Beyond Brontës

Beyond Brontës

Beyond Brontës is Screen Yorkshire’s successful initiative, established in 2019 to address under representation within the screen industries. Its aim is to break down the perceived and actual barriers that can prevent young people (aged 18 – 24) from diverse backgrounds establishing careers in the screen industries.

The programme offers successful applicants with a passion for film and TV a bespoke training package to prepare them for a wide range of industry job roles; from make-up and set design to accountancy, editing, and research. The six-month programme is tailored to the needs of the individual, with modules including: industry masterclasses, CV and interview workshops, bespoke mentorship, tailored one to one support, and where possible, industry placements.

Participants in year one of Beyond Brontës successfully completed the scheme in June 2020, with the support, input and encouragement of a wide range of broadcasters, streaming platforms, regional production companies, industry professionals and experts.  You can find out more about our first year here.

Our 2020 cohort was selected in September and have already completed their first session: a Brontës Boot Camp, including talks from director Hope Dickinson Leach and Assistant Producer Ruth Govan Bader.  We are so excited to continue working with our participants in the coming months.

Hear from our former trainees:

Beyond Brontës is a truly unique scheme that allowed me to tailor my individual development around excellent opportunities, including an industry placement and mentoring to incredible talks from industry professionals, delivered by an incredibly supportive team.

Katrina Pearson, Beyond Brontës graduate, Bradford

Katrina Pearson

Kudzai Chinembiri

Beyond Brontës has been such an incredible experience, it has given me access to opportunities I never knew were out there. Most importantly I’ve gained a community of people I can talk to about my goals and feel understood because we are all in the same place.

Kudzai Chinembiri, Beyond Brontës graduate, Leeds

Beyond Brontës helped me gain much more industry experience. I have had opportunities to work on an exciting new Netflix production as a location marshal, and a post-production intern at True North, both of which I have learnt a great amount of new skills that I will carry with me further into my career. There is also fantastic support offered by industry professionals, who are always happy to help at the regular events. I wish I could do it all again.

Nathan Carter, Beyond Brontës graduate, Castleford

Nathan Carter

Introducing The Beyond Brontës Podcast:

A fortnightly podcast, brought to you by the team at Beyond Brontës!

Here we aim to demystify the screen industries by talking to the people who work in it.  From LA and Australia, to Leeds, Newcastle, and Scarborough, we learn the secrets behind the scenes, discuss the barriers people have faced, and discover how you can start your own career in the industry.

Take a listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!: https://anchor.fm/beyond-brontes

Working in Film and TV: Beyond Brontës Industry Experts

At our Get to Know You Day in 2019, we had the amazing opportunity to record some interviews with the industry experts from our panel discussion: Ruth Govan Bader, Richard Knight, Rob Scown, Lisa Phillips Dodsworth, Jess Taylor, and Ben Reid.

You can find the full playlist below:

Get in touch

  • abigail-website-crop

    Abigail Houseman, Beyond Brontës Administrative Assistant

    Abigail supports Sam to keep the Beyond Brontës programme running smoothly.

    You can contact Abigail on 0113 236 8231 or abigail@screenyorkshire.co.uk

  • Sam Fray, Beyond Brontës Programme Manager

    Sam Fray, Beyond Brontës Programme Manager

    Sam manages the Beyond Brontës programme, that has been established to address the lack of diversity in the screen industries by supporting young people in the Bradford District and Leeds City Region to develop the skills, confidence and connections to enter and succeed in the screen industries.

    You can contact Sam on 0113 236 8233 or sam@screenyorkshire.co.uk

Having a workforce with the right skills is vital to sustaining regional film & TV production levels, which is why developing talent to foster a skilled workforce is a central pillar of Screen Yorkshire’s growth strategy. Screen Yorkshire is working in partnership with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to deliver Beyond Brontës with the support of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP).