Andy Taylor Foundation launches new Liverpool programme to help young people break into digital media careers

New “Foot in the Door” initiative aims to tackle the growing youth NEET opportunity crisis through paid training and work experience placements.

CBeebies Panto returns with Treasure Island – filmed at the Liverpool Empire

CBeebies has released the details of this year’s festive panto – and it’s being filmed right here in Liverpool.

Further casting announced for Beatles drama Hamburg Days

Further casting of an upcoming six-part drama series about the formative years of The Beatles have been revealed ahead of filming in the city, facilitated by Liverpool Film Office.

FACILTIES FRIDAY: BRIDGING THE GAP

#FacilitiesFriday stops at Notorious DIT, the nationally recognised DIT organisation strengthening its presence in Liverpool while helping develop the next generation of industry talent. 

Founded in Newcastle, the company has been providing Digital Imaging Technician (DIT) and dailies services for productions across the UK and internationally since 2015. Its roots go back even further however, with founder Michael Pentney launching a sister post-production company in 2010 and becoming the first in the North East to offer dedicated DIT services during the industry’s shift to digital filmmaking. 

Today, Notorious DIT operates from offices in Liverpool, Glasgow and London, and recently joined the Molinare Creative Group as part of its continued growth. But despite expanding nationally and internationally, the company says supporting regional production remains central to its approach. 

“One of the things we always try to do is if we have a production that isn’t in London, we will always try to source local staff,” Karla from Notorious explained. “We recognise concerns across the nations and regions that work can feel overly concentrated in London, and we are actively working to ensure a more balance and inclusive approach” 

Liverpool became a natural choice for a permanent base as production activity in the region increased. The company already had DITs working regularly in the city and wanted a local hub that could support both on-set work and lab operations. “Although the DITs are quite often out on set, there’s another part of the process which is the lab part, and that generally requires a local office,” they said. 

The company’s Liverpool credits include Untold: Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul and Dexter Proctor, while its lab continues to support productions across the wider UK. 

Alongside work in the North West, Notorious DIT reach also takes them internationally, with recent projects taking staff to Ibiza and Malta. One recent standout production for the team was The Magic Faraway Tree, recently showing in cinemas. 

As the company continues to expand, developing new talent remains a key priority. Notorious DIT runs a six-month in-house training programme giving new entrants experience across the kit room, lab processes, and on-set data wrangling before progressing onto larger productions. “One of the things that Notorious have been incredibly good at in the past is growing talent,” say Karla. 

For those looking to enter the industry, the company recommends seeking trainee DIT or lab roles and taking advantage of training schemes wherever possible. 

For the team, DIT work offers crucial and unique role in the filmmaking process, sitting between production and post-production. “You get to work with the post house, but you’re also working at the front end with production,” they explained. “It’s the bridge between the two.” 

With a growing presence in Liverpool and an expanding portfolio of work across the UK and internationally, Notorious DIT continues to combine technical expertise with a strong commitment to regional talent development. Through investment in local crew, training opportunities and production infrastructure, the company is helping support the long-term growth of the screen industry both within the region and beyond. 

CREWSDAY: ACTION Trainee Michael talks seizing opportunity in the camera department

We recently spoke to our ACTION! trainee Michael as he talks us through his role in the camera department, his journey to get here, his drive to seize opportunities supported by the film office and how he is able to learn from his mistakes to further establish himself in the industry. Well done Michael!

New BBC drama Hercule from Mammoth Screen to film in Liverpool

A new six-part series Hercule, starring Edward Bluemel as Agatha Christie’s iconic Belgian detective, will begin production in Liverpool.

WEDNESDAY WHEREABOUTS: KNOWSLEY HALL

This month’s Wednesday Whereabouts looks at one of Liverpool City Region’s finest homes and grandest filming locations, Knowsley Hall.  

CREWSDAY: ACTION! Trainee Holly talks first experience in the screen industry

We recently spoke to our ACTION! trainee Holly on set as she talks us through what it takes to work in the busy world of a production’s AD department and how our crew development programme has given her the opportunity to take her first steps in the screen industry.

FACILTIES FRIDAY: BUILDING A WORLD OF SOUND

Tucked away on a quiet residential street in Formby, BHP Sound Post is making waves in the world of sound. 

£2.3m BFI National Lottery Funding for Screen Alliance North secured for another 3 years

Liverpool Film Office, North East Screen, Screen Manchester and Screen Yorkshire, the four screen agencies who make up Screen Alliance North (BFI Skills Cluster North of England), are delighted that funding, which secures training and development support for the screen sector in the North of England for the next 3 years, has been awarded.

First look at G’wed series 3

The first look and trailer of the brand-new series of BAFTA-nominated and award-winning comedy G’wed has been released by ITV ahead of the series launch next month.

Produced by Golden Path Productions, the trailer for series 3 includes a sneak-peak at the TV return of Brookside legend Jennifer Ellison, who reopens old wounds for beloved character, Aimee, when she enters the scene as her estranged mum, Anna, and turns her world upside down.

The series is set to return to ITV2 and ITVX next month with Reece (Dylan Thomas-Smith), Christopher (Jake Kenny-Byrne), Connor (Max Ainsworth), Ted (Dominic Murphy), Mo (Zak Douglas), Aimee (Amber Harrison), Mia-Louise (Gemma Barraclough) and The Brimble (Evie Ward-Drummond) reuniting for a series that’s funnier and bolder than ever. Tackling powerful and thought-provoking themes from the refugee crisis to women in sport and one of the series’ returning characters managing life with OCD. 

G’wed was commissioned by Nana Hughes, ITV’s Head of Comedy and written by Danny Kenny.

The Executive Producer is Marios Stylianides. The series is directed by Owain Pennington, making his directorial debut and BAFTA-Nominated Chloe English.

Since its’ launch, the show has built a loyal and growing fanbase thanks to its’ distinctive blend of heart and humour, amassing over 19 million streams and reaching 6.7 million viewers since 2024. It is the most-watched comedy on ITVX since Changing Ends and became ITV2’s second most popular show after Love Island.

First look at Liverpool-produced ‘Amazing Grace’ with worldwide sales onboarded by Screenbound

Starring Hannah Walters (Boiling Point; A Thousand Blows; EMMY winning and BAFTA nominated Adolescence), alongside scouser Daniel P. Lewis (Our Kid) as Walter, a man on the brink of suicide and deeply isolated who forms an unexpected bond with a crisis helpline volunteer who helps him confront the childhood abuse, addiction, and shame he has spent a lifetime trying to survive.

Directed by Ruth Carney (Shetland; Brassic) in her feature directorial debut and also written and produced by Daniel P. Lewis, Amazing Grace combines raw social realism with a restrained cinematic style, aiming to present an honest and human portrayal of emotional struggle, while ultimately offering a message of hope. Daniel has expressed how it was “really important that the film didn’t sugarcoat anything. I didn’t want to soften the edges or make it more palatable than it is. At the same time, I didn’t want to glamorise struggle either. It’s ongoing. It’s messy. It’s complicated. But within that, there are moments, sometimes very small moments, that can shift everything. That’s what I wanted to capture.”

Shot across 11 days, this British independent feature showcases the breadth of talent the sector is cultivating and the stories it can explore. Having been cast following a social media introduction, Hannah Walters has remarked on the importance of independent films “to make social commentary and by doing that they are raising a mirror to society on the issues that ordinarily you probably wouldn’t see in more financed films, but I think the subject matters that can be shown in independent films are a lot more socially grounded, in realism, in truth, in issues that are really relatable to a lot of people.”

Scouse talent joins the screen alongside Walters and Lewis, with the film featuring the BAFTA nominated duo James Nelson-Joyce (This City Is Ours; A Thousand Blows) and Sonny Walker (The Gathering; Legends), as well as Connor McIntyre, plus BAFTA Winner Chanel Cresswell (This Is England; The Gentleman) and Angela Lonsdale.

Produced by Daniel.P.Lewis, alongside Carley Armstrong with Shaun Robinson and Colin Cromby of Keystone Pictures and executive producers Dawn Tolcher and Sean O’Neil of Eryr Film.

Picturehouse Entertainment acquires UK rights to A Town In Nova Scotia

Picturehouse Entertainment has acquired the UK and Ireland rights to A Town In Nova Scotia, the first feature film to have received investment from the LCR Production Fund.

Plaza Community Cinema announce Q&A and book signing with Oscar award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins

An event celebrating the launch of the latest book On Cinematography from award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins will take place at the Plaza Community Cinema, Liverpool on Tuesday 4 August.

The event will feature a Q&A, book signing and special screening of The Shawshank Redemption.

On Cinematography offers readers an intimate and insightful journey through Deakins’ extraordinary career and creative philosophy. From his early years growing up in Torquay, England, to his groundbreaking work in documentary filmmaking and music videos, the book traces the evolution of one of cinema’s most influential visual storytellers. It also explores his defining collaborations with acclaimed filmmakers including Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Sam Mendes and Denis Villeneuve.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, Deakins has received 16 Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars for his acclaimed work on Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. His masterful cinematography has shaped some of modern cinema’s most visually iconic films.

The event will provide film lovers and aspiring creatives with a rare opportunity to hear directly from Deakins about his career, artistic process and enduring passion for visual storytelling. Guests will also enjoy a screening of The Shawshank Redemption, one of the many celebrated films photographed by Deakins and widely considered among the greatest films ever made.

Joining Roger on stage will be his wife and longtime creative collaborator James Deakins, who has played a vital role throughout his iconic career. Together, the pair will take part in an audience Q&A, sharing stories from behind the scenes of some of cinema’s most celebrated productions while answering questions from fans and filmmakers in attendance.

Tickets are available via the website https://plazacinema.org.uk/

FACILTIES FRIDAY: EMERGENCY SERVICES TO THE RESCUE!

Tucked away across a four-and-a-half-acre site in Secombe, Emergency Services Training Centre is not your standard production facility…