Skills and Training 

Upcoming skills and training opportunities:

Unity: What the Manuals Don’t Teach You

Game development using Unity can be complicated. Unity has hundreds of different features, many of which aren’t programming related. But programming is a big part of Unity.

Writing C# is straightforward and easy for beginners to pick up. However, it’s easy for games development beginners and seniors alike to fall into common traps: simple programming mistakes, obvious optimisation faux pas as well as overlooking foundational programming techniques that circumvent some of Unity’s well-known limitations. This course intends to pass on the hard-won insights of experienced developers in these areas.

This first-of-its-kind, in-person training will take place over 2 consecutive weeks, the first in studio and at workstations provided by Cloth Cat, an award-winning animation and games studio based in central Cardiff. The second week will be remote.

This course is intended for people who have some games development experience who want to enhance their software-specific skills, this course will deliver the knowledge and insights needed to work on future productions.

Trainees will come out of the two weeks feeling stronger with their programming knowledge, more confident in their ability to write code like a senior or lead and feel they can explain complex foundational coding practices to their peers.

Apply to Unity

Ascend: Soap Acting Workshop for Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Talent

Following the phenomenal success of our inaugural Accessible Futures Summit, focusing on fairer work practices in the screen sector in Wales, Media Cymru & USW are delighted to be partnering with Spotlight and BBC Studios Drama Productions on this new scheme aimed at deaf, disabled and neurodivergent (DDN) actors.

Soaps are the bedrock of our TV industry, and we believe they play a vital role in the development of all talent.  This genre requires a particular set of on-screen-skills, which is why we welcome BBC Studio’s commitment to running a workshop that prepares DDN actors, without TV experience for their scripted on-screen debut.

10 actors will be selected by BBC Studios Drama Productions as per the criteria in the project overview.

This opportunity builds on the success of a similar pilot scheme for emerging actors that took place in Cardiff in November. It also responds to the lack of disabled representation on-screen and in storytelling more generally.

Apply to Ascend

Data Management Fundamentals

What does good data management look like? What can we do in the Welsh screen sector, to not only organise ourselves more efficiently but to be able to find the volume or capacity to handle what could be terabytes of data?  And do all cloud-based solutions or dedicated software packages fit all productions?

In this half-day DATA MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS session, Gorilla Academy aims to cut through the terminology and technology (although we do have to talk about it, sorry) and look at some tried and tested workflows that manage all your lovely data, from capture through to post.  And enable you to look after one of your most valuable assets.

We will cover well rounded principles of storage, naming conventions and storage types that best suit each file type, while looking at costings and the green aspect of data management.

This course is aimed at producers, production assistants, project managers, camera assistants/ trainees, camera, edit assistants, this overview covers almost every type of file so every type of role could benefit.

Apply to Data Management Fundamentals

How to be a Greenlancer

While eco-anxiety continues to evolve along with the effects of climate change, it’s never been a more important time for freelancers to adopt and incorporate sustainable practices in their everyday lives. Running a greener freelance business also means tackling those personal emission hotspots such as Transport and Energy, Materials, Food and Waste and one of the valuable takeaways from the session will be to give you a better understanding of your carbon footprint and how you can reduce it.

Delivered by Picture Zero, HOW TO BE A GREENLANCER is an engaging, straightforward guide on how you can be more environmentally focussed and finance-savvy on a very personal level.  And even grow your business, worth and network by differentiating yourself and attracting employers who also value sustainability.

Apply to How to be a Greenlancer…

The Reset Programme for Working Parents

Reset LIVE is a 6-week ONLINE course for parents who want a better work-life balance. With bite-sized audios and practical takeaways, in as little as 15 minutes a day, you will identify your challenges, get clear on your priorities, ditch the guilt and find the balance that’s right for you.

Reset LIVE is a bracing and uplifting experience, for you to learn skills and strategies that will last a lifetime. Alongside a supportive community your course will include a bespoke Media Cymru module addressing the unique challenges you face in the screen sector.

This training is provided free of charge to participants.

Find out more and apply…