UTV and NIFTC relaunch 'Home' training scheme

UTV and the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission have announced that ‘Home’, a factual television production-training scheme for 30 new programme-makers, is being relaunched.

This will be the third year that the scheme has run and the previous years have proven to be highly successful. The productions made in the last round of the scheme are due to be screened on UTV on Thursday evenings at 11.30 pm from November 7.

Robert Lamrock, Senior Director at UTV, said: “I have been encouraged by the overall commitment of the teams in this the second series of Home. Another 32 people now have a greater awareness of the complexities of TV production. Some of the production teams are making their TV debut and the standard has been very good. I am pleased that the topics are varied and UTV viewers are in for a real treat with this Home series."

Each of the second series of productions is different, some showing the wicked Northern Ireland sense of humour, some focusing on the darker side of life in Northern Ireland.

The scheme offers 30 people (15 pairs) either already working in television or interested in developing a career within the industry, the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive training programme run by senior UTV personnel.

The NIFTC will provide a training grant of £500 for each successful participant and other production related expenses are covered by UTV and the NIFTC. The participants are required to commit to a minimum of seven days work for training and production.

All of the two to five minute videos must be suitable for broadcast on UTV at 18.25 on weekdays.

Each team must submit a short proposal of up to three pages, outlining a short factual film on the theme of Home. This should indicate the content and style of the film. Applicants must be normally resident in Northern Ireland. Individuals from all ethnic groups and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The scheme is not open to students in full time education and each team must have one member who has not previously taken a leading role on a broadcast production.

Aspiring reporters, producers and directors should contact Maire McIlveen for further information or an application pack at the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, Alfred House, 21 Alfred Street, Belfast, BT2 8ED, or call tel. +44 (0)28 9023 2444.

The closing date for completed applications is December 31 2002.

(GB)