When I first heard about the David Lyle Foundation scheme, I was immediately drawn to its mission of fostering innovation and supporting aspiring professionals. Now, having been selected as a recipient, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead. It still feels surreal, and I am thrilled to document this journey through my blog posts. In other words “it’s about to be lit!”
This award means so much to me, both personally and professionally. As an Actor and Producer, I have always been passionate about creating meaningful content that resonates with audiences worldwide. The David Lyle Foundation Scheme provides me with the incredible opportunity to further develop my skills, network with industry leaders, and gain invaluable insights that will help me grow as a professional.
It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing and investing in emerging talent. As the industry continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies like AI and streaming platforms I think it is crucial that we empower the next generation of creatives and leaders. This award not only validates my tenacity and hard work I have put into developing myself over the years but also inspires me to keep pushing boundaries and strive for excellence in everything I do.
I plan to leverage the resources and opportunities provided by the scheme to further my career and production company, Elicit Pictures. My team have already made various short form projects, our most proud work would be getting a commission by BFI and Film4 for the short film My Jerome. Along with “Deleted” and “Barry the bee keeper” both documentaries which won several awards during its festival run and led to being picked up by broadcasters from Amazon (for DELETED) and at ITV X (for Barry).
In the near future I aim to help create a community by mentoring upcoming talent and fostering a culture of excellence and creativity. That has its own financial-echo system that sets a pathway to financial assistance to help make all forms of content. I think the TV industry today is in a dynamic and rapidly changing landscape. One of the most exciting developments is the streaming platforms from Netflix to Hulu and Stars TV! It has given content creation and distribution a new approach and brought a shift that has allowed for a more diverse array of voices and stories to reach global audiences, breaking the traditional barriers imposed by network television.
However, this boom in content creation also brings challenges. The sheer volume of new shows can lead to content saturation, making it difficult for truly unique and high-quality projects to stand out. Additionally, the emphasis on quick production and high turnover can sometimes compromise the depth and quality of storytelling.
There are significant opportunities to make the TV industry more interesting and inclusive. One key area I think in the U.K. is commissioning smaller indie production companies. Especially those from different socio-economic backgrounds. I find most broadcasters don’t allow enough production companies a fair chance or even enough merging with larger production companies to help with navigating the innovative ideas. I would love to see more initiatives aimed at supporting underrepresented voices in the industry and only commissioning production companies who brought forward other small indies in order to be commissioned in the first place which would bring more inclusivity both in front and behind the camera. Along with targeted training can help bring fresh perspectives to the forefront, enriching the content landscape. I think the industry is missing more funding bodies as large and supportive as the BFI.
Something many filmmakers can all agree on is funding. I believe we need more funding bodies backed by major organisations from Lottery funds to private equity that support where the BFI cannot. This idea could not only change the landscape by increasing the quantity of film projects but perhaps in TV as well. Imagine an organisation that developed and funded both TV & Film projects? It would bring in a variety of creative voices who are not all seeking from the same pot, which, let’s face it, can only be distributed to so many at a time.
I say all that, to say I am excited to embark on this new chapter. The journey has been challenging but incredibly rewarding, and in conclusion I am certain that I am in the right place that will equip me with the resources, support, and confidence to achieve this milestone and leap into more consistent work.
