We're excited to share the Coventry Creative Producer Lab cohort who took part in a talent development programme for talented new and emerging producers.
Discovering and developing the next generation of producer talent is vital in creating a sustainable future for filmmaking in the region. That's why with the support of Coventry City of Culture and Cine Cov back in April 2022 we launched the Coventry Creative Producer Lab; a talent development programme that supported nine early-career producers based in Coventry or the surrounding area; honing their skills, expanding their networks and getting them ready to make an impact in the local industry.
The course was designed by BFI NETWORK Insight producers Holly Carrington (Diploid Productions) and Barrington Paul Robinson (Redbag Pictures). This iteration of the lab was delivered by Holly and fellow NFTS MA Producing graduate Andrew Oldbury the current Senior Development Executive at Red Production Company.
The Creative Producer Lab will provided participants with a solid foundation in all practical aspects of managing a production - including contracting, budgeting, casting, scheduling and festival strategy. They were also joined by visiting industry experts who contributed to sessions and shared strategies on how to find and nurture talent, develop scripts and build relationships with crew.
Participants
Alexandra Marie Johnson (She/Her)
Writer & Creator Alexandra works in theatre, spoken word, fiction and poetry, most recently completing her first short film commissioned by Sky Arts/Shoot Festival, and is part of the Cultural Leadership Programme cohort for City of Culture 2021.
Amber Peyton (She/Her)
Currently a Costume Supervisor on BBC soap Doctors, Amber brings industry knowledge and experience of working collaboratively across Film and TV departments as well as a love for creativity in all forms to her first steps into producing for film.
Ellie House (She/Her)
Passionate about the well-being that comes from creativity, Ellie has been working on short films alongside leading the charity Feeding Coventry which addresses food poverty in the city, bringing forward the lived experience of others to the screen.
Emilia Copeland (She/Her)
Emilia is a filmmaker developing factual entertainment and dramatic fiction for the screen. Her short horror script MEAT EATER was a semifinalist at the Killer Shorts competition 2022, and she completed the EDEN Digital scheme for LGBTQ+ filmmakers.
Hannah Boast (She/Her)
As a runner and assistant to local short film directors, Hannah has developed her own passion for character-driven narratives exploring genre and social issues. She’ll be using her skills to progress into producing through the programme.
Jack Norris (He/Him)
Jack is a writer, Producer & Director. His most recent short IRISH, BLACKS & DOGS was commissioned by Sky Arts and joins his slate of hard-hitting documentaries. He will be developing skills for his production company Press Record Films.
Jacob Holmes-Brown (He/Him)
Jacob is a Writer & Producer and was recently awarded Early Development Funding from BFI NETWORK for his Queer, Shropshire-based horror feature. He is passionate about culturally nuanced stories exploring the human condition through genre.
Red Wade (They/Them)
Red is a queer Midlands artist with a passion for uplifting diverse voices. They began their journey as a Producer on the National Film & Television School Craft Skills course, became a BackIn Xtra mentee and recently wrapped on their first short.
Tennexa Freeman (She/Her)
Writer, Director & Producer Tennexa is the director of TCU - The Creative Universe, a grassroots, Black & Ethnically Diverse-led theatre company. She is also an acclaimed writer and the first Female, Black writer-producer in residence at THE DRUM.