New Writing North and Channel 4 have renewed their partnership to support local writers, offering new opportunities for talent across the North East.
Newcastle: New Writing North and Channel 4 are teaming up again. They’re renewing their partnership to help local writers. This is great news for emerging talent.
The two organizations will work together for another three years. They aim to find and support extraordinary writing talent from the North for TV. This means more chances for new writers and those wanting to try screenwriting.
Channel 4 is backing this partnership through its 4Skills initiative. They’ll offer bursaries, development programs, expert help, mentoring, and networking opportunities. This was announced during a popular Screenwriting Weekender event hosted by New Writing North.
The event kicked off with Gateshead-born writer Peter Straughan. He’s nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay, Conclave. He received support from New Writing North early in his career.
Anna Disley, the executive director, expressed gratitude for the renewed support. She noted that the partnership has helped discover diverse and talented writers in the UK. However, she mentioned that the industry still focuses too much on London.
New Writing North plays a key role in changing this. They want to find talent from all over the North and help it reach national and international screens.
Recently, Channel 4 recognized local writers at the Writing for TV Awards. Newcastle’s Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock and Emily Low from the Tyne Valley received honors. Plus, there’s a £5 million package to create a writing center in Newcastle.
As part of the partnership, Channel 4 will support four emerging writers through a development program. They’ll also help eight people attend screenwriter weekends and five others to prepare their projects for the screen.
There will be opportunities for up to 10 people to join script hubs and attend open-access events. This brings more attention to the region, where talent is abundant but opportunities are limited.
The UK is known for producing top-notch film and TV. In 2022, the country saw over £3.6 billion in investment for high-end TV and £1.7 billion for film. Yet, only 9% of industry workers come from working-class backgrounds.
This partnership aims to create pathways for diverse talents to reach global screens. The North East has seen an 89% increase in film and TV production recently. The government is also investing in a new £450 million film studio in Sunderland.
New Writing North has expanded its support programs for screenwriters in recent years. Sinead Rocks from Channel 4 emphasized the importance of nurturing new talent, especially from underrepresented backgrounds.
She stated that this partnership will help find voices from regions like the North East. It’s crucial to address the imbalance and create opportunities for a new generation of writers.
