Warner Bros. U.K. Unveils Warner Bros. Creative Talent Season One

(December 5, 2013 – London, U.K.) – Warner Bros. U.K. has recruited its first season of Warner Bros. Creative Talent scholars, apprentices and trainees, it was announced today by Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. U.K., Ireland & Spain. This inaugural cohort of talented young people will benefit from funding support and gain invaluable industry insight and experience across Warner Bros.’ U.K. film, TV, games and theatre operations. This year’s multi-layered, nationwide investment encompasses eleven scholarships at some of the country’s most respected higher education institutions; six apprenticeships with roles ranging from set-lighting to post-production; two trainee positions on Warner Bros.’ U.K. film productions, Guy Ritchie’s “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and Ron Howard’s “Heart of the Sea”; twenty-five, year-long training course places for young people at inclusive theatre company, Chickenshed;** twenty work experience places for schools local to Warner Bros.’ London HQ; and five work placements on the West End musical, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,”*** with the most talented of the students receiving an additional three month placement. The eleven scholars are Rienkje Attoh* (National Film & Television School: MA Producing), Sam Coleman* (NFTS: MA Games Design & Development), Jonathan Emery (RADA: Technical Theatre and Stage Management), Sam Flint (RADA: BA Acting), Amanda Gardner (University of Hertfordshire: Film & TV), Amy Hawes (Glasgow Caledonian University: MA TV Fiction Writing), Charles Heales (Ravensbourne: BA Digital Film Production), Sam Hughes* (University of York: MA Post Production with Sound Design), David Johnson (RADA: BA Acting), Cassie Mitchell (RADA: Pg Dip Stage Electrics and Lighting Design) and Owen Robertson (NFTS: Production Design). The six apprentices are Matthew Byrne (Production Assistant, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden), David Cormack (Set lighting, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden), Lewis Bulled (Plumber, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden), Ella Bunce (Development Editor, Shed Media), Rachel Erskine (Edit Assistant, Shed Media) and Femi Williams (Commercial Assistant, Shed Media). Josefine Thieme and Sean Kisch have both been selected as Camera Trainees on “Heart of the Sea”; Simon Dunn and Jake Chilcott, Camera Trainee and Sound Trainee respectively on “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. U.K., Ireland & Spain, said, “We’re thrilled to be announcing Warner Bros. Creative Talent Season One. Selected for their potential and commitment to joining the industry, these talented young people will now have the opportunity and funding to develop their skills and interests and gain vital experience that we hope will equip them for their future careers.” Announced earlier this year at the inauguration of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Warner Bros. Creative Talent is part of Warner Bros.’ long-term commitment to the U.K.’s creative industries, which has seen significant, recent investment in Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden; in TV production company, Shed Media; in leading video games companies Rocksteady Studios and TT Games; in Soho post-production house, De Lane Lea; in the West End musical “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”; and in the award-winning visitor attraction, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Warner Bros. Creative Talent builds upon Warner Bros.’ recent investments in education and training, which has seen the company become the single largest contributor to Creative Skillset’s Skills Investment Fund (SIF), investing over a £1million over the last nine years and hosting a range of educational classes reaching around 25,000 school children every year at its hugely popular Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter visitor attraction. The classes, inspired by the iconic “Harry Potter” movie series, introduce young people to the skills involved in the movie production process. Moreover, for the last five years, Warner Bros. has also been the principal partner of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). The support provided since 2008 has enabled the Academy to develop a film, TV and radio division, helping to further its reputation as a centre of excellence for both stage and screen acting. Alongside scholarships, the continuing partnership will aim to equip future RADA students with the skills required for the latest generation of games and films. Working with Warner Bros.’ Rocksteady Studios, RADA students will develop key motion-capture and voice-over skills. Each year, Warner Bros. runs a successful intern programme for over 40 students who spend a paid year with the company during their sandwich degree courses. To complement this established internship programme, twenty Year 10 students (aged 15-16) from schools local to the company’s central London HQ will be offered short-term work experience opportunities with Warner Bros. For more information on Warner Bros. Creative Talent, visit www.warnerbroscreativetalent.co.uk * Rienkje Attoh, Sam Coleman and Sam Hughes are receiving the first ever Prince William Scholarships in Film, TV and Games supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros. **The Chickenshed placements cover stage lighting; costumer and wardrobe; youth theatre direction; and music technology, creative musicianship and vocal development. This year’s recipients are: Jerry Balintuma, Matthew Ballantyne, Oliver Ballantyne, Simon Degen, Tom Kettleton, Aisha Meade, Daniel Turner, Umberto Shaw, Emily Barnes, Keisha Henderson, Rory Spiers, Aria Valzano, George Wood, Frederick Haslam, Charlie Macrowan, Jessica Scotton, Teri Turnbull, Izzy Rook, Bradley Davis, Charlie Humphries, Anna Knight, Karina Moscattini, Simone Olivierre, James Smith and Teddy Williams. *** The five work placements on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” have yet to be recruited. ###