YUTE 'Lens' Support for TV, film industry

Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) Limited has partnered with eMedia Interactive Limited to train 40 unattached youth in film, television and media production through its YUTE Lens Support programme.

Speaking at the launch of the programme held at The Technology Innovation Centre, University of Technology Jamaica on April 25, YUTE Chairman Joseph M. Matalon emphasised that the initiative is part of a new strategic direction by the charitable organisation to create training and employment opportunities for its at-risk beneficiaries within non-traditional growth sectors.

He underscored this drive as an important means to build the capacity, competency, talent, and desire of interested young people to supply the demands of growing labour markets, and ultimately combat the high youth unemployment rate, now estimated at 38.5 per cent.

YUTE Lens Support, Matalon said, is one such project developed for Phase 2 of the YUTE programme, which will see its beneficiaries from Kingston's most vulnerable communities engaged in intensive and targeted training programmes, followed by internships with private-sector companies across relevant industries.

For YUTE Lens Support, which is funded in part by the Australian High Commission through its Direct Aid Programme, participants will undergo four weeks of training and six weeks of internships within the wider film and TV community, aimed at providing critical on-the-job experience, which will in the future assist them in securing employment and/or further training in their desired areas of interest and aptitude.

The training curriculum for YUTE Lens Support devised by eMedia Interactive creators of iVu TV, is geared towards providing theoretical and practical training in different areas of production and programming, inclusive of advertisements, news, reality and documentary features.

In explaining the prospects for both participants and the industry, president and CEO of eMedia, Tyrone Wilson, said, "Film and TV production has such great potential to empower and uplift. Arming the youth with this tool of self-expression will not only help to renew faith in themselves, but kindle their zeal for success. Our creative industry, in turn, can only stand to benefit from the outpouring of talent and ingenuity."

Comprehensive course

Wilson advised that participants will be introduced to all areas of production inclusive of scripting, direction, producing, editing, and cinematography. Members of the programme will contribute to the development of a production for distribution on the iVu TV platform in partnership with Flow TV.

Executive director of YUTE Limited, Alicia Glasgow, stated, "the partnership will allow our beneficiaries to develop skills and competencies in line with their creative and professional interests and become contributors to the growth of Jamaica's film and television industry. As Jamaica continues to realise the magnitude of the scope for earning and expansion of the industry locally and internationally, we aim to create the platform for YUTE participants to start their careers and access available and upcoming opportunities for employment."

The YUTE Lens Support programme will conclude its first cycle with a screening of the final products created by the participants during the programme.