The Farm, Goldcrest, Fifty Fifty & Unit join Residence’s Pixel Pathway scheme

The Farm, Goldcrest Films, Fifty Fifty and Unit have joined Residence Pictures’ Pixel Pathway training scheme as peer partners. 

This will see Mark Wynter, general manager at The Farm; Rob Farris, director of post production at Goldcrest Post; Alex Meade, operational managing director at Fifty Fifty; and Louise Stevenson, head of film and TV at Unit provide industry insight and expert guidance on the initiative’s curriculum. This in addition to Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV’s input as the original funders of the scheme. 

This aims to ensure that the training is built around real expectations and the foundational skills currently required across entry-level post-production roles, as well as working to evolve the programme into something scalable and sustainable. 

Residence Pictures reopened its Pixel Pathway scheme earlier this year. The six-week scheme will see the trainees undertake two days of on-site training each week at Residence Pictures’ studio, with a third day of each week reserved for “enrichment experiences” with planned industry visits including trips to a film studio, a streaming platform, on-set experience with a London-based production, and the Peer Partners opening their facilities to offer runner work experience, hands-on exposure to live post-production, and opportunities to expand their industry networks.

Future plans for Pixel Pathway include securing additional funding to enable the founding team at Residence Pictures to work in closer collaboration with Peer Partners to launch further courses and support a regional rollout of the programme across the UK.

Cara Kotschy, co-founder at Residence Pictures, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new Peer Partners to Pixel Pathway. Their involvement brings an exceptional depth of experience to the programme and reflects a genuine shared commitment to opening up access to our industry. By bringing together experienced leaders from The Farm Post, Goldcrest, Fifty Fifty and Unit, we’re not just strengthening the training itself, we’re helping ensure the entire pathway into the industry becomes more achievable for emerging talent. It’s this kind of collaboration that allows us to drive meaningful change across the post sector.”

Farris said: “Goldcrest is proud to partner with Pixel Pathway. The future of our industry must be filled with diverse, talented voices and Pixel Pathway will provide a vital program of education and access for under-represented communities. We are excited to see the positive impact Pixel Pathway will have at Goldcrest as well across the industry.”

Stevenson commented: “We are thrilled to support this unique training initiative, which opens doors to the post-production sector for people that wouldn’t usually have access. I can’t wait to watch these talented individuals launch their careers and I also really look forward to seeing how much the scheme can develop with the involvement of so many amazing industry peers.”

Wynter said: “It has always been a driving force for me to give people with less access a voice and a place in our world. Enriching the industry with raw talent is vital to creative survival, and Pixel Pathway is the perfect platform to provide emerging talent with the skills and tools they need at the beginning of their careers.”

Meade added: “The post-production industry has a responsibility to provide inclusive and supportive pathways to train, develop and nurture the talent of the future. By providing a unified, collaborative approach Pixel Pathway is setting the standard to do this. Fifty Fifty are delighted to support this initiative.”

PICTURED: Students on the 2024 Pixel Pathway pilot scheme