Engage – Exclusive to disabled people working in screen
thinkBIGGER! partners with ScreenSkills to deliver engage – exclusive to disabled people working in screen.
Caroline O'Neill (Series Producer and Co-Director of the Deaf and Disabled in TV Facebook group) Jazz Gowans, (former MD of Transparent and Executive Producer) and Nicky Bentham (Producer, Moon) are mentoring on a new ScreenSkills – supported scheme exclusively for Deaf and disabled talent.
Thirty Deaf and disabled talent from across Animation, Post Production/VFX, Film and TV are receiving dedicated support from a mentor carefully matched to their skills and experience.
The mentors are drawn from both disabled and non-disabled talent in the industry. Alongside the mentoring, thinkBIGGER! has provided Disability Awareness sessions for mentors and coaching for mentees. The scheme builds on thinkBIGGER!’s expertise in delivering mentoring programmes, such as the recently completed RE: Calibrate.
“As a disabled person with over 20 years in television, I’m well-versed on the daily challenges disabled talent face and can advise on tools to deal with this. I’ve had some phenomenal mentors over the years, but never a disabled mentor; having someone with this kind of lived experience would have really helped earlier in my career. So I’m thrilled to be involved in thinkBIGGER!’s mentoring scheme to help develop the deaf and disabled talent of the future.”
Caroline O’Neill, ENGAGE mentor and Series Producer and Co-Director of the Deaf and Disabled in TV Facebook group
“Through employing hundreds of people over the years, I've found that talent comes in all forms, from every walk of life and how these individuals fit and integrate into a team or project is a fascinating process. What’s most important to me is recognising a talent and encouraging growth and getting the best out of people.”
Simon Quinn, ENGAGE mentor and Line Producer, Fantastic Mr Fox
Simon Quinn
“I am delighted to be part of Engage’s mentoring programme - it's more important than ever that those in our industry support each other through these challenging times. Talent from all walks of life need to be nurtured, listened to and included, to best reflect the UK’s diversity.”
Jazz Gowans, ENGAGE mentor and former Transparent founder and MD
The ScreenSkills Future Film Skills programme is providing funding, with in-kind support from thinkBIGGER! The programme is aimed at mentees with some experience of working in film and TV. BSL and childcare costs are also included. ENGAGE is supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme.
Caroline O'Neill, Jazz Gowans and Nicky Bentham are just three of the 30 inspiring industry mentors taking part in the programme.
For all enquiries, please contact Katy Palmer, Project Manager: katy@thinkbigger.uk.com