23/10/2007

Atonement DOP joins Skillset to help map out UK film industry training needs (and meets SSAW students!)

Seamus McGarvey with graduates from the Skillset Screen Academy Wales: Paul Chambers, Stephen Tew, Chris Dear, Seamus McGarvey, Owen Peters, Dominic Burgess and BA Film and Video tutor Phillip Cowan. Photo: Russell Sach

Critically-acclaimed director of photography Seamus McGarvey is the newest member of the Skillset Film Skills Strategy Committee, Skillset announced today.

McGarvey, who was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, is the critically-acclaimed director of photography (DOP) for Atonement, the Joe Wright film adaptation of the best-selling Ian McEwan novel of the same name.

His credits as a DOP include World Trade Centre (dir. Oliver Stone), The Hours, and Sahara.

McGarvey will join other industry heavyweights and creatives in mapping out the skills and training needs for the UK film industry.

Skyline Films producer Steve Clark-Hall has also joined the committee.

Skillset Director of Film Janine Marmot said: "Skillset is delighted to have leading industry professionals join the Film Skills Strategy Committee."

She added: "Seamus and Steve will sit alongside other top film industry professionals in working out how best to tackle the challenges of identifying skills and training needs to ensure that our industry stays at the forefront of global competitiveness, as well as maintains its hard-won and deserved reputation for training the world's best talent."

The Skillset Film Skills Strategy Committee:

• Iain Smith (Producer, Applecross Productions)
• Michael O'Sullivan (SVP International - Paramount Pictures)
• David Blaikley (VP Legal & Business Affairs Europe - Warner Bros.)
• Brian Sinclair (Chairman, Guild of British Film Editors)
• Eric Fellner (Producer, Working Title)
• Joe Dunton MBE (MD, Joe Dunton & Co)
• John Woodward (CEO, UK Film Council)
• Marcia Williams (Head of Diversity, UK Film Council)
• Martin Spence (Asst GS, BECTU)
• Robert Jones (Producer, Material Entertainment)
• Steve Knibbs (CEO, VUE Entertainment)
• Steve Clark-Hall (Producer, Skyline Films)
• Tim Cagney (Head of UK Partnerships - UK Film Council)
• Tim Willis (Director of Film, Pact)
• Dinah Caine (CEO Skillset)
• Kate O'Connor (Deputy CEO, Skillset)
• Janine Marmot (Director of Film, Skillset).