Broadcaster and Indie Placements Announced for ScriptEd

Screen Yorkshire Runs Transformational Talent Development Programme for Second Year

Screen Yorkshire has announced its industry placements for the final round of participants on ScriptEd 2 – its Talent Development Programme designed to promote authentic representation on screen, by supporting under-represented editorial talent to navigate their way through the heart of storytelling.

The programme works with high profile broadcasters, industry talent and independent production companies, with six of twenty participants who took part in ScriptEd 2 now on bursary-supported placements at well-known shows and production companies across the North of England, at: Coronation Street (ITV), Waterloo Road (Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall to Wall North / BBC), Emmerdale (ITV) and RED Productions.

ScriptEd is a unique training programme, offering in-person masterclasses with both established industry luminaries and new entrants, to help equip participants from a wide range of diverse backgrounds with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the Script Editor department. ScriptEd was open to individuals either living in, working in, or from Yorkshire, with a passion and understanding for story, who come from an under-represented community within the industry.

ScriptEd 2 Participants. Image © Lisa Stonehouse / Screen Yorkshire

The ScriptEd 2 Participants on Bursary-supported Placements are

Misha Duncan-Barry – Emmerdale
Charlotte Carrick – RED productions
Rhianne Dean – Waterloo Road
Rachel Goacher – Coronation Street
Claire Theyers – Emmerdale
Callum Ward – Waterloo Road

ScriptEd 2 has been a fantastic opportunity, giving me confidence in my career choice as a script editor. Meeting like-minded script editors and working with a mentor were the highlights of the course for me. Through ScriptEd I was lucky enough to do a placement as a script editor at Emmerdale - I gained amazing experience working with ITV in a fast-moving production environment and had great feedback from the team. I can now go on to work in both production or development as a script editor.

Claire Theyers, ScriptEd 2 participant

Claire Theyers, ScriptEd 2 participant. Image © Lisa Stonehouse / Screen Yorkshire

Industry speakers for ScriptEd 2 included: Cathianne Hall (Script Editor, Writer, Lecturer and Performer), Harry May-Bedell (Professional Screenwriter and FLEX Alumni), Emily Feller (Chief Creative Officer at Warp Films) and Kate O’Hara (Head of Development at Duck Soup). ScriptEd Pilot Alumni also contributed to shared learnings from their experience. ScriptEd 2 also included Final Draft Training, provided by Imogen Gay and Rosie Dias, mentor support provided by Script Editor Jackie Thornton and a wellbeing and resilience training hosted by Kate Maxwell, creative coach and facilitator.

Rachel Goacher, ScriptEd 2 Participant. Image © Lisa Stonehouse / Screen Yorkshire

Before ScriptEd I thought I knew what a Script Editor did. I didn't. This programme has been invaluable at not only demystifying day to day tasks, but also giving me the core skills I need to succeed in a role. Getting the opportunity to learn from incredibly talented people and to do so alongside the most supportive creatives has been an absolute pleasure.

Rachel Goacher, ScriptEd 2 Partcipant

We designed ScriptEd after identifying a lack of diversity within the Script Editor department across the UK’s screen industries. Script Editors are also integral to the screen industries talent pipeline, with many editors going on to very senior decision-making roles within broadcasters or production companies.

Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive at Screen Yorkshire

Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North are pleased to support two Script-Ed placements on the current series of Waterloo Road for the BBC. Gaining first hand production experience in an editorial office that is working across multiple episodes of a continuing drama is invaluable and will provide the trainees with both an overview of the role but also enable them to forge connections with other script editors, production staff and expand their networks. Waterloo Road has a strong tradition of enabling and encouraging emerging editorial talent and we hope this will continue for many years to come.

Cameron Roach, Executive Producer for Rope Ladder Fiction & Waterloo Road

We have had fantastic feedback following our ScriptEd pilot last year, with demand from both applicants and industry taking part exceeding our expectations. With that in mind we’re so pleased that, with the support of our partners SIGN and Screen Alliance North, we have been able to deliver a second edition of ScriptEd this year to support more talented individuals in this field to overcome any barriers to entering into the industry.

Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive at Screen Yorkshire

Our Partners

ScriptEd 2 is designed to challenge a lack of diversity within the Script Editor department and delivered by Screen Yorkshire with funding from the Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN) and Screen Alliance North, supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding.