Current role: edit assistant
Film Forward role: colour assistant
Colour assistant Daniel Templeton’s journey to ScreenSkills began with his studies. “I graduated in Animation from University of West England (UWE) and went on to produce my own independent animation work, getting into the industry as an edit assistant on an animation series Chuggington for CBeebies and Disney Junior.”
Then, like many others, his life – and work – was interrupted by the pandemic. “There was nothing for a while,” he explained. It was around that time that he first came across ScreenSkills and a training programme for edit assistants and tech operators which he successfully applied for and helped kickstart his career. “Following this, I got another contract as a junior edit assistant working on a high-end Natural History miniseries for Netflix, Our Oceans at Wildspace Productions (Freeborne Media) which was a great experience.”
After a period which he describes as a “struggle to get work” due to a changing industry landscape, a talent manager from his previous production company recommended Daniel apply to the Film Forward programme, developed in partnership with The Adobe Foundation. “It’s giving me a further opportunity to develop my skills and experience in post-production”.
Evolved from the original Film Forward, the third iteration is committed to supporting inclusion and diversity within the industry by supporting deaf, disabled and neurodivergent mid-level professionals working in post-production, virtual production and VFX.
It provides candidates with paid placements at post-production companies, allowing them to receive vital on-the-job learning and experience needed to progress in their departments. It’s an experience that Daniel believes can offer his career exactly what it needs. He said: “The combination of developing further my existing creative and technical skills and being supported and mentored in a professional environment to move in the right direction.”
Through the programme, Daniel has secured a four-week placement with post-production company Molinare, an opportunity he’s ready to make the most of.
“I like to think the Film Forward Programme will give people like me the tools to secure future work in the area I am interested in; predominantly roles that value attention to detail that become available in post-production such as colour assist and edit assistant work across all genres.
“As someone with a neurodivergent condition, Daniel believes that this new iteration of Film Forward can be hugely beneficial for his career: “I have encountered a lot of difficulties and barriers to get my foot in the door and to secure opportunities. I have learnt to be tenacious and to not give up when dealing with the uncertainties/stagnation of finding work. However, navigating all the uncertainty took a toll on my mental health.”
He also acknowledges the positive impact that opening new pathways and improving access could have on the wider industry: “With the industry being so up and down, programmes like Film Forward are important and fantastic springboards for the workforce because its gives people hope and confidence that their neurodiverse traits and styles of thinking can become invaluable skills and assets to a team and allows them to grow and develop their talents as well as develop the company and to feel they have a purpose and be part of something meaningful.
“As I am a visual learner, I learn successfully with the aid of pictures and written information to digest instructions, support which led to successful outcomes in the post team in my last job.”
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Find out more about the Film Skills Fund