The Grierson Trust Links with Prime Video for Archive Producers Lab

The Grierson Trust has partnered with Prime Video for a new training program for archive producers, the latest in its Grierson DocLab In Focus talent development initiatives.

With Prime Video Pathway, the new program will provide up to eight successful applicants with an intensive training course made up of lectures, workshops, case studies and guided tours to U.K. archives, as well as a ten-week paid work placement within a U.K. production company, working alongside an archive producer on a documentary.

DocLab In Focus: Archive Producers is aimed at those who have two to three years of experience working in TV, film and online content production as researchers, production assistants, production coordinators, casting researchers or production managers. Applications for the program will open on November 29 through The Grierson Trust website and will close on February 2.

It will be led by Sam Dwyer, an archive producer with more than 25 years of experience and credits on The Princess, Whitney, Marley, The Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane and The Stone Roses: Made of Stone. Dwyer is currently working on Academy Award winners Asif Kapadia and Simon Chinn’s latest docuseries, Camden.

“Through discussions with filmmakers, producers and talent managers working in the documentary and factual genres, it was clear that our industry is facing an increasingly acute shortage of skilled archive producers,” said Sylvia Bednarz, managing director of The Grierson Trust. “We are thrilled to be launching the Grierson DocLab In Focus: Archive Producers initiative in collaboration with Prime Video to address this industry need by identifying and developing a new cohort of archive producers.”

Tara Erer, head of originals for the U.K. and Northern Europe at Amazon Studios and Prime Video, added, “Archive producers are often the unsung heroes behind the highest profile, critically acclaimed documentaries and feature films. Without their skills and experience, this type of content, which is increasingly in demand, simply could not be created. Our collaboration with The Grierson Trust on this new program will reskill and upskill individuals working in the industry and improve career opportunities, particularly for freelancers who we know are facing a very difficult time at the moment.”