Fulwell 73 Establishes New Office

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Fulwell 73 is set to establish Fulwell North, a new office in North East England, based at the University of Sunderland.

Fulwell North will be a base for the company’s activities in northern England. It will focus on developing programming authentic to the area, nurturing local talent and discovering new creators from diverse backgrounds on- and off-screen. The new location also aims to address the skills gap for those starting out in the industry.

Fulwell 73 will work with local production companies and hire staff from the region for a variety of roles. Mel Rainbow, North East executive, has been tapped to lead Fulwell North’s operation and hiring. She previously worked with Fulwell 73 on the Netflix show Sunderland ‘Til I Die.

Fulwell 73 will establish a remit to support existing production companies and talent in the region, to allow for long-term growth of the local industry. This includes a partnership with Northern Film + Media, the regional screen industries development agency, which has established a media academy in the area.

Fulwell North is set to open on October 1. Fulwell 73 plans to host a networking event in Sunderland on October 11, where senior management will meet local companies and talent.

Leo Pearlman, partner at Fulwell 73, said: “If you know anything about Fulwell 73, you know that our love of Sunderland (and its football club) runs deep. We’re proud of our North East heritage, which is why it’s always been a dream to set up an office in the area and help support the film and TV industry across the entire region. This new base will give us the opportunity to collaborate with some of the great talent that we know exists in the area, create more opportunities for local talent there and longer-term, allow us to invest in the next generation and build a sustainable infrastructure to regenerate the region for many years to come.”

Sir David Bell, vice chancellor and chief executive of the University of Sunderland, said: “We are delighted to welcome Fulwell 73 to our St Peter’s Riverside campus, where they’ll be based in our David Puttnam Media Centre. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to be working in the same building as one of the U.K.’s most successful production companies. Their commitment to work with the university and other partners to rebuild the North East’s production infrastructure is a tremendous step forward.”

Alison Gwynn, CEO of Northern Film + Media, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Fulwell 73 have chosen Sunderland to be home to their northern base. I know Leo and the team are hugely passionate about the region and making it a great place to live and work for those in the screen industries. And it’s brilliant to see Mel Rainbow heading up their northern operations. We’re excited about the future for the region and the prospect of more jobs and opportunities for those trying to establish their careers. We’re looking forward to bringing more of our partnership plans to life in the not-too-distant future.”

Julie Elliott, member of Parliament for Sunderland Central, said: “I am delighted to hear that Fulwell 73 will be setting up a base at the David Puttnam Media Centre at the University of Sunderland. As an incredibly successful, award-winning international production company, Fulwell 73 has produced some of the most popular and amazing work, not least the Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die. I cannot wait to welcome them back to the city—this new announcement is a tremendous vote of confidence in Sunderland and the wider region, and I am looking forward to the opportunities that this investment will give our community, supporting upcoming talent, existing production companies, local skilled workers and students at the university. It is a great time to live and work in the city, and this decision by Fulwell 73 shows the incredible opportunities available in Sunderland.”