Ria Hebden (@Funkachick) caught up with a host of stars and winners at the 2015 Screen Nation Awards including Idris Elba, Amma Asante, Ade Adeptian, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sarah-Jane Crawford and Toyin Agbetu. Watch the video above to see what they think about diversity in television and film, give advice about succeeding in the industry and celebrate 10 years of the Screen Nation Awards.
To see the full list of winners, click here.
A host of stars and top talent from TV, film, sports and media were present including: Idris Elba, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aml Ameen, Jamelia, Sarah Jane Crawford, Sean Cronin, Rebecca Scroggs, Patrick Robinson, Chizzy Akudolu, Petra Letang, Amma Asante, Mo Ali, Don Gilet, Laura Rollins, Lorna Laidlaw, Fiona Wade, Danny John Jules, Don Warrington, Amanda Foster, Daniel Lawrence, Taylor, Tobi Bakare, Shavani Seth, Charlene White, Junior Giscombe, Don-e, Loose Ends, Karen Bryson, Arnold Oceng, Sara Martin, Asif Zubairy, Michelle Matherson, Modupe Adeyeye, Denise Nurse, Jasmine Dotiwala, OT Fagbenle, Samuel Anderson, Fabrice Muamba and many more.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day and the month of love, BWNG TV (the creators of web-to-TV hit Brothers With No Game) host a panel show delving into the mind of the single male. In the five-part YouTube series, four British guys candidly discuss their honest (and controversial!) thoughts on dating, sex, women, relationships and marriage.
Watch all five shows in the playlist above.
Idris Elba is one of the guests confirmed to attend the Screen Nation Film & Television Awards tonight. Acknowledged by the industry as ‘the’ media event for diverse talent', Screen Nation marks 2015 as its 10th anniversary paying homage to the very best culturally diverse talent working in the UK and international film, broadcast and entertainment industries.
Hosted by BBC London News Arts Correspondent Brenda Emmanus and actor singer Victor Romero-Evans guests include:
Ade Adepitan, Amanda Foster, Arnold Oceng, Charlene White, Danny John Jules, Denise Nurse, DJ Abrantee, Don Gilet, Don Warringtion, Don-E, Dona Croll, Ellen Thomas, Fabrice Muamba, Helen Skelton, Idris Elba, JJC (Big Brovas), Karl Collins, Laura Rollins, Leee John, Letitia Wright, Loose Ends – Carl McIntosh, Lorna Laidlaw, Mckell David, Mista Silva, Modupe Adeyeye, Moelogo, Nathalie Emmanuel, Omar, Ot Fagbenle, Patrick Robinson, Petra Letang, Rebecca Scroggs, Samuel Anderson, Sara Martin, Sonali Shah, Tarah Welsh, Tobi Bakare, Victor Romero-Evans, Janet Kay and more to be confirmed.
For news and updates along the way, follow:
#SNA2015 #ScreenNationAwards2015
Instagram: @screennation
Twitter @screennation
Facebook @ScreenNationAwards
YouTube @screennation
Good luck to all those nominated. For the list of nominees, click here.
The Screen Nation Awards celebrates, rewards and promotes the achievements of creatives from the African diaspora in the UK and global film, TV and digital media industries. 2015 marks a decade of rewarding excellence and diversity so the ceremony on the Sunday 15th February is guaranteed to be big night!
Reposted from RTS
Jasmine Dotiwala has had a different route into television than many of her peers. Whilst working as a runner she was thrown in front of camera to begin what was to become a successful career interview some of showbiz's biggest names. From there she moved behind the scenes, climbing the production ladder to end up running two MTV channels. Now she runs London 360, a youth news channel created by the Media Trust. In this interview with the Royal Television Society, Jasmine discusses in detail how she made it in the world of entertainment journalism and shares some advice on how others can follow in her footsteps.
Check out the teaser for new structured reality series Desi Rascals – starts Tuesday 8pm on Sky Living.
For more info, click here.
Channel 4 has set out a major commitment to leadership in diversity at every level of the organisation with the launch of its 360° Diversity Charter at an event held in Parliament on Monday 12th January.
The 360° Charter puts diversity at the heart of all decision making at Channel 4, across all activities on and off-screen, at every level and with all external partners and independent producers. It includes 30 significant activities worth £5m of investment and covers a wide definition of diversity including BAME, disability, LGBT, gender and social mobility.
Headline activities within the Charter include the launch of Channel 4’s Commissioning Diversity Guidelines, the introduction of new in-house diversity targets for Channel 4 staff and leadership, the funding of seven diverse Deputy Commissioning Editors, and investment in a new generation of disabled production talent for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
David Abraham, Channel 4’s Chief Executive said: “Diversity is baked into Channel 4’s DNA and our remit – it’s vital that we are open to the widest variety of voices, and that we nurture new talent from all backgrounds and reflect all of contemporary Britain.
“We have a rich heritage in pioneering programming that has reshaped how we think about diversity from Desmond’sand Queer as Folk through to the 2012 Paralympics, but like all media organisations, there is more we can do.
“The launch of our 360° Charter is an opportunity for us to change how we think about diversity and ensure that it’s at the very heart of everything that we do, on and off-screen.
“It’s a complex area but our goal is to create meaningful and long term change and I believe the commitments we’re setting out today are a significant moment in the history of Channel 4.”
The commitments outlined in the 360° Charter include:
Reposted from Digital Spy
EastEnders bosses have cast Richard Blackwood to play a new villainous character on the BBC soap. The actor and TV personality will make his first appearance on the show next month, featuring in one of the first live scenes in the highly-anticipated 30th anniversary 'live week'.
With secrecy surrounding many of the anniversary storylines, show chiefs are keeping tight-lipped about the character that Blackwood will be playing. However, insiders have promised an "explosive" and "thrilling" debut for his new alter ego, who will be shaking up life on Albert Square.
In a statement, Blackwood thanked EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins and the show's casting director Julia Crampsie for trusting him with the role. He commented: "I wanna thank Dominic and Julia for giving me this amazing opportunity. EastEnders is a show I've grown up watching, so to film on Albert Square is something I'll never get used to! To know my first-ever scene will be a live one hopefully means the team believe in me and I won't let them down!"
Treadwell-Collins added: "Richard Blackwood has always been on our EastEnders wish list – and now the perfect part has come along. Richard's an authentic Londoner and a terrific actor, bringing with him warmth, humour and energy which will add so many layers to this 21st century EastEnders villain. The status quo in the Square is about to be well and truly shaken…"
Blackwood's previous acting work includes appearances in a number of TV and theatre productions. He is also known for his stand-up comedy, presenting and music work.
Congrats Richard!
Any budding producers out there? Get advice from the experts in BAFTA Guru’s latest video – In Focus: Producing. Top producers Tim Bevan, Pippa Harris, Andrew Eaton and Mark Herbert shed light on what their job entails, their working relationships, their role in preparation, shooting and post-production, and what makes a great producer.