Skills Archives - Liverpool Film Office

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRONE OPERATORS

Members of the LFO team recently joined Rob Tilly of specialist drone operators IronBird (This City is Ours, House of Guinness, Tin Star) at LIPA to host an exclusive drone masterclass for final year film students as part of our Connected Campus outreach programme. Covering the basics of drone operating, the practicalities behind using the equipment and the creative opportunities drones can allow for, Rob gave students the chance to get up close with a range of drones and see first-hand how different equipment can achieve different shots.

The masterclass marked the first stage of a collaborative project between LFO, LIPA and IronBird, which will culminate in a drone‑based video promoting The Depot studio site alongside some of Liverpool’s most prominent filming locations. Using insights gained during the masterclass, students were tasked with developing a creative brief to meet LFO’s promotional objectives through a drone‑led video project. Following review by LFO and IronBird, the most appropriate and realistic brief will be selected and brought to life, with the student(s) behind it given the opportunity to experience the production process firsthand by shadowing IronBird during shoot days.

We are proud to be working alongside local production and educational partners to enrich students’ final weeks of education, giving them first‑hand experience of bringing a production to life while showcasing Liverpool City Region’s industry offer and helping bridge the gap between education and local industry. Watch this space!

Major broadcasters back textured hair & make up accelerator supported by LFO

A major coalition of UK broadcasters and industry partners has joined forces to launch the Textured Hair & Make-up for Deep Skin-Tones Accelerator, a new initiative from Dandi, brought to you by the team behind TriForce Creative Network (the TCN).

The Accelerator builds on the 2025 Hair & Make‑Up Equity Guidelines, (produced by Dandi and available on the Pact website) and provides a practical, scalable solution to ensure equitable, culturally competent styling across the UK’s screen industries.

The initiative is backed by Prime Video Pathway, following their pilot programme in Scotland in 2025 as well as BBC, Sky, Channel 4, ITV and Screen Alliance North. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands on training, industry insight and direct access to employers, with the potential to progress into paid roles on High End TV productions.

The Accelerator programme is centred around professional masterclasses in partnership with the renowned Kevin Fortune Hair Styling Academy. Two regional programmes: ‘On-set’ Afro hair and make-up for deep skin-tones masterclass sessions will be offered in 2026 – in the North West and the South West – with plans to expand further in 2027.

The North West Masterclass sessions held in association with Screen Alliance North alongside Screen Manchester and Liverpool Film Office, will be held at Space Studios Manchester, with the hair masterclass on 01-05 June and the make-up masterclass on 15-17 June. Applications for the North West cohort are now being accepted at https://jobs.thetcn.com/jobs/Careers.

Applicants can apply for either the hair or make-up course or both courses. Applicants must be from the North West.