With the creative arts finding their funding increasingly squeezed, aspiring, student filmmakers are having to find new ways to showcase their skills and shine a spotlight on regional talent. Currently, young actors are facing extensive barriers when attempting to access acting opportunities, particularly for those who live outside of the capital. Financial and travel costs prohibit many young people from pursuing jobs in television and film. Moreover, geographic concentration highlights that the majority of filmmaking takes place in city centres eg London in the UK and Los Angeles in the US, meaning that young actors living in regional towns or rural areas have been regularly excluded from casting calls.
However, younger generations are discovering ways to navigate around these inaccessibilities. Digital self tapes allow young actors to audition from anywhere in the world without needing to leave the comfort of their own home. This creates a much wider range of opportunities for young people to showcase their talent and gain further experience in their career. In addition, broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4 are committed to producing more programmes outside of London. Placing Stourbridge firmly on the map, the upcoming series of The Cadburys has used locations including Wordsley Manor and the Quaker Meeting House on Scotts Road. More famously, Peaky Blinders brought renewed interest to the area when they filmed at the Black County Museum, highlighting the importance of authenticity when choosing locations for dramas.
Moreover, young filmmakers are boosting their portfolios by creating short films in their local areas. Year 12 King Edward’s College student, Anya Wu, is currently holding casting calls for her new short film ‘A Jar of Butterflies’. The film will explore the themes of truth, entrapment, and escape with the plot centred around Estella, a teenage girl who has grown up in a traditional household. In search of answers and the truth, the characters become tangled between perspective and reality. Anya feels passionately about raising exposure for local students, saying:
“Most actors have fewer opportunities due to the saturation of the film industry. More options can help actors build a better profile which can lead to more interest from agents. Working on local filmmaking allows us to experience new things and meet new, likeminded people.”
She adds:
“I hope that the film is successful within the local community and allows people to express their talent to the best of their ability, especially as it demonstrates defying stereotypes. Personally, I would like to take myself out of my comfort zone and showcase my broader talent.”
All things considered, it is an exciting time for the West Midlands regarding television and film production and perhaps the next few years we will see funding once again increasing. West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, announced in early October that a new £6 million Content Production Fund has been launched to attract production companies through the region.
Sources:
https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/496598
https://bclm.com/tickets-and-events/whats-on/peaky-blinders-filming-location-tours/
Erica Lewis