Talent Development

Talent, in the broadest sense, includes film makers and writers, digital content creators, and highly skilled technicians all of whose livelihoods rely on the currency of their skill base and creative ideas. 

Also included within EM Media’s definition of talent are for example, experienced film and media technicians, the talent that ‘curates’ audience opportunities and experiences (within city and rural environments) media business entrepreneurs and the talent that leads and develops the region’s flagship media centres.

EM Media’s Aim:
Identifying, growing and supporting the cultural, creative and economic ambitions of the region’s dynamic talent pool and enhancing the region’s reputation for innovative practice and distinctive voices.

EM Media’s Objectives:

• Emerging talent is invested in and actively nurtured, producing new work which demonstrates potential.
• Innovative Research and Development pilots and slates demonstrate and take forward the abilities and ambitions of talent in the middle ground.
• Regional product has national recognition and is able to compete in the international marketplace.
• The regional skills base is strengthened and career and company development opportunities enable talent to progress at all levels.

Accessing EM Media's support:

To be eligible to apply to EM Media for support you must be either resident or have a trading address in the East Midlands region. If you are applying as an individual you must have been demonstrably working in the media industry for at least six months. If you are applying as an individual you must not be in full-time education and you must be over 18. Your project, idea, or business must be focused on/within the media industry.

There are a number of stages in applying to EM Media for support:

Pre-application
Please contact (by phone, in writing, by email or in person) EM Media to express an interest and arrange a meeting with a member of EM Media staff to outline, discuss and develop your ideas and plans. We will request a brief synopsis of the project, idea or development and details about you.
 
Application
When discussion has taken place on your proposal, a formal application is made by completing an application form and submitting it to EM Media with the necessary supporting documentation, for example project plan, accounts, schedules etc. There are no deadlines – applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Assessment and Decision
Once received by EM Media, the application will then proceed to the assessment stage. EM Media endeavours to ensure assessments are completed and a decision delivered within eight weeks of receiving an application. However, sometimes additional information or clarification is required from the applicant which will inevitably extend the assessment period. It is important therefore that applications are submitted at least eight weeks before the project is due to commence.

Download EM Media's Investment Application Guidelines for further information. You can also download EM Media's Investment Application Form.

Highlights of what EM Media wants to achieve by 2011

• A more vibrant, expanded, confident industry sector; with a greater critical mass of companies, increased number of start ups and an increased number of freelance contracts available. 
• Investment in at least 25 new feature films since 2001.
• There will have been an unprecedented level of investment in film and media talent and the region’s infrastructure, achieving international industry credibility.
• Warp X – the low budget feature project will have ended; producing and distributing internationally six feature films by first time feature talent.
• We will have attracted to the region at least 65 major projects (defined as projects with a budget in excess of £500,000) to generate valuable inward investment.
• Through initiatives such as Digital Shorts in excess of 60 short films will have been produced, with this scheme acting as a key catalyst for progressing talent.
• An increase of 20% in the proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic writers, directors and producers contributing to the creative economy will have been achieved.
• Made in the East Midlands is a recognised hallmark of film and media product made and produced in the region.
• Five new games products will have been made in the region with worldwide distribution and sales.
• At least four games developers will be members of TIGA.
• Content producers will be making content for a range of audiences across the region by directly utilising the regional distribution network (DSN, media centres, the rural network and key initiatives).
• Companies recognising the value of developing their IP will be common place.
• Regular collaboration with the Screen Academy or its regional equivalent partnership of FE and HE institutions.
• An increase in the number of film and media SMEs taking on trainees growing the knowledge and skill base.
• Media will be acknowledged as a key learning tool across the curriculum.
• Media training for teachers will be recognised as a key priority by Children and Young Adult Departments across the region and solid partnerships with Creative Partnerships and the consortia delivering the 14-19 diplomas will have been established.
• Partnerships with broadcasters will have developed to attract new commissioning and creative opportunities, including the possibility of the establishment of a returning series from the region.
• There will be an increase in the TV production base, illustrated by the number of new writers receiving commissions and the retention of well qualified technical crew and independents setting up regional offices.
• The international profile of regional talent will have increased through trade fair presence, trade missions and international premieres/launches of film and media products.
• Pact membership in the region will have increased by at least 50%.
• Independent games developers have the business and marketing skills to flourish in the digital distribution age.

Audiences and Markets

EM Media’s Aim:
Developing the range of markets, audiences and opportunities for consumption of digital product and encouraging participation, understanding and engagement with all forms of media product, especially as tools for learning.

EM Media’s Objectives:

• The East Midlands is synonymous with audience choice.
• People of all ages increasingly participate in, enjoy and understand film and media.
• The East Midlands is a region recognised nationally for providing access to and promoting the value of film and media archive.
• Regional digital content producers benefit from the new market opportunities created by digital platforms.

Accessing EM Media's support:

To be eligible to apply to EM Media for support you must be either resident or have a trading address in the East Midlands region. If you are applying as an individual you must have been demonstrably working in the media industry for at least six months. If you are applying as an individual you must not be in full-time education and you must be over 18. Your project, idea, or business must be focused on/within the media industry.

There are a number of stages in applying to EM Media for support:

Pre-application
Please contact (by phone, in writing, by email or in person) EM Media to express an interest and arrange a meeting with a member of EM Media staff to outline, discuss and develop your ideas and plans. We will request a brief synopsis of the project, idea or development and details about you.
 
Application
When discussion has taken place on your proposal, a formal application is made by completing an application form and submitting it to EM Media with the necessary supporting documentation, for example project plan, accounts, schedules etc. There are no deadlines – applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Assessment and Decision
Once received by EM Media, the application will then proceed to the assessment stage. EM Media endeavours to ensure assessments are completed and a decision delivered within eight weeks of receiving an application. However, sometimes additional information or clarification is required from the applicant which will inevitably extend the assessment period. It is important therefore that applications are submitted at least eight weeks before the project is due to commence.

Download EM Media's Investment Application Guidelines for further information. You can also download EM Media's Investment Application Form.

Digital Film Archive Fund
The Digital Film Archive Fund (DFAF) is a new fund set up by the UK Film Council to increase public access to regional screen heritage. For a limited period EM Media is investing finance from the Digital Film Archive Fund in projects that support increased access to screen heritage.

Applications for the Digital Film Archive Fund are to be made on the official EM Media Investment Application Form. You must consider the five criteria set out in EM Media's Investment Guidelines as well as the requirements of the Digital Archive Fund. Details about these requirements can be found in the Digital Film Archive Fund Supplement.

Highlights of what EM Media wants to achieve by 2011

• More people will be choosing to see specialised film across the region.
• Cinemas in the region consider audience preferences when programming content.
• Bespoke programmes of content are created to cater for audience interests across the East Midlands.
• Audiences across the East Midlands have knowledge, critical understanding and appreciation of film culture.
• The PBQ consortium of three film and media centres will have completed their capital builds and together will have enhanced the national and international reputation of the region’s cultural offer, operating robust business models, ensuring sustainability and maximising resources and facilities.
• We will have a fully functioning network of digital cinema screens across the East Midlands; 14 screens on 13 sites, participating in the UKFC Digital Screen Network.
• Audiences in rural locations, many otherwise non-attendees of cinema, collectively engage with film and media in their own communities.
• Short films made in the East Midlands are regularly screened at major festivals, receive awards and achieve sales on a range of platforms. 
• Through increased participation, understanding and appreciation of film and media, audiences will have broadened the range of content they choose to consume.
• Through Mediabox a range of media projects will have been completed contributing to a significant development of the region’s education infrastructure.
• A network of experienced professionals will actively be developing education activity.
• The Strategy for UK Film Heritage has delivered a step change in the collection management of and access to regional and national film archive material.  
• Film and media content is accessed, created and appreciated by young people within and outside formal learning.
• Film education hubs work together to enhance the range and quality of film education opportunities.
• Children and young people are enhancing their creative learning through the use of archive materials.
• A celebration of the UK’s screen heritage, combining a public facing festival and industry event, is established in the East Midlands and receives national and international recognition.
• Audiences will be regularly accessing regional film heritage at venues, online, through broadcasters and point of sale.
• The wider regional audio visual archive holdings and user-need is fully understood by MACE and demonstrated by its commercial exploitation of its collection.
• A new permanent storage facility is populated with film heritage and archives collections from across the region.
• Regional content producers will have enhanced revenues through cross platform benefits and unlocking effective routes to market.
• Independent Games Developers take advantage of digital distribution models to have greater influence on routes to market while retaining IP.

Business

EM Media’s purpose is to add value - to talent, to audiences and to the region’s economy using our key intervention methods of Investment, Services and Brokerage.

In adding value we will act as a translator, an intermediary, an agitator, a dynamic investor and we will share vital market intelligence with companies that they cannot access elsewhere.

EM Media’s Aim:
Utilising key business functions and practices (R&D, feasibility testing, fundraising, market intelligence and communication) to shape our business to inform and invest in film and media businesses.

EM Media’s Objectives:

• The full contribution of film and media to the region’s creative economy is realised and the profile of the East Midlands is raised.
• Partnerships are in place connecting national and regional policy to deliver support on the ground.
• EM Media is effective, efficient, informed and transparent in its dealings and activities ensuring the region’s practitioners are aware of opportunities and aware of steps and measures being taken to drive the sector development agenda forward.

Accessing EM Media's support:

To be eligible to apply to EM Media for support you must be either resident or have a trading address in the East Midlands region. If you are applying as an individual you must have been demonstrably working in the media industry for at least six months. If you are applying as an individual you must not be in full-time education and you must be over 18. Your project, idea, or business must be focused on/within the media industry.

There are a number of stages in applying to EM Media for support:

Pre-application
Please contact (by phone, in writing, by email or in person) EM Media to express an interest and arrange a meeting with a member of EM Media staff to outline, discuss and develop your ideas and plans. We will request a brief synopsis of the project, idea or development and details about you.
 
Application
When discussion has taken place on your proposal, a formal application is made by completing an application form and submitting it to EM Media with the necessary supporting documentation, for example project plan, accounts, schedules etc. There are no deadlines – applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Assessment and Decision
Once received by EM Media, the application will then proceed to the assessment stage. EM Media endeavours to ensure assessments are completed and a decision delivered within eight weeks of receiving an application. However, sometimes additional information or clarification is required from the applicant which will inevitably extend the assessment period. It is important therefore that applications are submitted at least eight weeks before the project is due to commence.

Download EM Media's Investment Application Guidelines for further information. You can also download EM Media's Investment Application Form.

Highlights of what EM Media wants to achieve by 2011

• The East Midlands is the film friendly region of choice.
• EM Media will be the definitive regional knowledge base and industry/market trend observer.  
• We will be operating sustainable business practices, demonstrating business enterprise and opportunity and an understanding and application of business modelling. 
• We will have undertaken key industry research and implemented new business tools e.g. an e-commerce website and introduced appropriate subscription charges for key resources such as The Source, our locations and crew database.  
• EM Media’s practical guide to Filming in the East Midlands is used by local authorities and Destination Management Partnerships (DMPs) across the region developed through a series of Film Friendly Workshops.
• A strong investment portfolio will have achieved returns on loan and equity investments for reinvestment back into the Film, Games, TV and Interactive sector further growing the region’s economy. 
• A range of online and offline tools such as the audience sampling toolkit, the market research toolkit, ’how to’ guides, pod casts and blogs allowing a broader range of practitioners to access EM Media’s knowledge and expertise will have been produced.
• Partnerships with key industry and public investors will have been redefined and activated.
• Inward investment through film and TV productions attracted to the region will have increased by 30% creating an annual inward investment value to the region of £15-£20 million.
• The region’s media facilities will be developed to further strengthen the infrastructure of the region.
• The East Midlands film and television screen effect (evidenced by the Film Tourism Research project) will have increased by 50% as a result of e.g. high profile tourism campaigns launched in partnership with East Midlands Tourism.
• The industry sector will have been measurably driven forwards by increased levels of ambition, confidence and investment.
• Key partnerships with the region’s nine universities will have significantly increased film and media R&D activity in the region and brokered new partnerships with industry.
• The region’s games developers will be demonstrating their contributions to the development of the UK Games industry.  
• Continued support will be offered to Nottingham’s Game City. The international festival supporting the games and interactive sectors
• The relationship between the industry sector and national and regional Creative Industries policy will have been clarified and acted upon.
• Strong leadership of the region’s Creative Industries agenda will have been articulated and implemented.