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With the first round of All Set West Training underway, we’re shining a light on the skilled Facilitators helping our Trainees get ready for entry-level production roles across the West of England.

CineRPG’s Cara Bamford and Matt Gras are the duo leading our training delivery with purpose, passion and industry experience. Alongside them, Latent Pictures play a supporting role by bringing practical, on-set wisdom to life, helping trainees build the confidence and skills needed to thrive behind the camera.

Born and raised in Bristol, Cara Bamford started out in performing arts and screen acting, before moving through theatre producing and into children’s television and animation, working on credits including BAFTA and Emmy winning shows The Amazing World of Gumball (Cartoon Network) and Doc McStuffins (Disney).

Cara has worked her way through production roles from runner, to producer of award-winning, female-directed shorts, to writer. In 2020 she made her writer/director debut with award-winning short film Talia.

Film School graduate Matt Gras began his career in France as a runner before moving into assistant camera and assistant director roles. Since moving to the UK in 2009, he’s worked on numerous productions — both in front of and behind the camera. (Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot, 4:48, Talia, Par Amour, Hartwell and Era (currently in development).

Cara and Matt run independent production company Foxrock Productions together, which specialises in Franco-British storytelling and celebrating the heritage of the South West. In addition, they also co-direct CineRPG CIC, their non-profit education initiative offering inclusive career development opportunities in the UK screen industry. CineRPG’s work is grounded in giving communities not just screen skills, but a sense of belonging – which chimes perfectly with our ethos at All Set West.

“We’re passionate about supporting talent and stories that are rooted here — in our landscapes, our cultures, and our people,” say the duo. Their skills as trainers, combined with their commitment to making positive industry change, has earned recognition too — the pair are currently shortlisted for a CIPD Award for their work on our All Set West pilot programme last year.

Matt and Cara sum up All Set West Training as:

Insightful • Honest • Inclusive • Inspiring • Local

Their approach of putting people first, carries through to every session. These cover:

Trainees also benefit from 1-to-1 mentorship and expert sessions from those currently working in the industry; so far we’ve welcomed guest sessions from the likes of award-winning Art Director Luke Whitelock, award winning Director of Photography Sarah Smither, Director/ Screenwriter/Art Director Holly Holdsworth and BAFTA-winning producer, Chris Hees. Technical skills are sharpened with hands-on training from Latent Pictures.

“It’s a holistic experience,” says Matt. “Addressing skills gaps for scripted production in the region, while creating a supportive environment for new talent to join the industry with confidence.”

Trainees that Matt and Cara worked with to build that confidence during All Set West Training’s pilot year have since gone on to work placements on upcoming titles including The Seven Dials Mystery (Netflix), The Dream Lands (BBC), Can You Keep a Secret? (BBC) and The Great British Bake Off (BBC).

With a 55% increase in the economic impact of productions filming at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in Bristol last year alone, the West of England is seeing higher levels of scripted filming than ever — and to meet this demand, local crew entrants must be ready.

“Bristol and the West isn’t just a great filming location — it’s a region filled with talent,” says the pair. “All Set West is here to develop that. It’s free. It’s inclusive. It’s a way of opening doors for local talent to take centre stage.”

Bristol company Latent Pictures – specialists in high-end video production for branding and behind-the-scenes storytelling – bring another vital layer to our training. Known for their social-first approach which empowers diverse voices and elevates underrepresented filmmaking talent, they’re helping our trainees get set-ready with practical, boots-on-the-ground guidance.

Latent Pictures describe our training as:

Real • Informative • Inspiring • Honest • Fun

Their session focuses on:

“Stepping onto a big set can be overwhelming,” says Prince. “We help people find their feet – and their voice.”

From period dramas to bold HETV thrillers – and everything in-between – the West of England is alive with possibility — but as Matt puts it, “we need more locally trained professionals to grow our reputation in scripted production.”

Ryan adds, “The industry can feel like a mystical beast at first. But once you’re in, it’s one of the most rewarding places to be — especially here in the West of England.”

Both teams agree change is coming, but more is needed.

“We want to see more productions truly investing in mentorships, in creating accessible entry points, and in hiring local — not just visiting,” says Cara.

Want to find out more about All Set West? Read all about how our package of skills support is making space for diverse production talent and contributing to long-lasting industry change here.

All Set West is funded by the BFI National Lottery Places Fund and delivered by Bristol City Council’s Film Services (The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol UNESCO City of Film and Bristol Film Office) in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.