Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV’s training scheme, Pixel Pathway, is now underway with its first five trainees.

Pixel Pathway is a training and employability scheme created to diversify the VFX and post production industry and plug the skills gap. The programme opened its doors on July 8th 2024, and is providing five individuals with free post-production training for three days a week, over a seven week period.

Following a recruitment drive that attracted nearly 200 applicants and after an open day where 16 finalists visited Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV’s studios, five individuals were offered a place as part of the inaugural cohort for the Pixel Pathway program.

The five chosen trainees are: Sofi Kocsmarszki, selected for the Production Pathway; Charlotte Budzowska and Chip Onyejiuwa, chosen for the VFX Pathway; and Pamorlai Kamara Turay and Sonia Boufellah, selected for the Colour Pathway.

The cohort are following a 169 page curriculum written by the mentors leading the course. The curriculum includes a foundation level and a security module that all trainees must complete, and in depth learning in VFX, colour grading and post production producing from scheduling to compositing to colour temperature and how the eyeball sees colour. The trainees complete practical learning in the studio and are set homework tasks using their handbook for guidance throughout. There is also time dedicated in the curriculum to spend with talent and employability specialists to help develop skills in communication, networking, CV writing and interview skills.

Trainees also complete a series of day trips including a day at the Be You Festival and a visit to the set of an upcoming feature at Shinfield Studios with further trips scheduled as the pilot progresses.

The final week of the scheme sees the students paid London Living Wage to complete a week’s work experience, within Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV, in the job that they have been trained for.

Residence Pictures Co-Founder & MD Cara Kotschy, who spearheaded the development and launch of Pixel Pathway said: ‘Pixel Pathway really is a truly unique and first of its kind training for the industry. Over two years we have taken every care to develop a specialist entry level training scheme that provides the best in hands-on training and mentorship complete with a never-been-seen-before in-depth training manual written by current industry professionals. This, alongside learning key employability skills, means Pixel Pathway is genuinely providing the next generation of talent with the strongest of foundations to enter and ultimately succeed in our industry. We are already seeing our cohort flourish and their confidence grow and we’re not even halfway through the pilot yet!’