NEWS
NEW ROLE
Award-winning film producer takes over at North-East Screen
North-East Screen – formerly Northern Film and Media – has appointed an Oscar and BAFTA-winning film producer as its new chair .
David Parfitt has been tasked with steering the organisation at an exciting and pivotal time for the film and TV industry in the North-East .
It follows record investment in the screen industry in the region , with a £ 25m commitment from the BBC , a new partnership with 12 local authorities and three combined authorities bringing £ 11.4m investment to the table , and significant new studio developments in the region .
David grew up in Sunderland and his connection to the region brings with it a passion and desire to support the organisation to benefit the people of the North-East .
He brings an outstanding track record and remarkable achievements in over 35 years working as an independent film , TV and theatre producer . His many films include Shakespeare in Love , My Week with Marilyn and The Father .
North-East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynn said : “ David joins us at a crucial time in the development of the North-East ’ s screen industry .
“ We are delivering an ambitious programme of activity for the North-East Screen Industries Partnership ( NESIP ) which aims to significantly increase TV and film production in the region .
“ To do this we want to attract production companies to the North-East where talent is in abundance .
“ We want to create jobs and opportunities in the industry for local people and businesses connected with the supply chain , and supercharge the access to skills in the region so that the productions that are coming to the North-East are fully supported by a skilled and developed workforce .”
David added : “ Our generation had to leave Sunderland to pursue careers in the creative industries .
“ I want to be part of an organisation who can do something to change that . The media landscape is changing and I feel this is the first time there ’ s been an opportunity to have sustainable careers in film and TV in this region – which is fantastic .
“ The media industries are huge engines of our national economy and our region wants to be a bigger part of that .
“ Training is at the heart of it all and the support of our local colleges and universities is key . We ’ re here to provide the next step , attracting people early as they choose their careers and letting them know that this a really viable industry .”
David takes over the reins from Tom Gutteridge , the Emmy award-winning TV producer , writer and broadcast executive ( Mentorn / FremantleMedia ).
AYCLIFFE STUDENTS ENJOY ‘ ENGINEERING IN ACTION ’ AT NISSAN
A
group of Woodham Academy students from Year 7 and 8 recently took part in an event to experience
“ engineering in action ”. The students visited Nissan UK to see the manufacture of Nissan cars , such as the Qashqai and Leaf .
While students were at the plant in Sunderland , they took part in a site visit to see how they manufacture cars , from raw materials to finished working products .
Students also learnt about the production process , and they were challenged to manufacture a model of a production line that could carry a load across a distance .
“ The students of Woodham won this element of the trip which was against other schools , creating a design that transported the load efficiently , and accurately ,” said the school .
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