DAISY ASQUITH

GOLDSMITHS BAME INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING TALENT

Contributing thousands of pounds for postgraduate tuition fees and creating mutually beneficial internship opportunities, international film production companies are stepping up to support promising young documentary makers from diverse backgrounds.

Late last year, documentary filmmaker and Goldsmiths, University of London MA Filmmaking (Screen Documentary) course convenor Daisy Asquith asked on social media if any production companies would be willing to pay fees for three talented BAME students who had been offered a place but were unable to take it up without funding.

The high cost of postgraduate study and traditional offers of often-unpaid work experience have long been a barrier for talented filmmakers and contributed toward a lack of industry diversity. But two production companies quickly answered the call to action.

DRUM and CRACKIT responded with both enthusiasm and hard cash - £11,780 fees for the year. In return they have the students, Damilola Lemomu and Imoje Aikhoje, as interns in their companies one day a week, offering practical help and a fresh perspective. The third student Amber Akaunu happily received a scholarship from BAFTA.

Daisy is now looking for further scholarships for next year and hopes that further production companies and industry bodies would consider contributing vital support for promising talent in the early stages of their careers.

Amber, Damilola and Imoje would be happy to talk about their experience. Please email D.Asquith@gold.ac.uk if you’d like to hear more.Link to the MA here: https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-filmmaking-screen-documentary/#sch There are 15 students on the course each year.

COMMENTS FROM SCHOLARS & PRODUCERS

“Damie’s fantastic. So much so, we’ve had her pitching her own idea to the documentary commissioner at the BBC. She’s been a real asset and we’re giving her the opportunity to work with us right across the slate which is incredibly diverse. I’m so pleased we decided to help support her. She’s ace.”

- Elaine Hackett, Creative Director, Crackit Productions

“We are so happy to be able to support Imoje at this crucial stage in his development as a film maker and it’s great to have someone with such talent as part of the DRUM team. We are very lucky to have him on board.”

- Andy Holland, Joint Head of DRUM STUDIOS

“Our industry desperately needs fresh voices and the MA in Screen Documentary at Goldsmiths is working hard to provide them. We have students with a wide range of identities, sexualities, class backgrounds and ethnicities, from all over the world. They are encouraged to find their own authorial style, while gaining a confident knowledge of the documentary making process, ethical challenges, practical producing and creative opportunities in camera, sound and editing. The course is highly competitive, so production companies can be confident they are getting the very best interns possible. I am delighted that this idea has worked out so well for both producers and students.”

- Daisy Asquith, Filmmaker and Tutor

“Being awarded the Drum Global BAME Industry Scholarship was honestly a dream come true. After years of trying to find my own way, Drum and Goldsmiths stepped in to help bridge the gap in my creative growth. Getting this opportunity feels like validation for all the work I'd put into getting this far and I'm incredibly grateful.”

- Imoje Aikhoje

“Through this scholarship I have been able to immerse myself in a year of experimenting with making a range of documentary films at Goldsmiths, an experience I wouldn’t have been able to afford to have otherwise. Not only have I been able to collaborate and build networks with filmmaking students on the programme, but a significant part of this scholarship has been the experience I have gained working with the Development team at Crackit from formulating new ideas for TV, designing treatments, to assisting with access and casting - all valuable skills I am really grateful to have acquired this year.” 

- Damilola Lemomu

BIOS: IMOJE AIKHOJE & DRUM

Imoje is a director, editor and writer based in London. Trained in screenwriting, directing, cinematography and editing, he has developed a multifaceted skillset that deeply informs his creative vision. Originally starting out in music videos, he’s gone on to write and direct a number of shorts, edit commercials and work on productions for the BBC, Channel 4, CNN, Google and Stylist Magazine. Imoje is obsessed with intense imagery and always strives to present authentic and meaningful stories.

Established for over 25 years, DRUM has a unique heritage in producing world-class programming and formats, winning multiple awards in both entertainment and media industries, working with some of the world’s leading brands. We work with some of the most celebrated and recognised writers, producers and directors. From the world famous, to breakthrough talent, and with a focus on diverse and under-represented voices. Quite simply, we find stories that should be told and identify the right talent to help tell them.

 Drum Studios creates films with compelling, ambitious and authentic storytelling at their heart. We are currently producing high end feature documentaries (60’ – 90’+) we are developing more of these and multi-episode limited series on a broad range of subjects from sports to the arts and into biography. 

BIOS: DAMILOLA LEMOMU & CRACKIT PRODUCTIONS

Damie Lemomu is a documentary filmmaker based in London. She co-directed Shades of Blue (2020), a short artistic documentary exploring mental health within Black individuals in London which screened as part of BFI Film Academy SCENE 2020 and Women X Festival 2020. After completing her BA (Hons) degree in Drama at University of East Anglia in 2018, Damie worked as a Digital Assistant at Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures until April 2020. Since then she has worked as a Production Researcher on a BFI Doc Society documentary directed by Leon Oldstrong. She currently does freelance film acquisition at Discover Film, a short film streaming app. Most recently, she produced The Sublet Next To Heaven by Madeleine Accalia had its professional debut at VAULT Festival 2020 and was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Playwriting 2020. She’s worked as a producer on Being Mr Ross, a gig-theatre piece by poet Gboyega Odunbanjo which was due to tour to Roundhouse and Peckham Theatre in spring 2020 but has now been postponed.   

Crackit Productions was established by Elaine Hackett in April 2008 with the mission is to create intelligent TV that balances integrity with compelling content.As an established and incredibly passionate production company we specialise in delivering value content across Factual, Features and Factual Entertainment series and singles. We pride ourselves on supplying, discovering and nurturing the very best on and off screen talent in the business and know the strength of what we do Is by having the best people work with us.