A team of trainees from Blackburn's Futures in Film Academy have joined the production team behind the critically acclaimed 'Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light' TV drama.
The historical BBC series now showing on Sunday nights is based on the novels by the late Hilary Mantel and stars Sir Mark Rylance as protagonist Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Rafe Sadler.
The second Wolf Hall series, it tells the story of commoner Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of Henry VIII during the Tudor era.
The cohort from Futures in Film were supported by Blackburn-based MR Helix's team who helped them learn how to manage and work with the firm's Gimbal and Exoskeleton dynamic camera motion technologies.
Former Blackburn College student Joe Madigan, 19, said: "It was utterly surreal to be on such a grand set with so many famous actors and getting to experience it all first-hand.
"While it was the first large-scale film set I’d been on, we’d luckily been well prepared through the Futures in Film training initiative.
"When I left college, I didn’t think I’d get such a great opportunity like this, but through Futures in Film and MR Helix, I have access to the latest film equipment and support from industry professionals to help develop skills.
"It’s brilliant to have this fully-funded initiative right here in our borough opening up so many opportunities for people like me with an interest in a career in film."
Rizwan Wadan, from MR Helix, said: "Experience like this is invaluable to those who want to pursue a career in the TV and film production industry.
"The Gimbal, Exoskeleton and drone technologies we are developing and testing open up doors for our Future in Film cohorts.
"We’re creating direct access to some of the biggest film sets across the country."
Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We’re a forward-thinking council which uses its strong partnerships to forge exciting opportunities for our youngsters to pursue careers in the TV and film production industry.
"It’s so interesting that the technology being developed right here in our borough is helping unlock even more of these opportunities – linked to the fantastic work of the Futures in Film Academy and Rizwan’s vision.
"The cohorts are getting hands-on training on these emerging technologies.
"They’re getting to use it on sets like the one for Wolf Hall and they’re getting to see all of the different roles that exist."
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