Filming is currently underway in Greater Manchester on the second series of Sky Original COBRA, the high-stakes political drama starring award-winning actors Robert Carlyle and Victoria Hamilton.
Amongst the production team are established crew and new trainees who got their first step on the production ladder as part of ScreenSkills entry level and career development programmes.
ScreenSkills is the industry-led skills body for the screen industries, supporting economic recovery, future innovation and growth across the UK by investing in a skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the global success of the screen sector. It has worked with prime-time television productions – known as high-end TV – in Greater Manchester including The A Word, It’s a Sin, Cold Feet, and Peaky Blinders.
ScreenSkills’ flagship programmes include Trainee Finder, an entry-level paid placement programme which matches trainees with productions who have paid into a ScreenSkills Skills Fund for on set and on-the-job training, and Make A Move, which enables the upskilling of individuals that have been identified by the industry as ready to move into a more senior role.
Namrita Kaur Make-up Trainee Finder trainee (lives in Manchester) says
“I’ve learnt so many new things since starting this job, it is a lot different to what I had in mind before I started work. As this is my first official long-term job, I was overwhelmed with the number of new things that you get to see or learn or do. I’m learning my complete role as a trainee, what is expected of me, second guessing things, and reading the room.
“My experience on set has been absolutely fabulous. I’m definitely in the right place. All the excitement and thrill of being on set came true and I know for sure that this is what I want. I am very grateful to ScreenSkills and COBRA hair and make-up designer, Helen Speyer, for giving me this opportunity.”
Carys Ellis Sound Trainee Finder trainee who also lives in Manchester
“Working on a production during lockdown has made the role of sound trainee very different to normal. It has been great to be working and adapting through this epidemic and to see how different productions and sound mixers are changing their workflows to keep filming. As a trainee, I have found new responsibilities in Covid cleaning in order to reduce transmission and I am thankful to be back at work.”
Kaye Elliott, Director of High-End Television at ScreenSkills, says: “Greater Manchester has a long history of producing great TV and we are proud to have been proactively supporting the careers of crew and new entrants here for many years.
“In what has been the most challenging 10 months, one of the few positives is the increased appetite for great films, television and games, which is good news for content makers and people seeking a career working in screen locally. We hope hearing the stories of how we have helped some of the people on both series of COBRA, shot in Greater Manchester, inspires others to consider a career in our industry.”
Amanda Wilkie Sweeney, Head of Production, Drama, at Sky Studios, says: “COBRA is one of our most ambitious original dramas and this second series has been a real creative challenge for the production team. It has been brilliant to be able to support ScreenSkills participants and see them progress on the production, particularly at this time, helping to pave the way for new talent to enter the screen industries.”
Emily Russell, Head of Production at New Pictures, the production company making COBRA for Sky, says: “ScreenSkills is a valuable asset to our industry and we enjoy seeing trainees come in and flourish in their chosen field as well as supporting crew step up and develop in their role.”
