*Applications are now closed*
Film Birmingham is excited to announce the Working in the Locations Department (WILD) Course 2022. It will be delivered in person on February 26th-27th and March 5th-6th 2022. It is designed to inform, educate and give hands-on skills to the next generation of aspiring film and TV location managers. The deadline for applications is Friday 28th January 2022.
WILD 2022 will be led by award winning Location Manager, Harriet Lawrence. Harriet has worked in location management for over 20 years and her impressive CV includes Downton Abbey, Parks and Recreation, Dancing on the Edge, The Personal History of David Copperfield, My Cousin Rachel, Suffragette and Burton and Taylor.
Eligible participants will have an opportunity for a 2-month paid placement with Film Birmingham following completion of the course.
About the WILD 2022 course:
15 applicants will be selected for the WILD 2022 Course. The locations department has a wide and varied remit within a production. It extends from the creative beginnings of a script breakdown, working alongside Directors and Designers and scouting locations, to the logistical and detailed planning of a shoot. It enables all other departments to go about their jobs as smoothly and safely as possible. This film locations course will cover what to expect in this challenging, yet rewarding work environment.
It will give an overview of the industry, the different types of productions and then move on to the exciting challenges of scouting, planning a shoot and managing all aspects of the shoot day. The sessions will also outline some of the essential principles of health and safety, touch on some of the many things included in the locations budget and give tips on how to take great location recce pictures.
About the Course Leader
The WILD 2022 course will be led by award-winning locations manager Harriet Lawrence, who has worked in commercials, film and TV during her time in the industry. She was also the 2016 recipient of the Production Guild Inspiration Award and is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (“Overlord,” “Suffragette”).
More facilitators will be announced shortly.
Previous Participants’ Feedback
WILD 2022 is now in its successful fourth year, with some of our past graduates going on to work in the locations department of a range of film and TV productions including Small Axe, Father Brown, You Don’t Know Me and TV commercials.
Past participants have said: “Harriet isn’t only a font of knowledge, but her style of delivery is fantastic. I am suffering with screen time and meeting fatigue from work and COVID-19 but I have looked forward to all these sessions and each one has flown by. That is definitely down to how Harriet has delivered the sessions. I’m going to miss them!”
“The amount of information given was extremely useful and really motivating. Having had a love for photography and locations and interest in architecture and buildings, I’ve found my area in media. This has inspired me to want to work in Locations. Thank you so so much.”
“Most of my experience has been rooted in factual content, so it was great to learn about feature film processes. I loved the emphasis on how interdisciplinary the skillset is for working in locations and it was nice to have an ongoing case study in David Copperfield! All of the sessions were important and helped build a clear picture [of the locations department].”
To Apply
Film Birmingham welcomes applications from a broad range of participants; from new entrants with some production experience to those more established in the media industry. The only requirement is that you have a keen interest in working in the locations department. We especially encourage participants from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and minority ethnicities. Priority will be given to people who live in the West Midlands.
The course fee is £110, although subsidised spots are available for £11. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for one of these places.
If you are interested in being considered for the course, please complete this form. The deadline for applications is Friday, 28th January 2022 and successful applicants will be notified Tuesday, 1st February 2022. Successful applicants will receive additional logistical information once their place has been confirmed.
If you have any questions, please email wild2022@filmbirmingham.co.uk, with WILD 2022 in the subject.
For more industry information, visit our news page. Or add us on Instagram, Twitter or Faceb