Pathway opens applications to media incubator and names VP stage

Pathway has opened applications to Pathway Indie, its $2.5m (£2m) in-kind media innovation incubator, and has revealed the new name of its virtual production (VP) studio: the ‘Sir Sydney Samuelson Stage’.

The new programme will offer creative industry entrepreneurs in-kind investment of VP stage time and virtual art department services to develop media IP based proof of concepts. For successful applicants, Indie will also include industry mentorship to help maximise the start-up business potential of new product ideas for cross-media formats that span the convergence of film, television and video games.

Nathan Newman, Pathway co-founder, commented: “Pathway Indie is set-up much like a tech start-up incubator for the creative media industry. In recent years, savvy filmmakers have started to think and behave more like tech start-up founders whose entrepreneurial thinking is underpinned by creative ways of achieving break-out success. Our programme is designed to support media innovation with virtual production as a route to unlocking creative concepts that are ultimately more investible and commercially scalable.”

The incubator programme has been designed by professionals from the media and entertainment industry for creative media founders, who Pathway believes are the next generation of creative leaders whose work will converge through screen and real-time technologies. The programme acknowledges the urgent industry need to support creative start-ups into scale-ups.

Pathway have also announced the name of their VP stage in Manchester as the Sir Sydney Samuelson Stage, in honour of the legendary first British Film Commissioner, former BAFTA Chair, founder of the Samuelson Group and pioneer of the British film and television industry. Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE BSC was known throughout the industry to be a serial starter of careers who had a tireless reputation for generosity and the professional pursuit of innovation. It is in this tradition that Pathway Indie will kickstart careers and create opportunities for growth through applied thinking with virtual production technology and techniques.

“My father was aware of the plan to name the stage after him before he died and was delighted, representing as it does two of his lifelong passions – promoting and encouraging new talent in our industry and pushing ahead on the cutting edge of technology,” said Sir Sydney’s son, producer Marc Samuelson.

Amanda Nevill CBE, former BFI Chief Executive, film industry executive and member of Pathway’s Advisory Board, added: “The incubator will play a central role in culture building through creative innovation with a daring indie spirit that will break new ground in the screen industry. It is wonderful to be part of a forward thinking initiative that is dedicated to opening up career opportunities that are equally aimed at new and established talent.”

Pathway Indie has been made possible in partnership with HP. Richard McGuinness, advanced compute and solutions lead for workstations and thin clients from HP UK, said: “HP’s workstations are always at the forefront of innovation, so we are really proud that Pathway decided to partner with us and have our range of products at the heart of their new incubator programme.”

Applications to Pathway Indie are now open to entrepreneurial filmmakers and creative technologists in the UK and to eligible international talent. Visit Pathway’s website for more information and to apply.