Chance to break in to world of film and TV.

THE hunt for bright young things with a focused interest on technology and images has launched this week.

The Film Media Technicians New Entrants Scheme - due to start in January 2010 - seeks 10 candidates from across the nation to embark on this first scheme with the aim of training qualified Film Media Technicians.

The New Entrants training scheme will deliver a structured programme of industry, technical and workplace knowledge and skills to the new entrants over a 12-month period.

The course is designed to provide all that is needed to establish a successful career in the technical areas of film and television media libraries.

For each trainee, who must be over 18, the programme will deliver 2 weeks in the classroom in a residential setting where they will learn about the structure of the audio visual industry in the UK; the methods, technologies and preservation issues related to working in the archive sector; developing their skills in identifying and working with audio visual formats; the role of media asset management and future technical developments; safe working practice; developing a personal learning plan to achieve a successful career in the sector.

This is followed by 20 weeks of individual work-based training. In Wales the placement will be offered at Antena Cyf, a Caernarfon based Production Company, employing 50 staff working primarily for S4C and one which covers a wide area of broadcast technology from broadcast TV through to web design and broadband delivery, DVD production and duplication.

Over pounds 100,000 has been invested in the scheme by the media industry sector skills council Skillset and the Film Council which will contribute to the creation and running of the course, including recruitment, premises, trainers, mentors, course literature, and an allowance for trainees whilst on placement.

"The course is designed to attract school leavers to spend nearly one year on the training course which has been put together with our partners FILM LONDON and the University of Hertfordshire,' commented Sue Malden, Chair of FOCAL International.

"This is such an encouraging achievement for our industry: we are most grateful to FOCAL's footage library and facility house members who have offered work placements."

The training course has been designed specifically for keen and committed 18+ students interested in a long term career as film media technicians, learning complex skills required to preserve audio visual content and prepare this content in the digital process for use in all media.

On joining the scheme each trainee will be given a suitably experienced and trained mentor from within the archive sector who will support and monitor the individual regularly throughout the life of the scheme.

The programme is led by FOCAL International, with partners FILM LONDON and the Hertfordshire Skillset Academy.

Film London encourages and welcomes applications from individuals from under-represented groups.. For application details, see www.filmlondon.org.uk/filmandmediatechnician

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The course is designed to provide all that's needed for a successful career in the technical areas of film and television media libraries