Cutaway: ScreenSkills Pro-Create

ScreenSkills Pro-Create

Nathalie Edwards Yesufu Colin Charles

INTERVIEW WITH

two of the 50 Black producer mentees from ScreenSkills ProCreate Mentoring Programme in Association with S.O.U.L. Fest 2021

What is your role and specialism?

Nathalie: Hello, my name is Nathalie Edwards Yesufu. I’m the founder of Transition Stage Company, specialising in film, theatre and now moving into documentary and factual formats for TV. Colin: My name is Colin Charles and I’m a creative producer at African Futurist Arts. I’ve had a 20-year career in Africa as a creative director at an advertising agency and now I think that producing movies is the best thing I could possibly do.

Why did you want to be mentored?

Nathalie: It’s just really getting that support from someone who is doing what I’m doing or knows about it and can guide me.

How is the mentoring process helping you?

Nathalie: It’s a bit like a tennis match. It’s not about them telling you what to do; it’s you telling them what you do and them demystifying things. As a producer with my own production company, I have a lot of plates spinning, but your mentor will help you to problem-solve and get to the next level. I’ve had to go back into my company and reshuffle it to a whole new business plan – having this mentor has saved me a lot of time.

What are the meetings with your mentor like?

Colin: Every time we meet, he does a kind of accountability check. What did you say you were going to try and achieve last month? How is that going? We do it all as a little cohort, so I hear what Nathalie’s doing for example. Having this cohort of people is very important for me: we’re getting to know each other and we’re sharing opportunities, and that’s really useful.

What makes a successful mentoring partnership?

Nathalie: You have to be specific. Always be prepared to go to your mentor with your specific wants because you can get side-tracked, and you’ve only got a minimal amount of time where you want to get the best out of your mentor. I have excelled more in the pandemic than I would normally because I’ve had a mentor and I’ve had this community.

Any mentoring don’ts?

Colin: I’ve only got one: don’t sit back and expect your mentor to lead the process. When you’re going to meet your mentor, be prepared with things that you want to achieve and get out of it for the next month. Don’t be a passenger, be a driver in the process. It’s funny because you’re a pupil but you’re the one driving the sessions and kind of creating the lesson plan.

How have you benefitted from the mentoring programme?

Nathalie: The knowledge has been golden. I think a lot of creatives are good at doing what they do, but they don’t really understand the business. Secondly, the network. I’ve been able to connect with other people from Birmingham and other people that look like me! Colin: Network is a great word. I’ve been introduced to people who are in the system already – big people, who have furthered my projects – but also the other mentees. I think they will stay with me throughout my career. Another benefit is confidence. It’s really brought a lot of confidence.

Would you consider becoming a mentor yourself?

Colin: Like Nathalie, I’ve been mentoring for 20 years, but my experience as a mentee is going to change how I mentor. I’ve already been sending the slideshow on how to be a mentee to people saying, ‘If I get you a mentor, you’ve got to do it like this.’ Christopher Deane n

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