

In September 2023 we held our second one-day hands-on training course for new entrant Grip trainees hosted by four NVQ qualified Grips. This training day gave the participants the opportunity to understand what equipment is used on set and how to handle it safely when working as part of the Grip department.

See what we got up to on the day here

If you are interested in becoming a Grip Trainee in film and TV and other training opportunities contact Amy Shaw [email protected].

NVQ Funding

We help connect and support Scotland based Grips to undertake their NVQ Grip Diploma in Professional Competence Level 2 & Level 3 qualification.

These qualifications have been developed and informed by those working in the sector and although qualifications are not used as a license to practice, employers and practitioners support formal recognition of the demonstration of competence in the workplace in the interests of health and safety.

The purpose of these qualifications is to assess the competence and underpinning knowledge of individuals working in the role of Crane Technician, Grip or Advanced Grip.

The qualification is assessed in the workplace and recognises the learner’s ability to behave professionally, collaboratively and in line with industry standards.

If you are a grip and interested in finding out more about NVQ qualifications, please contact Amy Shaw [email protected].


Script Editors

Our six-month placement-based opportunity is designed to provide the skills, knowledge and confidence required to become one of Scotland’s script editors of the future.

Through a combination of employment with a production company and short courses candidates:

  • Learn about the role of script editor in development including conceptualizing an idea, and how to develop it.
  • Learn the skills to communicate effectively as a script editor including how to work with writers and executives.
  • Have one to one sessions with executives and participate in meetings with writers, directors, and producers when appropriate.
  • Receive training in Final Draft software.
Script Editor Trainees 2023

Our 2023 trainees Harper Pereira Hind and Yusuf Javed recently completed their placements with STV and Freedom Scripted respectively.

Script Editor Trainees 2021

Our two Script Editor Trainees, Jamie Mackinlay and Ryan Stewart completed their traineeships in 2022 with host companies STV and River City.

Script Editor Trainees 2020

Our 2020 Script Editor Trainees were Marie Harrison and Amber Saunders at River City and Synchronicity Films. Read about Amber’s trainee experience here.

We are not currently open for Script Editor Trainee applications, however if you have any queries about the programme or would like to know when about future opportunities, please contact [email protected]


Production

Production Skills

If you are a Production Assistant, Production Secretary or Assistant Production Co-ordinator looking to step up to Co-ordinate, or if you are a Production Co-ordinator interested in developing your understanding of particular areas of production, these sessions are for you!

This series of training courses take place online on a every fortnight, over the course of 4 months. Practitioners are encouraged to connect from their productions if working.

The sessions cover:

  • Insurance
  • Arranging Tech Recces, Production Meetings and Read Throughs
  • Contracting Cast
  • Working With Children
  • Clearances
  • The Script & Amendments
  • Progress Reports & Script Timings

This training is also suitable for unscripted PM’s and PC’s looking to learn the paperwork and processes required for scripted production in order to help make the move across and transferrers from other industries.

If you would like to know when our next round of Production Skills opens for applications, please join our mailing list

If you are interested in production roles or looking for some bespoke support for your existing production skills, please contact Amy Shaw – [email protected]

 


Script Supervisors

Script Supervisor Traineeships

These six-month placement-based opportunities are designed to provide the skills, knowledge and confidence required to become one of Scotland’s Script Supervisors of the future.

During the placement, the trainees have the opportunity to shadow Script Supervisors on a variety of different scripted productions in Scotland to understand how the role varies depending on the size of a production.  They shadow during prep, the shoot and also spend time in post-production to understand how the role works with the editing department.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Through a combination of shadowing Script Supervisors and short courses the successful candidates:

  • learn about the role of Script Supervisor in prep including, how to read and time scripts and create script breakdowns.
  • learn the skills required to be a Script Supervisor on set including continuity, eye lines, scene coverage and the relationship with all other on-set departments.
  • learn about the workflow with post-production including Editors notes and marked up scripts.
  • learn the skills to communicate effectively as a script supervisor including how to interact with cast, directors, and producers.
  • attend a 3-day NFTS Scotland Script Supervisor course.
  • receive training in Script-E software.

We are not currently open for applications but if you are interested in becoming a Script Supervisor in Scotland, please email [email protected]


Assistant Directors

Weekend Masterclass for Fabulous Floor Runners

In February 2020 we ran a 2-day interactive weekend masterclass for Floor Runners.  Led by experienced 2nd/3rd AD, Alex McKay, this in-depth training course was a step-by-step guide to floor running including guest speakers, problem-solving workshops with cast and learning the principles of setting background.

In addition to supporting new Floor Runners, we also offered short courses to existing Assistant Director practitioners in January and February 2020:

Looking After Your Team (ADs)
Techniques to motivate, mentor and manage your AD team.

Practical Accredited (Children’s) Regulation Training
City & Guilds accredited 1-day training in the areas of care, excellence and regulatory compliance for everyone working with children in film and television.

Movie Magic Scheduling
2-day training course on the how and why of scheduling led by Brian Donovan

 Movie Magic Budgeting
3-day software training course led by Brian Donovan


Accounts

If you are an accountant, bookkeeper or just someone with a passion for numbers, contact Amy Shaw [email protected] to find out what it’s like to work within the Accounts Department on film and television drama productions in Scotland and opportunities to connect with the industry in Scotland.


Production Co-ordinating for Drama

In March 2019 we held a five-day course over five Saturdays in March. The training was designed to:

  • Assist co-ordinators experienced in factual, commercials and corporates make the move into drama.
  • Help assistant co-ordinators and production secretaries to progress to the next stage.

The course will covered the different aspects of the Production Co-ordinator role within drama production and participants will develop an understanding of the responsibilities involved, alongside practical skills.

Course content:

  • Introduction to the drama Production Office
  • Final Draft Screenwriting Software
  • Contracts, Agreements & Legal
  • Movie Magic for Scheduling
  • Paperwork, Reporting & Post Production
  • Understanding the Budget
  • Managing yourself & your team

This course is now complete but if you would like to find out more about becoming a Production Co-ordinator in drama please contact Amy Shaw [email protected].


Bectu Vision’s Drama Training Programme is supported by Screen Scotland, BBC and Scottish Union Learning in partnership with Bectu.

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