The film and television industry and how people watch film and television is constantly evolving. Our aim is to break down barriers and make the film and television industry more accessible. We plan to do this by providing people with the skills and opportunities they need to establish and maintain successful careers in their chosen fields.
Through our networking events, Q&A sessions and training courses people will have the chance to make contacts and gain skills which will hopefully lead to employment opportunities and collaborations.
Our Q&A sessions and panel discussions will provide opportunity for much needed discussion and insight into the realities of working in film and television.
Claire has worked in television for a number of years as a researcher and assistant producer. She has worked for the BBC and independent production companies across a number of different genres including children's television, factual and news & current affairs.
As well as working in broadcasting Claire has produced and directed a number of short films which have been funded by the national lottery and crowd funded.
Creative Talent Connections began as a hobby that Claire and other independent filmmakers started as a way to address the lack of opportunities in the Scottish Film and Television Industry. Claire used her contacts to create networking events that offered access to industry professionals and created a space for discussion about the realities of working in film and TV.
After a few years hiatus Creative Talent Connections will be relaunching to offer more of the same. Claire is extremely passionate about helping people create their own opportunities in what can often be a very isolating and inaccessible industry.
our events and services
Networking Events & Panel Discussions
Our networking events take place in Glasgow City Centre and each event includes a panel of media industry professionals. They will be on hand to offer advice and share their experience of working in the industry along with the opportunity for a Q&A session.
We also host topical discussions about film and television and
there is an opportunity to network and enjoy a few drinks after all of our events.
Media Training Courses and Masterclasses
In 2019 Creative Talent Connections will offer industry standard training courses that will focus on a wide range of areas within the creative industries but particularly film and television.
Our workshops and courses will cover production as well as performance and will provide our members with skills and knowledge that will equip them for the realities of working in the media industry.
Join Us
You can be part of our CTC networking events by taking out an annual subscription or attending each event individually. Subscribers will be given exclusive discounts and previews of our upcoming events and guest speakers before anyone else. In the past our guests have included; BBC Producers, Award Winning Screenwriters, and actors. Among them were cast and crew from Still Game, Dr Who, Eastenders, River City and more. We have exciting guests lined up for when we launch later this year. Please sign up to our mailing list for all the latest Creative Talent Connections news.
We are excited to say you will be able to subscribe very soon but for now you can join our mailing list and Facebook group.
Testimonials
Alison Goring
Drama Talent Manager- BECTU
I was delighted to be asked along to a Creative Talent Connections event and talk about the work I do in the screen sector. It was great to be able to meet and engage with a range of people who were interested in the industry, hear their stories and share some of my own experiences.
Claire’s decision to re-launch CTC is timely. This industry is all about connecting, networking and sharing information – and it’s good to do it face-to-face as well as through social media! That’s why this is such a fantastic forum for like-minded people to get together and share, support each other and learn from industry professionals and each other.
Sanjeev Kohli
Actor & Writer
I was invited to take part in a Creative Talent Connections panel discussion/Q&A session. I was pleased it took place in a bar in the evening - not because I'm a big drinker, but because it fostered an informal environment in which I & the other two panellists were able to give practical advice & direct answers to direct questions. It also offered networking opportunities in what can be a lonely business. I can well imagine that professional relationships were forged that day, & that I met at least 3 future employers. (So, my taking part was not entirely selfless!)
Courtnay McLeod
Founding Director, Bauer Academy
Fresh ideas are the lifeblood of the creative sector and often generated by people coming together to network, collaborate, share stories, and build new partnerships. Therefore CTC is a timely
venture with an important purpose. I look forward to attending a networking event soon.
quick Questions with
We've been lucky enough to sit down with some guests from film and television, here are a few quick questions with. Please check back later as every month we will have a new guest interview.
Kirsty Strain
Actress
Scottish actress Kirsty Strain shares what inspired her to get into acting and tells us why there's no place like home. You can hear more from Kirsty as she discusses the Television industry and unlikely detective duo Hemphill and Strain with Still Game actor/writer, Greg Hemphill on our CTC podcast
I did I started off with Scottish Youth Theatre as a youngster, but that was a good place to start. A lot of actors have come out of, of SYT. I think, it's got to a point where you can actually get a qualification as a young person, through Scottish Youth Theatre.
Was that always the goal theatre?
No not at all, when I first started I had this energy and nowhere to put it, it was for the sheer enjoyment of it more than anything else, really it wasn't with any sort of agenda or goal. I think I was twelve when I went to my first SYT workshop. Which was great and again it's changed cos that's back when it was in the old, Athenaeum, which I've walked by the other day and so sad that they've turned it into a Razzle Dazzle or something like that. I actually almost wept because it had a really lovely old theatre and it was a great space.
Tell us what first inspired you to become an actress?
I spent a lot of time at my grandparents' when I was younger and my granddad had a great, eclectic taste in all sorts of comedy and films. If somebody popped up on screen, he would say “See him he didnae start acting till he was thirty-four...” and he would have all these great stories to tell you and that made it all the more captivating and interesting to think well, you know, these people came from all different walks of life and, he kind of gave me the first thought that it could actually be possible to do this (acting) for a living.
I used to, try and put on wee skits of my own in my living room and I used to, force my older brother to dress up as Oliver Hardy just so that I could be Stan Laurel .
And, then eventually went to New York, I was supposed to go to New York for nine months to do a course and I ended up staying for three years. I went to the Lee Strasburg Theatre and Film Institute and I really enjoyed my time there, and the school basically said you know if you stay and do the eighteen month certificate programme we'll give you a one year working visa to carry on and I thought, oh fantastic I'll do that. While at school in New York I started to get more involved in short films, just to get on camera experience really that was kind of the start of it. I'd done one short film before I left
which was a BBC Tartan Short called Rice Paper Stars which had Karen Dunbar in it. My character was called Ninja baby-doll and I had to punch a bride in the face! It was directed by Andy Goddard and really it was the first piece of camerawork I'd ever done, so that was fun!
And what brought you back home?
As much as I loved New York, I also felt like there was a lot happening back home, that was very interesting to me in the type of work that I wanted to do.
You know over in New York, it's, it's very much theatre orientated that' s not to say there isn't a lot, you know things happening in film and television as well but also the sensibility's a bit different, the sense of humor's a bit different and they didn't get me quite as a Scottish person,
To be honest ... I did the horrible thing of changing my accent which you know, you know you'd get lynched for in Scotland, but, it was basically because, after about a year I got tired of not being understood . People either never understood you or just thought you were cute. “Say that again. Are you Scotch, what's your clan? What's your clan? What's your tartan honey?” (Kirsty asks, in a very convincing New York drawl)
Don't get me wrong I think New York is a great place when you're working. It's a great place to go and do a job. But if you're living and you're doing your day to day, then there's no place like home really is there?
People will know you in Scotland from TV roles in River City and Burnistoun. Tell us how you got involved in Burnistoun?
I was invited along to an audition, which according to Robert Florence was because he saw my show reel on YouTube. That's what he said he said, he was looking for Scottish actresses. I was invited to come in and audition and then I met with him and Ian Connell (Burnistoun creator) and Rab Christie (from The Comedy Unit) and they were really lovely and gave me the job after I auditioned for them.
Did you enjoy the audition process for that?
yeah, they sent me three sketches and it was interesting because I had totally sort of abandoned my comedic sensibilities all together. I'd been living in New York for three years and becoming a sort of really intense, angsty person and come back from living in New York thinking right, I want to get back to being home and, breathe it's fine.
So, going through the sketches and, and stuff I got really excited because oh yeah, I was sort of remembering those childhood days of mine and remembering that side of myself and so I loved working on the sketches and I thought do you know what, it's just great fun and I'm just gonna go in there and have fun with it. Never really expecting to actually, get the job and have to, have to do it again and again and again.
You obviously went to a very prestigious drama school, is that something you'd recommend to all budding actors?
I don't a hundred percent think it's necessary for every actor to come, into acting through drama school, don't get me wrong I think drama school is fantastic and it just depends on the individual person but I was one of those people that probably wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if I hadn't gone to drama school. I think that it was something that was necessary for me because of my lack of confidence.
New York's loss has certainly been Scotland's gain. When I ask what she's been working on recently Kristy tells me she has been filming on Outlander, Scot Squad and Indie zombie musical Anna and the Apocalypse, which can be seen later this year.
As well as film and TV acting roles Kirsty has just written and directed her first film “Echoes That Remain” which will be entered into festivals this year. You can keep up to date will all the latest information about the film on Facebook and IMDB.