NC Grey is a talented UK-based musician and voice actor known for her captivating performances in the jazz and soul genres.

She has achieved significant success in voice acting, securing high-profile gigs with organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations.

Besides her thriving music and voice acting careers, NC Grey is also an author, with her latest book being Your Vocal Goldmine, an eBook designed to help aspiring voice actors.

Please introduce yourself …
I’m NC Grey, a British-Nigerian singer and voice actor.

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
I’d describe my life right now as learning to walk on a rope.

Which came first the music or the voice acting and where and how did the two cross over?
The music came first; I’d been living and performing in Ireland for years and only fell into voice acting when the world closed during lockdown. With no shows to play, I had to find another creative outlet.

Telling your relevant close ones that you wanted to pursue a career in the arts was like?
I’m Nigerian. You can only imagine the look on my mum’s face. My family fought it for a while. There was a point I was threatened to be disowned. However, I was able to prove that I could balance creativity with doing well at uni. It also helped when my mum came to see me live and finally believed I could “actually sing“.

Your bio says you went from recording in an IKEA Wardrobe to booking significant jobs with big brands please share that journey …
My journey into voice acting happened over lockdown. I believed the first few jobs were a fluke so I didn’t want to invest a lot of money into a home set-up until I was sure it was an actual thing. I started off using spare mattresses my mum had in the shed to build my first booth. And although mattresses work really well for soundproofing, they were quite tedious to set up every other day. At the point I realised I was booking 2-3 small projects a day, I decided it was time to get something more permanent.

The average home studio booth would run me nearly £800 so I did some YouTube-ing and decided to DIY it with a cupboard and some soundproof squares from Amazon. The total set up including glue cost me £150. The quality of my work greatly improved with this setup and I saw that reflected in the calibre of clients that reached out. From that same setup, I was able to work with the British Arts Council, SalesForce and the NHS. I’ve now been able to reinvest in the business and get a top-of-the-range mic and plugins that mean I can record with or without my cupboard.

Tell us about your new ebook Your Vocal Goldmine. What’s it about and who’s it for?
As I progressed along my journey, I got a lot of DM’s from people wanting to know how they could also get into voice acting. There were a lot of misconceptions like you couldn’t do it without an agent etc. and I found myself repeating the same answers every other day. I started building an FAQ doc in my notes app and with how frequently I opened it to copy and paste, decided it was time to build a resource. Your Vocal Goldmine is my ebook that provides a step-by-step guide on becoming a voice actor. It covers everything I wish I’d known, how to accurately understand your niche and how best to monetise your voice. There are tasks at the end of every chapter with the aim that on completion of the ebook, you’ll be fully set up.

Highs, lows, solutions …
Did I mention I work a full-time job in a tech company? Balancing a full-time career, delivering my booked voice over jobs and writing a book was no small feat. I’m definitely a calendar girlie so I leveraged that and over-indexed on time blocking. There were social functions I had to decline and prioritise content that would deliver immediate impact to the reader as opposed to storytelling. As I began to fine-tune the book, I knew I had to shut down my corporate brain. I took a week off work, went to sunny Malta and spent hours every day completing the book. For efficiency, I leveraged my network; one of my closest friends Marve Anson is an author and helped with the copywriting. Another friend who was a photographer shot the cover photo. It was truly a team effort and I’m super grateful that I have a network I could lean into.

Which project to date do you feel best demonstrates why you do what you do?
Working on the W.H.O. project is one of my career highlights. There is a huge sense of fulfilment working on projects that truly matter and that project focused on the huge lack of investment in healthcare services around the world.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

If not this, then what?
That’s a really hard question. I’ve got a career in tech, the music, and then this. So if not this, I’d probably index more on one of the other things I’m doing. I’m a strong believer in leaving no stone unturned so I feel like I’m currently doing all the things I’d want to do in some capacity.

What’s made you Sad, Mad, Glad this week …
Sad, I saw a pastry I really wanted and couldn’t have (I’m currently cutting out gluten to see how I feel). Mad, the news. I mean, there’s nothing on there that wouldn’t make you mad. Glad, I found a gluten-free peanut butter blondie that was so good.

What are you watching right now?
A lot of Nigerian movies on Netflix. I’m trying to work on a really specific Nigerian accent so I’m doing a lot of character analysis and understanding tone. No, there isn’t a specific project I’m working on, but you never know when the opportunity may arise.

What are you reading right now?
I’m really in my black author bag right now and I’ve literally just finished ‘Some Angels Dont See God‘ by Ever Obi. It’s such a gripping read.

The last thing you saw on stage?
MW the Musical. I haven’t laughed that much in a while.

What’s on your bucket list?
To voice an animated character.

Where’s your happy place?
On a beach. I’m my happiest when I’m by water.

Who’s the most important person in your life?
God. And yes, he’s not exactly a person. But with where I am right now, he’s the most consistent.

Celebrate someone else …
I’m super excited for Marve Anson who just got a book deal with Penguin Michael Joseph. I’m a big fan of the Penguin brand and super cool to see someone I know get a signing.

Celebrate yourself …
I’m very proud of the risks I’ve taken to get to where I am. Spinning multiple plates isn’t for everyone and not every venture is a success. But so far, so good.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
I’d like to think I’m following in the footsteps of Issa Rae and Jamie Foxx who are masters of many crafts.

What’s Next?
I’ve begun to lend my expertise to coaching some new voice actors and I’m looking forward to seeing them doing great things in the V/O space.

Where can we find you?
You can find me on Instagram and TikTok – @ncgrey

Where can we find your latest work?
www.ncgrey.com hosts all my projects; both music and voice acting.

Reel Impact is the Film and TV Charity’s brand-new programme to support Black and Global Majority creatives working behind the scenes!

Whether you are a Black and Global Majority mid-to-senior level individual working in film, TV, and cinema, or a Black and Global Majority-led organisation or production company, Reel Impact is here to help eligible applicants to rise, thrive, and achieve their goals.

The grants element of Reel Impact is open now, with up to £10k for individuals and £25k for organisations available.

Who should apply?

Black and Global Majority individuals and organisations who champion anti-racist practices in the industry
Black and Global Majority-led or owned production companies or organisations, running existing or new and innovative projects who want to scale up, build sustainability, or enhance their capacity to provide support, opportunities and inspiration for Black and Global Majority talent
Black and Global Majority individuals, wanting to enhance their career, and/​or those of others
We are defining Black and Global Majority to mean people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, Indigenous to the global south, and/​or have been racialised as ​‘ethnic minorities’
We are defining mid-to-senior as those that demonstrate they have a level of experience and expertise, areas of responsibility, such as holding leadership, management, decision making or more complex roles

Applications are open until 30th June – click here for more details and to apply!

Drawing from his rich experiences and a passion for storytelling, Iggy London’s latest project, Area Boy is his short film, developed at Berlinale Talents.

Starring Joshua Cameron as Eli a teenager navigating self-identity amidst conflicts between his friends, family and religion. Starring a remarkable cast also including Malcolm Kamulete and Jolade Obasola, this narrative, rooted in Iggy’s explorations of belonging and identity, highlighting his commitment to bringing complex, relatable characters to the screen we spoke to him to find out more about the inspiration behind Area Boy …

Please introduce yourself
My name is Iggy and I’m a filmmaker, artist and writer. After years of practising law and with a deep love of poetry – spoken and visual – I decided to pursue filmmaking and created the breakthrough short Velvet (2018). Drawn to capture stories that exist on the margins of society, Velvet paints a poetic and painful picture of inner-city life, death and above all hope. Across commercials, short films or music videos, I’ve tried to capture the beauty in universal truths that bind us to a sense of shared experience and humanity. Drawing out the nuance and authenticity of everyday life in a visually striking style. Passionate about creating work across different mediums, in early 2023, I wrote and edited a book, titled Mandem, including incredible writers such as Jordan Stephens, Sope Soetan, Phil Samba and Jeffrey Boakye, to name a few. I was born and raised in Newham, East London and I’m originally from Nigeria.

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
“Naija boy just trying to make work that will last a lifetime.”

Tell us about your latest project Area Boy …
Area Boy is a poetic coming-of-age story about an aimless teenager, Eli, who has moved to the outer edges of a provincial town with his mother. As he settles in, he tries to escape the bleakness of life and navigating questions of self-identity, by balancing his time between his delinquent friends and the church community. Torn between two worlds, Eli must find himself and embrace who he truly is. It tackles the conflict that comes with honouring the rules of a person’s chosen religion and navigating life and its many pitfalls and temptations whilst trying to have fun and evolve. A lot to deal with when you’re young and black. At the heart of it lies a strong desire to challenge the idea of holy or not holy; wrong or right. I want to create worlds which hold a mirror up to society and create empathy through storytelling, capturing life as it happens rather than exaggerated ideas of reality. The dynamic between mother and son is an extremely interesting one. Within typical African cultures, the children are rarely taught to challenge their parent’s ideologies – it is considered disobedience. Area Boys seeks to showcase a young man who is forced to consider what he truly believes for himself versus conforming to the life his mother wants for him. Without resorting to clichés or caricatures the film watches patiently, gently, as Eli struggles to find his specific path in life. Our audience will see how it unfolds the way life does.

What’s your role on it?
Filmmaker

How Area Boy come to exist?
The film is inspired by my experience in the midlands and north England while I was studying there. There was something incredibly beautiful yet sad about some of the places and people that I visited; so much so that I wanted to investigate further. Whilst many short films are set in London and overly glamorise the capital, I wanted to capture that tonal quality of an existence that falls out of city life, which audiences rarely see.

Highs, lows, solutions …
The highlight was being able to work with such an incredible cast. Working with Joshua Cameron, who played Eli, was great. He was able to provide such a sensibility to the character that wasn’t so obvious in the script. Malcolm Kamulete is also an incredible actor. We wanted Area Boy to feel very distinct – a stylised but truthful approach – and it couldn’t have been without such an incredible crew. The lowlight was probably not being able to shoot for more than four days. It was a dream project; shooting on 16mm with Zeiss High Speeds, large cast and many different locations. I would have loved to have more time on set. There weren’t really any obstacles, which I’m super happy about.

You edited and contributed to the anthology book of short stories and poetry Mandem – what’s happening post-publishing… Do you plan to do more books?
I definitely plan to do more books, right after I start finishing these scripts. I start but never finish them.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

If not this, then what?
I would have been an actor or worked in musical theatre.

What are you watching right now?
Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon Prime. It’s insane.

What are you reading right now?
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

What are you listening to right now?
Women’s Touch by Yussef Dayes ft. Jamilah Barry

The last thing you saw on stage?
Lennie James and Paapa Essiedu in, A Number.

What’s on your bucket list?
To direct a music video/art film for Erkyah Badu.

Where’s your happy place?
At home.

Celebrate someone else …
Celebrating Adjani Salmon for bagging a second series of Dreaming Whilst Black.

Celebrate yourself …
Area Boy made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which is low-key wild.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
Donald Glover’s footsteps.

What’s Next?
I’m currently writing a new film project, which I’m excited to share.

Where can we find you?
Instagram: @iggylondon
Twitter: @iggyldn
Website: www.iggylondon.com

Where can we see Area Boy?
Coming soon to Nowness

Duayne Boachie is an actor and comedian …

He is best known for his role as Zach Loveday in Hollyoaks.

His latest role is in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Dick Turpin sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde.

We spoke to Duayne who play the character Honest Courage …

Please introduce yourself …
My names Duayne Boachie I’m a British Actor of Ghanaian heritage

What was the inspiration that started you on this particular career path?
I’ve wanted to be an actor from about the age of 11.. I grew up on shows like Fresh Prince, My Wife and Kids, Kerching and was a big comic book/Marvel fan. I always felt like it was something I could definitely see myself doing.

It was my primary school drama teacher that kick started it off for me by casting me in the end of school play Grease where I played the lead character Danny. My potential then got spotted by a man called Richard Reid who owns a drama company called Black Arts Production (BAP) in North London. He further taught me, guided, encouraged and became a real mentor to me on my journey.

Who’s your character in Dick Turpin and what are your character’s goals?
The character I play is Honesty Courage. He is a loyal highwayman to his leader Dick Turpin and his gang. He’s not the smartest of the group but he has a unique way of thinking. I personally think he’s a genius haha.

The fact that I was in the presence of such experienced comedic actors was a privilege. It was really fun to be on set. And definitely a highlight to be in and amongst so many greats.

Highs, lows, solutions…
One of the challenges was my character’s costume. Firstly, I’d like to start by saying I absolutely LOVED his costume. It was giving Robin Hood/Ninja Turtles mixed with Assassins Creed and a splash of my own current culture lol. I felt like an action hero. HOWEVER, to be sleeveless, in the middle of the night, filming in Epping Forest, the day before snow!!! Was absolute torture.

What are you watching?
I’m currently watching an anime called Avatar Last Airbender and I’m slowly becoming an anime fan. I started watching My Hero Academia and I haven’t looked back.

What are you reading?
I’m currently reading the book of proverbs in the Bible. I haven’t actually read the whole bible yet so it’s definitely on my to do list. But the wisdom in proverbs is ace.

What are you listening to?
I listen to a whole range of music so it’s almost impossible to give a specific song or genre. If I hear something I like I just add it to my playlist which is ALWAYS on shuffle, keeps me excited. I just had a look and the last song I added was Redemption Song (Bob Marley).

Last thing you saw on stage?
The last play I watched was called A Mirror starring Michael Ward which I absolutely loved! Its currently showing again starring Samuel Adewunmi at Trafalgar Theatre so I’m definitely due to watch it again.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
I wouldn’t say I’m aiming to follow in anyone’s specific footsteps. I’m very dedicated to trusting my journey and becoming the best version of myself that I possibly can. But I get inspired and influenced by so many actors that the list is endless! For example, my current character Honesty is heavily influenced by an actor called Kel Mitchel with his portrayal of Kel in an old sitcom called Kenan and Kel.

What’s next?
I’m looking to tackle a bit of theatre next as I’ve always wanted to come back to the stage. I’m also in a Netflix show coming out this summer.

What’s your socials?
Social media is DuayneBoa on all platforms

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Njambi McGrath, is a multi-faceted Kenyan born writer-comedian who has achieved critical acclaim for her sharp wit on BBC Radio 4 and electrifying performances at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Now, she unveils her debut novel ‘Rinsing Mũkami’s Soul,’ a poignant tale set against Kenya’s backdrop. Through the eyes of Mũkami, McGrath explores themes of resilience and identity, inviting readers on a journey filled with laughter, tears, and profound introspection …

Please introduce yourself …
Njambi McGrath is a stand-up comedian, author and political commentator.

Describe your life right now in a word or a sentence …
I am doing everything I love. 

You discovered you were funny when?
I didn’t know I could be a comedian until someone suggested it.

Telling your parents you were going to be a comedienne was like …?
My parents didn’t understand it. They had no concept of what it was so they were puzzled.

Where the UK and Kenya collide – growing up in Kenya and evolving in the UK how has that shaped your perspective?
Kenya and the UK has a shared history. Britain colonised Kenya and the effects of that was my childhood. We were forced to speak English and punished if you didn’t, so I spoke English from a young age. Our curriculum was British, and our history and literature was all British. My evolution living in Britain has been in the last few years about discovering my culture and identity.

After a successful comedic career, why was now the time to write a book?
I had to write my first book, a memoir Through The Leopard’s Gaze. This was I guess to exorcise my demons of a traumatic childhood. Through that process, I learnt I could write and I felt I had stories to share of life in Kenya.

We have the synopsis, but what is Rinsing Mũkami’s Soul about from your perspective?
It’s about a young girl Mũkami, a conscientious student with big ambitions. Living in a compound in dysfunctional post-colonial Kenya, a country is still finding itself. She has an unfortunate meeting with a bad boy who turns her world upside down. She’s now expelled from two schools and is in search of a safe abortion in a country grappling with Victorian laws that forbids abortion. This is all against a backdrop of a community under threat. Land stolen of the people by British settlers was never returned but sold off to politicians and their cronies or to multinationals so few feel the benefits of independence. Communities like where Mũkami lives are under threat and always a looming homelessness. 
 
Which came first, the character or the plot?
Actually, this book is a spin-off. During lockdown down, I wrote a yet to be published book about a dysfunctional compound called the Ministry of Works. Each of the characters are distinctive and Mũkami’s spoke to me with an urgency I couldn’t ignore, and so the book was born. I felt she deserved her own story. Her story is familiar, afflicting many girls in Kenya. Growing up, I heard of countless girls who had died or permanently injured by unsafe abortions so it felt right to have Mũkami go through this.

The book tackles potential rape, abortion consideration, prostitution – quite intense themes is this a ‘serious’ book or do you weave your comedy through the narrative?
Even in the grimmest scenarios, there’s humour to be found. The book deals with serious themes but there are quite a few laugh out loud moments. Mũkami has a way of seeing the world and just because something bad is happening doesn’t take away humorous scenarios. The comedy in the book is not intended. It just presents itself and I go with it.

Highs, lows, solutions …
Writing is a big financial and time commitment. It requires self belief that someone will want to read the book and even better, publish it. One needs to have tunnel vision and not allow negativity or self-doubt to derail the whole project. The highest moment in this journey was when I walked out of my publisher’s office with a two book deal!

Without spoilers what’s your favourite moment in Rinsing Mũkami’s Soul?
When Mũkami decides to take revenge I’d say is a great part. It’s difficult to choose which part I’m most proud of but I guess it was when I realised that the book came to a natural end and the loose ends were tied up.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

If not this, then what?
A singer. I love singing and my dream was to sing. There’s just one problem with that and that’s my voice. I can’t sing.

What’s made you Sad, Mad, Glad this week?
Sad and Mad, the news of innocent people suffering for ideological reasons or capitalist ideals. Glad I am writing this sat by the pool in Dubai.

What are you watching right now?
Grizelda on Netflix.

What are you reading right now?
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.

The last thing you saw on stage? 
Belly dancers and fire eaters.

What’s on your bucket list? 
Visit Namibia and see the Milky Way.

Where’s your happy place?
In amazing gardens in hot places.

Celebrate someone else …
Sinead O’Connor. I never appreciated just powerful she was in advocating for those who were abused or oppressed.

Celebrate yourself …
At 13 years, I was the victim of a violent attack which left me for dead. I walked all night to flee from my tormentor; my father. My life was tough and I worked hard to get to a place where I am comfortable and living as a comedian and author.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
Every journey is unique so I guess it’s default to have just one person. I revere people who have the courage to speak up against oppression or exploitation.

What’s Next? 
Working on my next book and writing a new comedy hour to take to the fringe.

Where can we find you? 
TikTok/Facebook – Njambi McGrath Comedy. X and Instagram – Njambi McGrath.

Where can find your latest work?
You can see my solo show live at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Watch my past comedy specials on Next Up. 
Listen to my BBC Radio Series Becoming Njambi here, and Black Black here. Read my books Through The Leopard’s Gaze at Jacaranda Books and Rinsing Mũkami’s Soul also at Jacaranda Books.
 
 

Disney’s The Lion King, London, is looking for an enthusiastic Music Intern to join the team for its upcoming cast change.

Disney is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, and strongly encourage applicants of every race, ethnicity, belief, gender, sexual identity, disability, age and culture to apply.

Disney is looking for a music intern to come on board once a week for six weeks, to be truly immersed in what is involved in working on such a large scale show. You will work closely with the Musical Director, observing and learning about leading rehearsals, conducting both cast and orchestra, and being the heartbeat of the live show.

Start Date: Week beginning Monday 25th March
Rate Of Pay: LLW £13.15 p/h & travel expenses
Reports to Musical Director of Lion King London One day a week for six weeks Not accredited

Job/Role/Learning Summary

The sessions will explore and workshop the following:

The day-to-day role of the musical director in a large-scale musical theatre production
Collaboration, and the departments involved in a musical theatre production
Theatre-specific piano and keyboard techniques, for rehearsal and orchestra pit settings
Conducting in musical theatre
Preparing to MD a musical theatre production
‘Depping’ in musical theatre
The rehearsal process, and teaching ensemble vocals
African languages used in The Lion King

The content and focus of the sessions will be adapted to the selected candidate, to best fit their experience and needs.

Who Disney are looking for

We are particularly interested in hearing from applicants from groups currently underrepresented in the musical theatre industry’.
Aged 18 or over.
Must be able to work in the evenings.
Should have strong piano playing ability and be currently studying or looking to study piano at undergraduate level or equivalent. Recently graduated would also be suitable. However, having a qualification or degree is not a necessity.
Should have an interest in conducting – experience encouraged but not necessary
Someone who is keen to work in a collaborative environment
Someone with an interest in a diverse range of music and styles

How to apply

Please prepare and send the following videos:

A short piece or extract of classical music – anything you enjoy playing that has been learnt from sheet music (max 2 mins)
A contrasting piece of pop, rock, or jazz, which shows your abilities to play rhythm piano, keeping strong time (can be from sheet music, learnt by ear, or improvised) (max 2 mins)

To apply please contact dtg.recruitment@disney.com
Please include a covering letter with your CV

Closing date for applications 20th February 2024

Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah is a talented writer and director hailing from Essex.

Her debut short film “NIA,” funded by the BBC showcased at the Aesthetica Film Festival, and delves into a powerful narrative inspired by a true story close to her heart. The film, centrered around self-discovery and forgiveness, tells the compelling story of a young woman seeking to find something she never had after her grandmother’s passing – her mother.

Chantelle, who has worked on notable projects like the Disney+ TV series “Culprits” and BBC’s “EastEnders,” opens up about the significance of this heartfelt project …

Please introduce yourself …

Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah – a writer/director (and script editor) from Essex.

What or who started you on this particular career path?

When I was 8 years old and I watched Moulin Rouge (directed by Baz Luhrmann) for the first time.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently a script editor/storyliner on Eastenders. But writing a family driven comedy-drama series in between.

Tell us about your short film NIA …

After the death of her grandmother, a young woman embarks on a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, to find something she never had, her mother. NIA is a true story inspired by my niece, who has been estranged from her mother since she was 4 years old. My mother (my niece’s grandmother) has been raising her ever since. I started writing this film because I wanted to explore the complexities and contradictions of being black and growing up in a white environment – and by extension, the profound connection we share as a human race with our identity. In my niece’s experience, I began to notice her struggling with the same challenges and internal conflict about appearance, identity, and her blackness, that I found myself facing – as I was raised in the same white, countryside town. There is an endless battle that takes place of confusion, surrounding self-acceptance, and feeling very alien.

Tell us about your team on NIA …

I was truly blessed with an incredible crew. My producer, Martina Russo, never gave up on trying to make my vision a reality – even when it felt impossible and yet she made it happen. My executive producers, Sheila Nortley and Leon Mayne have taught me a lot, particularly the business side of filmmaking, which can be a struggle for new filmmakers. My DOP, Jasper Enujuba, brought the film to life in a way that was even more beautiful than how I imagined it in my mind. And of course, my leading lady, Priscilla Fagbemi – who is going places let me tell you. Her dedication to the character and the work she put in to understand Nia’s trauma is what a director dreams of.

What has NIA taught you about yourself as a filmmaker and a person?

As a person, I’m a perfectionist but as a filmmaker trying to achieve perfection… it’s not possible. There will always be something you wish you could do differently, or change, or edit a scene in a different way. The lesson is knowing when to stop. When it comes to your own creativity, I’m not sure perfection exists…

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

What are you watching? This Is Us, Westworld.

What are you reading? Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development Book by K. M. Weiland, Eastenders scripts, the Bible.

What are you listening to? Scarlet by Doja Cat.

Last thing you saw on stage? Tina: The musical. It was phenomenal.

Whose footsteps are you following in? Steve McQueen? One can dream.

What’s next? Make another short, and get the pilot I’m writing commissioned.

What’s your socials?
IG: @chantelleaboraah @bbcnia (film page)

NIA will be available on BBC iPlayer early 2024.

BAFTA Breakthrough is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year … and we speak to some of the UK Breakthroughs …

BAFTA has revealed the 32 creatives from across the UK and US selected for BAFTA Breakthrough 2023 . BAFTA Breakthrough is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative that provides a springboard to creatives in film, games and TV, Breakthrough participants receive unique professional development support from BAFTA – from coaching and mentoring to networking opportunities with BAFTA’s global membership of key industry figures. 

The programme has supported over 200 people to date across the UK, US and India, which is a testament to its continued success and massive impact. Many alumni have gone on to develop their own feature films, games, and television series, earning significant industry recognition and acclaim, and even securing their own BAFTA wins and nominations.

The 2023 Breakthrough UK jury comprised of leading cross-industry figures led by BAFTA sector committee chairs and members including Ade Rawcliffe, Sara Putt, Emily Stillman, Emma Morgan, and Anisa Sanusi in the UK.

TBB spoke to the following UK based BAFTA Breakthroughs:

TBB Talks To … Raine Allen-Miller | Director 
Breakthrough credit: Debut Film – Rye Lane

“I struggle with anxiety and depression, it’s hard to manage sometimes, especially when things are busy. I do CBT therapy which has helped me a lot, I also don’t use Instagram as much anymore which has honestly been a game changer. I try very hard not to work on the weekends, even though my work is my hobby and my life, I need to have space from it, that has helped me a lot and I think I am a better filmmaker when I do this.“

Read Raine Allen-Miller’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Adjani Salmon – Writer / Performer / Exec Producer
Breakthrough Credit: Dreaming Whilst Black

“I became a hyphenate out of necessity. I wanted to become a director. I wrote because I needed scripts to direct. I acted because I couldn’t afford actors to say the lines in my script. I fell in love with the other elements (writing and actors) as I love storytelling and all those roles are storytelling skills.“

Read Adjani Salmon’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Cynthia De La Rosa – Hair & Makeup Artist 
Breakthrough Credit: Everyone Else Burns

“I am a Hair and Makeup designer because I think that it is one of the most important forms of storytelling- and one of the most underrated as well. I am a true believer that whatever is going on on the inside of a person/character, projects itself on their outsides. Our craft is often so subtle but often immediately informs the audience about how a character is feeling, how they are living, and what a character’s socioeconomic status is. Not only does our work influence an audience’s perception of a character, but it is an important tool for the actor, and can have a profound effect on how well an actor feels in order to do their role.“

Read Cynthia De La Rosa’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson – Writer / Director / Presenter
Breakthrough Credit: Too Autistic For Black

“It definitely feels like marking a milestone in terms of how far along I’ve come in my career. I’m hoping to develop both personally and professionally by soaking up as much information as possible, making the most of opportunities and using this time to network with other industry pro’s in the cohort as well as those associated with BAFTA and the breakthrough initiative.“

Read Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson’s full interview here.

TBB Talkst To … Funmi Olutoye – Lead Producer
Breakthrough Credit:Black History Makers

“I know the power the media has to shape public opinion and to be “edutainment”. Because of this, it means you have the ability and privilege to really spread light and positivity into the world. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.“

Read Funmi Olutoye’s full interview here.

The full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthroughs is as follows:
UK Breakthroughs 

• Bella Ramsey (they / them) | Performer – The Last of Us
• Vivian Oparah (she / her) | Performer – Rye Lane
• Raine Allen-Miller (she / her) | Director – Rye Lane
• Charlotte Regan (she / her) | Writer / Director – Scrapper
• Adjani Salmon (he / him) | Writer / Performer / Exec Producer – Dreaming Whilst Black
• Cash Carraway (she / her) | Creator / Writer / Exec Producer – Rain Dogs
• Pete Jackson (he / him) | Writer / Creator – Somewhere Boy
• Rosy McEwen (she / her) | Performer – Blue Jean
• Georgia Oakley (she / her) | Writer / Director – Blue Jean
• Kat Morgan (she / her) | Hair & Makeup Designer – Blue Jean
• Kathryn Ferguson (she / her) | Writer / Director – Nothing Compares
• Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson (she / her) | Writer / Director / Presenter – Too Autistic For Black
• Funmi Olutoye (she / her) | Lead Producer – Black History Makers
• Ella Glendining (she / her) | Director – Is There Anybody Out There?
• Cynthia de la Rosa (she / her) | Hair & Makeup Artist – Everyone Else Burns
• Holly Reddaway (she / they) | Lead Voice Director – Bandai Namco
• Joel Beardshaw (he / they) | Lead Designer – Desta: The Memories Between
• Michael Anderson (he / him) | Producer – Desta: The Memories Between
• Samantha Béart (she / they) | Performer – The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow
• Kitt (Fiona) Burn (she / her) | 2D Artist / Game Designer – Gibbon: Beyond the Trees

• US Breakthroughs

• Aminah Nieves | Performer -1923
• Jingyi Shao | Writer / Director – Chang Can Dunk
• Cheyenne Morrin | Senior Games Writer – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Sing J Lee | Writer / Director – The Accidental Getaway Driver
• Vuk Lungulov-Klotz | Writer / Director – Mutt
• Shelly Yo | Writer / Director – Smoking Tigers
• Edward Buckles Jr | Documentary Director – Katrina Babies
• Amanda Kim | Documentary Director – Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV
• Maria Altamirano | Producer – All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
• Apoorva Charan | Producer – Joyland
• Santiago Gonzalez | Cinematographer – Shortcomings
• Gary Gunn | Composer – A Thousand and One

BAFTA Breakthrough is supported by Netflix. For more information about BAFTA BREAKTHROUGH 2023 go to the BAFTA website here

Funmi Olutoye is a London-based producer, director, writer and multimedia journalist.

In 2012 after studying, she landed one of just four places on ITV News’ traineeship programme where she learned to be a producer.She later worked as a video journalist at local station London Live, before returning as a freelancer for ITV Daytime in 2017 where she now works full-time.

She has worked across ITV Daytime’s main shows, This Morning, Lorraine and Good Morning Britain. Most recently she was one of the producers behind the reboot of The Big Breakfast.

We spoke to Funmi about being part of the BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort 2023 …

Please introduce yourself …

My name is Funmi Olutoye, I’m a producer / director, video journalist, writer and formerly presenter / reporter. I’m from London and my heritage is Nigerian. I’m half Igbo and half Yoruba. Now, I’m the first person from daytime television ever to be named a BAFTA Breakthrough!

What’s been the most significant project of your career to date?

Interestingly, it was an exclusive report that I did when I was working in local news about the sheer amount of illegal skin lightening creams being seized by a local authority, which hadn’t been publicised before. It was significant to me because when you work in local news, you’re a one-woman band. I.e. You find your own stories, you produce them, you self-shoot, you edit the footage of the report yourself and then send it to air. When I did this for this particular scoop that I got through a contact I had, I felt proud of myself. Because it boosted my self-belief that, yes, I can do this. I couldn’t believe that I did it completely by myself. So I thought just imagine when I get to a place with more resources – I’ll be able to tell even more stories and in an even better way.

You’re a producer because … ?

Two reasons:

I know the power the media has to shape public opinion and to be “edutainment”. Because of this, it means you have the ability and privilege to really spread light and positivity into the world. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

The second reason is that I constantly get to meet the most amazing, usually inaccessible, interesting and varied set of people in the world and tell their stories – it’s an amazing job, that doesn’t feel like a job. It’s a Privilege.

And is everything going to plan …?

I would like to think so! I’m definitely excited for what the next year will bring. I’m hoping becoming a BAFTA Breakthrough will broaden my horizons and open my eyes to sections of the industry I perhaps have never considered.

Why was now the right time to apply / be submitted for BAFTA Breakthrough?

I’ve been in this industry for 14 years so far. I had been working within local television for the first half of my career and then moved into national programming as a freelancer for a number of years. I then went full-time a couple of years ago which opens you up to more opportunities to lead on certain projects or at least have more responsibility in your hands than you would as just a freelancer. So when I had the opportunity to lead on Good Morning Britain’s Black History Month project for 2022, it was the first time I would lead produce on a strand for a major national daytime show like GMB. For me, this level of responsibility so far in my career is a personal breakthrough. I’m honoured that BAFTA thought the same.

What was the first thing you did when you found out you are part of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort?

I thanked God and called my Mum! Without the two of them I absolutely would not be where I am today. My faith is important to me and I strongly believe that God is always ordering my steps through life. My Mum brought me up by herself and she has personally sacrificed a lot to get me to where I am. She has always believed in me from day one and supported me in very difficult times in my career and in life generally. This recognition is for her as much as it is for me.

What does it mean to be recognised by BAFTA, and what are you hoping to gain from the experience?

It’s a privilege and an honour on two levels. The first being personally – next year will be 15 years since I’ve been working in the media. It’s good to know that work you’ve created is not going unnoticed by your peers in the wider industry. Also, that BAFTA sees something in me today that is worthy of profiling but also where they see me going in my future. It’s fantastic to know that not only do they want to be a part of that but they’re willing to back me on my future endeavours.

Secondly, it indicates to me that BAFTA recognises the work that daytime television producers do. We work very hard to put out live television shows for the nation every single weekday and throughout the year. And we do this with extraordinary turnaround times without compromising on quality. The long hours and the work we do overnight while the rest of the country is sleeping is tough but it’s worth it to bring the news and entertainment to people’s screens every morning.

Who of your peers would you recommend for next year’s BAFTA Breakthrough cohort?

Joel Duncan – he’s a senior creative producer at ITV who mainly works within the digital space but we’ve both worked at Good Morning Britain together some years back. But this year he brought me on as a producer on a brand new television show he created from scratch called Breaking Through with ZeZe Millz. He’s a very talented man.

Tell us about a challenging moment during your career that you had to dig deep to get through?

It was trying to get into the industry in the first place! I left my post-grad journalism school with all the gumption and ambition in the world. But I soon realised that this industry is all about who you know. I did a million internships just to gain experience, keep busy, make connections. It took me almost two years after journalism school before I got my first break into the industry as an ITV News Trainee. I was told almost 1000 people applied and I was one of four people they chose. When I got the call to say I got it, I X-Factor-contestant cried like a baby. Because I knew, finally, I was in!

What’s next?

I’m open! I’m on secondment to The Lorraine Show at the moment and I go back to Good Morning Britain in February 2024. I’d love to do more side projects and explore more genres within television. Also, I’m keen to do more creative video work within the social media and digital space.

How do we keep up to date with you and your work?

I’m on social media
Twitter / X: @FunmiOlutoye
Instagram: @Funmio
Tik Tok: @Funmio
Snapchat: @Funmio7

What are you reading, watching, listening to right now, and what’s the last thing you saw
on stage?

• I’m watching Squid Game: The Challenge – insanely addictive. Also, the new series of Deal or No Deal – so nostalgic and yet the way they’ve brought it back with a new presenter, it feels refreshed.
• The last thing I saw on stage was the musical The Time Traveller’s Wife. Very good musical. The set design was amazing – so much so I had to message the designer on Instagram just to
  give her her flowers!

Adjani Salmon is the award-winning writer, actor, and director of Dreaming Whilst Black which is loosely inspired by real-life events.

The series was adapted from the hugely popular web series Adjani created with Ali Hughes and has racked up a number of noms and award wins in the past year propelling Adjani’s career and leading him on to new roles in programmes.

We spoke to Adjani about the massive impact Dreaming Whilst Black has had on his career and being part of the BAFTA Cohort 2023

Please introduce yourself …

My name is Adjani Salmon, Winsome’s one son, Gladys’ grandchild. I’m Jamaican-British and I tell stories.

What’s been the most significant project of your career to date?

I think that’s yet to be defined being we have not seen all the fruits of Season 1’s labour. However, I’ll say it’s the web series of Dreaming Whilst Black because my career took it’s biggest turn after it was released.

Why did you want to follow this career path of becoming a multi-hyphenate creative ?

I became a hyphenate out of necessity. I wanted to become a director. I wrote because I needed scripts to direct. I acted because I couldn’t afford actors to say the lines in my script. I fell in love with the other elements (writing and actors) as I love storytelling and all those roles are storytelling skills.

And is everything going to plan …?

I threw out my plans a long time ago. the goals is the same but I’ve learnt early on that you have to be super adaptable. So I change plans all the time when I learn new information about the industry landscape.

Why was now the right time to apply / be submitted for BAFTA Breakthrough?

I think this was the time to apply for BAFTA Breakthrough because I have finally a “foot” in the industry. When I had the pilot I wasn’t guaranteed the series. So I had a glimpse but didn’t feel secure in it. This year after airing the series was when I finally felt, “yes Adjani, now, you can safely say you’re in the industry.“

What was the first thing you did when you found out you are part of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort?

I had a quiet moment with myself, thanked God for the continually blessings then probably called my agent to rave about it!

What does it mean to be recognised by BAFTA, and what are you hoping to gain from the experience?

BAFTA recognition is always flattering as they are the Gold Standard of our industry in the UK. I hope to meet and build relationships with my cohort as well as have conversations with the industry people who I have looked up to for so many years. I would also love to get a mentor (or loose mentorship) in what seems to be a pivotal moment in my career too.

Who of your peers would you recommend for next year’s BAFTA Breakthrough cohort?

I will keep recommending my PeopleDem till they are all put on. They are my writing partners Ali Hughes and Yemi Oyefuwa; my producer Nicola Gregory; our HODs Jodie-Simone Howe, Angel Parmar, Peter Davis, Ash White, Gez Morris, Kwame Kwei-Armah Jr. and Nathalie Pitters; our directors Koby Adom, Joelle Mae David, Jermain Julien and Sebastian Thiel. My success is not my own, it is the team that made the show why I have been put into this spotlight, therefore I would like them all to have the spotlight too.

Tell us about a challenging moment during your career that you had to dig deep to get through?

To be honest the no’s are probably the hardest in the beginning. To be developing your craft continually, knowing you have the potential but still be told no in an insurmountable amount of ways makes it harder to keep getting up each time. It chips away at your confidence and self-belief. What got me through were my friends and comrades who were in the struggle with me. We kept each other’s mindsets up when we realised they were low and encouraged each other with each other’s work and scripts to keep pressing on. Equally with each opportunity we got, we tried to bring through as many people (even if just an introduction) to whoever we met. My fellow practitioner friends got me through.

What’s next?

I’m writing a classic sitcom for BBC Studios about a Jamaican family that run a Caribbean Takeaway Restaurant. I’m also working on my first feature film with Film4.

How do we keep up to date with you and your work?

Instagram: @s.adjani Twitter: @theadjani

What are you reading, watching, listening to right now, and what’s the last thing you saw on stage?

I’m reading between two books at the moment, The Drama of Being a Child by Alice Miller and The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. The last thing I watched on stage was Clyde’s Diner which had FANTASTIC performances all round but I was particularly spellbound by Ronke Adekoluejo and Gbemisola Ikumelo.