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Warner Bros. UK Announces New Initiative to Inspire Creative Careers Through the Behind-the-Scenes Magic of the Wizarding World

(London) – Warner Bros. UK is harnessing the incredible breadth of Wizarding World* behind-the-scenes talent to present Imagine Creative Careers, a new program of activity designed to inspire the next generation by shining a light on the extraordinary range of roles within the creative industries, beyond those that young people can easily name.

Building on the award-winning WB Creative Talent programme and existing partner initiatives, Imagine Creative Careers comes in response to new research** commissioned by the company to survey attitudes to careers amongst 12-20-year-olds. Results reveal that young people have little understanding of the scale of the creative industries and the opportunities on offer with more than half unable to name more than five creative roles.

Despite actively pursuing creative hobbies (e.g. photography, editing video, coding and music-making), findings show young people struggling to identify creative careers they feel would harness their skills and passions. However, when given more information, 62% say that they would definitely consider a creative route for their future. Imagine Creative Careers seeks to use the breadth of the Wizarding World to help demystify the creative industries for younger audiences.

Over the coming months Warner Bros. will reveal more wonderful and surprising roles with videos and interviews from Wizarding World creative talent across all levels of the creative industries. This invaluable content will form the backbone of a new Wizarding World Imagine Creative Careers portal, launching in time for the summer exam results period to inspire young people as they consider their career options and dreams.

Activity kicks off during Careers Week (2 – 6 March) with Making the Magic: From Story to Screen; a film-focused career panel featuring some of the award-winning talent behind the making of the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. The event will be staged in the iconic Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. It is presented by BBC Bitesize and BBC Teach as part of their new online collection of resources, designed to provide young people with practical and inspiring careers information and insight.

Josh Berger, President and MD Warner Bros. Entertainment UK and Ireland and President, Harry Potter Global Franchise, said: “This is part of our ongoing commitment to attract the next generation of young people from all backgrounds into our business. As one of the world’s best-loved and most expansive franchises, the Wizarding World is excellently placed to illustrate the depth and breadth of careers in the creative industries.”

More on Making the Magic: From Story to Screen
Award-winning journalist, filmmaker and BBC presenter Mobeen Azhar and BBC Radio 1’s Kate Thistleton will host and facilitate discussion between Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood, Junior Costumier Rianna Charles, Graphic Designer Miraphora Mina, VFX Supervisor Christian Manz and Brooke McGowan, a Compositor – in front of a live audience of hopeful young creatives drawn from local schools, with thousands more tuning in online.

Andrew Tomlinson, Head of Digital Products at BBC Education, said, “We know that young people have a passion for creative pursuits, but many of them don’t realise they can turn that passion into a career. This brilliant activity is the perfect way to get students inspired and fired up to believe that they can be whatever they set their minds to.”

Making The Magic: From Story To Screen will broadcast into schools and be available to watch on BBC Teach from March 4 and later on Warner Bros. online channels. The broader set of resources is set to feature a compelling range of speakers from all corners of the creative industries, with more Wizarding World content on BBC Teach coming later in the year.

More on the Wizarding World Imagine Creative Careers Portal
Launching in time for summer exam results, the Portal will dive into over 100 creative roles across film, theatre, game development, publishing, touring exhibitions, theme parks and more.

Bringing together personal stories, anecdotes, Q&As and tips, it will offer free access to practical first-hand advice gathered from creative professionals, together with a comprehensive directory of industry-backed schemes and support sites to help young people navigate common stumbling blocks.

An impressive line-up of Wizarding World talent have already signed up to take part; including Producer David Heyman, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s International Illusions and Magic Associate Chris Fisher and Grammy award-winning Composer and Arranger Imogen Heap, with more yet to be announced.

All activity will link to and from The Creative Careers Programme, shaped and supported by industry and delivered by partners including The Creative Industries Federation and ScreenSkills. This gives young people information and advice on pathways into the creative industries, part of a commitment made by government and industry through the Creative Industries Sector Deal with support from the Creative Industries Council.

Caroline Norbury, CEO of The Creative Industries Federation said, “We are delighted to support Warner Bros. and the Wizarding World in this activity. It is vital that we find new and inspiring ways to engage the next generation and encourage them to consider a creative path. By helping young people understand the many different routes these industries can offer and giving them advice on how to navigate, the sector will benefit in the future.”

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Notes to Editors

*Wizarding World
The Wizarding World is the magical universe which connects J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts stories.

Harry Potter is one of the world’s best-loved franchises and encompasses seven novels, eight films and the award-winning stage show “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” It has inspired videogames, themed entertainment (including theme parks and exhibitions) and the popular Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

In 2016, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” introduced a new chapter to the Wizarding World, followed by “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” in 2018. The third instalment will be released in 2021.

**OnePoll Survey
Survey carried out between January 14 – 28, 2020 with 1,500 UK respondents aged 12-20.

Key findings:

  • When asked how many creative jobs they could name, 1 in 4 respondents couldn’t name any and answered “I don’t know,” only 8% could name more than 10.
  • Over a third (34%) were very unclear on what the creative industries consist of.
  • When presented with a list of 26 creative roles and asked to identify which they recognised as being within the creative industries, only two roles were cited by more than 34% of respondents.
  • Over 60% have never received guidance or advice on careers in the creative industries.
  • When given more information about the creative industries 62% said they would consider it for their future path.

Link to full data here.

Warner Bros. Creative Talent
Warner Bros. Creative Talent is a multi-award-winning programme that develops diverse, emerging talent from all backgrounds. Established in 2013, it identifies and incubates a pipeline for the UK and Ireland’s creative industries, in film, TV, games and theatre.

With scholarships, apprenticeships, work and training placements, mentoring and masterclasses, Warner Bros. Creative Talent participants and alumni gain invaluable industry insight and experience and form a network of peers, creative collaborators and mentors.

Annually, the nationwide investment encompasses higher education scholarships at six universities, apprenticeships, trainee positions on Warner Bros. film productions in the UK and training course places. The programme spans Warner Bros.’ UK film, TV, games and theatre operations including Warner Bros. Studio Leavesden, WBTVPUK, leading video games companies Rocksteady Studios and TT Games and Soho post-production house, De Lane Lea.

BBC Education
BBC Education is central to fulfilling the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Our aim is to transform lives through education by:

  • Providing every child in the UK with a personalised learning experience through BBC Bitesize.
  • Supporting and inspiring classroom learning with world-class, curriculum-linked programming through BBC Teach.
  • Addressing societal and educational deficits within the UK through campaigns such as BBC micro:bit and Super Movers.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter Schools Programme
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter operates an award-winning education programme that offers schools the chance to learn filmmaking facts and behind-the-scenes secrets in a magical environment.

The free 45-minute lessons are taught onsite and meet national curriculum objectives and outcomes and exam board specifications. Schools can download free pre- and post-lesson teaching resources to support their visit.

Since opening in 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s award-winning education programme has taught over 110,000 students across Key Stages 2-5 and received the prestigious Sandford Award and the Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has been consistently well received with 96% of the 40,000+ reviews on TripAdvisor rating it as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’.

The Creative Careers Programme
For more information visit The Creative Industries Federation or ScreenSkills.