The Trust
Full Profile
The Trust is managed by Mab Akhter and Charlie Sen, and supported by a team of skilled freelancers and session staff, and volunteers who between them have worked within the Voluntary and Media Industries - including EM Media and previously with Carlton Television.
Initially we were set up to work with the ethnic minority and disadvantaged communities of Derby, we have since expanded to engage with the wider Derbyshire community, and in our eight years, we have produced over forty community films - each holding a contemporary, original and distinctive view, reflecting modern day Britain.
From foundation Entry Level to Intermediate, our projects covers wide aspects of scriptwriting and video production, and are based on qualification standards structured by the Open College Network (OCN).
Through working towards 'Key Skills' - creative writing, team building, applying numerals, utilising ICT, developing management techniques and building media awareness - each project 'empowers' Learners, and together with work experience opportunities, builds upon their confidences toward contributing to their local creative environments.
We also support Learners 'return to learning,' helping them develop first steps in gaining new skills and knowledge - and providing them with access to further specialist learning and employment opportunities.
The Trust has received commissions from a variety of sources, including community organisations (schools, youth clubs etc), specialist bodies (UK Film Council, EM Media ), and Industry Film & Television training bodies (Channel Four).
Having also received funding through ESF and LSC Co-financing, we are also working with the UK Film Council's 'First Light' and ‘Mediabox’ Schemes - aimed at providing young people, aged between 5 and 18, with their first experience in script writing and digital video film production.
Recently our major film production was a full-length feature film, 'Gangster Pranksters' - a comedy set around Derby's inner city areas. Our future aim is to use the experience from this production and continue collaborating with our learners / volunteers, to develop toward producing further feature length community-based films projects for cinema and Internet exhibition.
Amongst our assets, we hold a range of digital video equipment (including video cameras, microphones, editing consoles, computer hardware and software etc). In addition, the Trust offers resource material, such as videotapes, textbooks, DVDs etc and free Internet access.
Finally, the Trust is fully committed to providing equal opportunities to all Learners, Volunteers and Staff - and supports all members toward achieving the highest level of their potential.
Short Summary
Name: Mediaworks Trust
Status: Not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee
Nature: The Trust is a training provider and production company that specialise in:
- Training and technical Support
- Production and facilities support
- Scriptwriting and pre-production support and consultancy
- Support community based film production
Working within Derby and across the East Midlands supporting other voluntary and third sector based organisations and individuals
Service
The Trust provides advice, guidance, support and opportunities to individuals and organisations seeking access to the Media and Cultural Industries.
Training
Our training programme is based upon weekly workshops, comprising ideas development, scriptwriting, production planning, shooting, editing, post-production and exhibition.
Each workshop leads Learners to utilise the experiences and skills they already possess, and develop ideas toward creating their own stories - via the writing of a film script to the production and exhibition of short films.
Through the workshop, Learners gain the understanding of managing a film project - with the opportunity of directing their own story, enabling them to express themselves creatively, develop their confidences and increase self-esteem.
During the production stage, Learners are also encouraged to utilise their local world as sets and locations and find local residents to take on roles as actors; in so doing, engaging with their communities and presenting themselves in a positive light.
On completing of the project, Learners can then exhibit their work via local, regional and national screening outlets (including the festival circuit), as well as via the Trust's own Internet broadcast site. With this platform to showcase their work on a wider scale, Learners can further develop positive representations of themselves.
In turn, the films produced, enable Learners to use their work as 'Calling Cards' toward seeking employment in the Media and Cultural Industries.
Quality Standards
- Approved Learning & Skills Council (LSC)/ Skills Funding Agency training provider
- Approved centre for the Open College Network (offering units in 'Scriptwriting & Film Production')
- Approved audit of two ESF funded programmes, verified by the National LSC Audit Office
