1. Networking Experience (complete one for each event and upload to your blog in the suitable post)
Event: Developing the North East’s film and media scene – with Fulwell73
Date: Wednesday 12th
October 2022
Place: The Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre
Who was it with?
The talk was with Leo Pearlman
Fulwell 73 is a film producing company founded in 2005 by Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Ben
Turner and Gabe Turner, the name is based off an area in Sunderland called Fulwell and the ’73’
comes from when Sunderland last won a major trophy in the FA cup final in 1973. The company
first caught the publics attention in 2007 with its first debut feature ‘In the hands of the gods’ this
opened on more screens in the UK than any other UK made documentary. They have also been
involved in huge box office hits like This is Us: One Direction, I am Bolt and level up. Many of their
films/ shows involve Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, one direction, jack Whitehall and Michael
Mcintyre. Fulwell 73 also co- produces The Late Late show with James Corden as well as Carpool
Karaoke.
What did you learn?
From this experience I learned that a lot of money is going into the Northeast film industry and
30,000 jobs will be created from this. With Leo Pearlman talking at the event he was speaking
about how Fulwell 73 is also playing a part in giving the Northeast new experiences within the
industry with building a new office in Sunderland and offering more experience to the people in
the area. This helped me think about a potential career within Fulwell 73 and how I would be able
to stay local but have big opportunities within the industry. This allowed me to hear about new
facilities that will be available to me, for example new studios were mentioned as a rumour that
will potentially be coming to Sunderland. This will allow Northeast film making to go up to a new
level. This experience allowed me to meet local industry professionals that have directed shows
such as The Friends Reunion, Sunderland Til I Die, The Late Late Show and Carpool Karaoke.
Although this experience didn’t help me with my current projects it helped me see the new
facilities that are available to me. I didn’t gain any new skills from this experience.
