Screen Training Ireland has outlined its plans for 2017 and beyond. The goal is to identify and provide training and development of the highest quality, closely aligned to industry needs and clearly targeted to individuals and companies. In 2017 Screen Training Ireland will continue to develop skills in three core training areas: Creativity and Creative Collaboration, Production and Technical and Business and Enterprise Training.
In the creative area training will focus on story and script development at intermediary and advanced levels. There will be a focus on building a pool of freelance script editors and development executives. Female talent-driven initiatives will continue into 2017 with support for female writers, directors and producers.The development of screenplay development programmes will give participants an intensive “real world” experience in a supported environment and enable them to hone their skills in a highly practical and applicable way.
STI will expand its expert tutor pool and use this talent to deliver cutting-edge training, exposing industry practitioners to more varied approaches, the latest international trends and fresh thinking and inspiration. It will establish international mentorship opportunities to enable standout talent to hone their craft and to internationalise their skills base and network. Those working in areas such as TV drama directing, script editing and show-running will benefit from work-based training and mentorship opportunities with gifted creatives.
Linking training closely to production is a cost-effective way to ensure relevant, practical and constructive opportunities. The hands-on experience will also help participants build networks, self-confidence and other skills which ensure long-term employability.
The development of female and minority talent is essential to address current imbalances which stifle creativity and diversity. In creative areas it is particularly important that different points of view and approaches be allowed to flourish, so as to enrich the quality and range of Irish film, television, animation and digital media.
In the Business and Enterprise area, there will be an ongoing focus on leadership development, innovation and entrepreneurial skills, up-to-date business skills, strategic development, branding & positioning and talent management. The ultimate aim is to tie these into the development of producers, key creatives and production companies.
The key areas of focus in 2017 and into 2018 are:
- Building Capacity in the Industry – supporting the scaling, growth and development of companies. Helping leaders and companies to realise their goals and assisting them in achieving measurable and sustainable results.
- Branding and Positioning – helping professionals in the industry to position their brand effectively in the marketplace, maximise the potential of their IP, and grow their personal, project and company brands.
- Developing Career Pathways – assisting professionals to focus on their career development, helping companies create clear progression routes, identifying and addressing skill gaps, attracting and retaining staff and developing industry.
- Leadership and Strategic Development – to support the strategic development of companies across the value chain and develop the skills of company leaders. To build the strategic development and leadership skills of senior management teams and HODs, both in company and on-set.
- People Management/Talent Management – this is a key focus particularly for the animation and VFX companies but also for managers across industry areas. There is a need to formalise the HR practice in the industry and develop skills in managing people.
The key areas of focus in the Production and Technical training area in 2017 are:
- The continuation of industry traineeships and work-based learning models, utilising a range of learning tools to deliver training in the most effective ways possible.
- Development of HOD talent and support crew talent who are at the point of upgrading.
- Continued emphasis on the convergence of digital and physical production, exploring the digitisation of production, and new skills and workflows for key departments.
- Addressing regional skills development through training partnerships with key national industry centres and creative hubs.
- Enhancing the skills of educators, particularly in digital production disciplines.
Screen Training Ireland (STI) is the national training and development resource, specifically tailored for Ireland’s film and television industry. It was established in 1995 to provide ongoing
training and career development opportunities for professionals working in the screen industry. STI comes under the auspices of the Irish Film Board (IFB) since 2013. It is principally funded by the IFB, third-party training partnerships and fee income.
STI works with recognised industry professionals, both locally and internationally, to identify, design and deliver training for Irish professionals. Training programmes are offered to practitioners and companies to enhance their expertise in film, television, animation and interactive screen content.
STI offers training for the changing needs of the Irish screen industry. STI developed and delivered over 52 courses in 2016 and allocated 1462 places to participants. They also supported workshops and masterclasses at leading Irish Film festivals, including the Audi Dublin International Film Festival, the Galway Film Fleadh, and the Cork International Film Festival. Of those training places, 47% were allocated to female participants and 53% allocated to male participants.