Pixel Pathway Begins with First Cohort

Above: The Pixel Pathway 2024 shortlist during the open day hosted at Coffee & TV and Residence Pictures’ London studio.

Pixel Pathway, a first of its kind training and employability scheme created to diversify the VFX and post production industry and plug the skills gap, is officially underway. Established by Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV, the program opened its doors on July 8th 2024, and is providing five individuals with free post-production training for three days a week, over a seven week period. 

Following a recruitment drive that attracted nearly 200 applicants and after a successful open day where 16 finalists visited Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV’s studios, five individuals were offered a place as part of the inaugural cohort for the Pixel Pathway program. 

The five chosen trainees are: Sofi Kocsmarszki, selected for the Production Pathway; Charlotte Budzowska and Chip Onyejiuwa, chosen for the VFX Pathway; and Pamorlai Kamara Turay and Sonia Boufellah, selected for the Colour Pathway. 

The cohort are following a 169 page curriculum written by the mentors leading the course. The curriculum includes a foundation level and a security module that all trainees must complete, and in depth learning in VFX, colour grading and post production producing from scheduling, to compositing to colour temperature and how the eyeball sees colour. The trainees complete practical learning in the studio and are set homework tasks using their handbook for guidance throughout. There is also time dedicated in the curriculum to spend with talent and employability specialists to help develop skills in communication, networking, CV writing and interview skills. 

A particularly exciting aspect of the scheme has seen the trainees complete a series of day trips including a day at the Be You Festival and a visit to the set of an upcoming feature at Shinfield Studios with further trips scheduled as the pilot progresses. 

The final week of the scheme sees the students paid London Living Wage to complete a week’s work experience, within Residence Pictures and Coffee & TV, in the job that they have been trained for.

Speaking about how she is finding the program so far, Sonia Boufellah said, “Everything about this program is both interesting and valuable. I mostly find being trained by experienced professionals in the industry and meeting everyone at Coffee & TV and Residence Pictures valuable about Pixel Pathway.” 

Residence Pictures co-founder & MD Cara Kotschy, who spearheaded the development and launch of Pixel Pathway said, “Pixel Pathway really is a truly unique and first of its kind training for the industry. Over two years we have taken every care to develop a specialist entry level training scheme that provides the best in hands-on training and mentorship complete with a never-been-seen-before in-depth training manual written by current industry professionals. This, alongside learning key employability skills, means Pixel Pathway is genuinely providing the next generation of talent with the strongest of foundations to enter and ultimately succeed in our industry. We are already seeing our cohort flourish and their confidence grow and we’re not even halfway through the pilot yet!”

Above: Chip Onyejiuwa and Sofi Kocsmarszki seen here on the launch day at The Coffee & TV Group studios. 

Above: Colourist Paul Harrison teaches the foundations of colour theory in the grading theatre.

Above: The Pixel Pathway mentors and industry professionals who will be guiding the Pixel Pathway cohort. L-R Max Seriana (colour assistant, Residence Pictures), Kat Tallis (producer, Coffee & TV), David O’Callaghan (executive producer/ partner, Residence Pictures), Julian Nelson (head of post production/ co-founder, Residence Pictures), Charlotte Personnic (head of people, Coffee & TV), Paul Harrison (colourist/ co-founder, Residence Pictures), Owen Hulme (senior online editor/ partner, Residence Pictures), Harriet Dale (commercial director/ co-founder, Residence Pictures), Cara Kotschy (managing director/ co-founder, Residence Pictures).