UK Screen Alliance & Animation UK elect new council representatives
May 7, 2018
The members of the UK Screen Alliance in partnership with Animation UK have elected their new representative councils.
This was the first election held since the joining together of the two organisations in November 2016 and completes the transitionary arrangements that have been in place since then. The UK Screen Facilities Council and the Animation UK Council are the main policy making bodies for their respective sections of membership and sit beneath an overall governing board of directors.
Whilst the UK Facilities Council election went to a member vote, the number of nominations in the Animation UK Council aligned with the number of available seats and so the member vote was not required.
The new representatives on the Animation UK Council are Jamie Badminton from Karrot Entertainment and Mark Taylor from A Productions.
They join continuing representatives, Erica Darby (Spider Eye), Phil Dobree (Jellyfish Pictures), Ruth Fielding (Lupus Films), Ed Galton (CAKE), Oli Hyatt (Blue Zoo), Ian Liddell (Studio Liddell), Julie Lockhart (Locksmith Animation), Ian Mackinnon (Mackinnon & Saunders), Dave Sproxton (Aardman Animations) and Kate O’Connor (Executive Chair – Animation UK).
After the votes were counted in the UK Screen Facilities Council election, the newly appointed representatives are Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor (BlueBolt), Milly Ali (Timeline North), Cara Sheppard (Warner Bros. De Lane Lea) and Darren Woolfson (Pinewood).
Re-elected were Mike Kelt (Artem SFX) and Claire McGrane (Company 3). As only half the council seats are contested at each election, representatives remaining in situ are Fiona Walkinshaw (Framestore), Will Cohen (Milk VFX), Rich Moss (Gorilla TV), JP Dash (Fifty Fifty Post) and Sean Costelloe (The Mill).
UK Screen Alliance CEO, Neil Hatton commented; “The line-up of the new Councils is really strong and represents the broad range of interests present in our membership. I’m also really pleased that the councils are diverse and that we have increased the number of women on the Facilities Council to almost 50/50.”
BAFTA and Emmy award winning producer and Karrot co-founder, Jamie Badminton said; “I’m delighted to be joining the Animation UK Council as we seek to strengthen and connect every facet of our industry so that its fullest potential is unleashed. There’s an important message to spread about the untapped excellence in the UK and build investor confidence around the world.”
Mark Taylor, A Productions Managing Director, commented; “An important ally for studios like A Productions is Animation UK & UK Screen Alliance. So ensuring Animation UK has a voice that best represents the wonderfully talented, diverse and creative production talent within the wider animation community is vital.”
Cara Sheppard, director at Warner Bros. De Lane Lea looks forward to being an active council member, saying; “I’m delighted to have been elected onto the UK Screen Facilities Council. I believe my wealth of experience in several sectors across post production lends itself well to me providing valuable input as well as a passion to support diversity and apprenticeship schemes within the industry”
Group Director of Technology at Pinewood Studios, Darren Woolfson, commented; “I am really excited about joining the Facilities Council at UK Screen. UK Screen’s role of providing greater influence than its members can individually is an essential support to the industry as a whole. Driving the debate and supporting change and innovation is the area in which I hope to offer a strong contribution.”
Timeline TV, Commercial Director, Milly Ali said; “I hope in my role on the UK Screen Facilities Council to represent the regional voices of post-production and offer valuable insight in to the creative community based in the North of England.”
BlueBolt MD and co-founder Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor would like to use her experience to champion further the excellence of the UK industry, stating; “I am delighted to have been voted onto the board of U.K. Screen. They have consistently supported the U.K. post industry and I look forward to playing a role in helping them to continue to set the agenda for our future success.”
About UK Screen Alliance and Animation UK
The UK Screen Alliance in partnership with Animation UK is the trade association that represents companies involved in animation, audio and video post-production, visual effects, physical effects, camera and lighting hire, freelance talent agencies and TV & film studios. It is the membership organisation for over 80 leading employers in this sector and its primary purpose is advocacy for its member companies and the wider screen industries.
UK Screen Alliance was formed in 2016 when two long-established organisations, the UK Screen Association, (founded in 2003) and Animation UK (founded in 2008) joined together to pursue mutually agreed goals on behalf of their members. The UK Screen Association members come from a lateral layer of service providers to the film, TV and commercials sectors; whereas the Animation UK membership consists of an industry vertical comprising independent entertainment companies specialising in production, distribution, development, financing and brand development of childrens’ and family properties. These two constituencies intersect across many common interests, particularly those of exports and international business, talent & workforce, migration & visas, skills development and talent pipeline from schools through college and university into jobs and apprenticeships and of continuing professional development.
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