Picture the scene. You're sitting in your cosy croft on a remote outcrop of a Scottish island looking out over the Atlantic. Inspiration is all around.
You are working on an idea for a film, or a documentary, a video game, a graphic novel, an animation. The list of creative projects is endless. You know what your idea could be and where it could go. You just don't know the right people to turn it into the Next Big Thing...
That's where a brand-new EU-funded programme of hands-on free workshops and networking events comes in.
Honeycomb - Creative Works is aimed at people working on creative projects in the remotest corners of Scotland.
In September alone, Honeycomb will be buzzing into nine far-flung locations in the Highlands of Scotland, including Portree and Sleat on Skye, Fort William, Campeltown and the Isle of Eigg.
During the course of 15 days, it will host 10 separate events aimed at individuals and groups looking for practical support to take their creative idea to a higher level.
This signals the start of a six-month long programme which will operate throughout Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, and Argyll and Bute.
The workshops, talks and networking events are all being organised by ScreenHI, a body which supports film and broadcast activities in the Highlands.
ScreenHI is working with Honeycomb - Creative Works, a £3.58m programme financed by the EU's Regional Development Fund, to deliver this full-on series of events.
Topics on the Honeycomb table include everything from creating and taking a video game to market, developing a documentary idea, how to write an all-important tender document, creating pin-sharp live sound and pitching a film idea to real commissioning editors.
Leading figures in the fields of film and broadcast, music, animation, video games development and interactive media will all be on hand to offer support and advice in a bid to create over 160 jobs in the creative sector throughout the western seaboard of Scotland.
A highlight will be a market awareness event in Fort William at which leading music industry player, Neil Cartwright, former head of new media at Sony Music UK and now MD of his own company, Million Media, will share his thoughts on the future of digital content.
Former BBC drama producer, Amanda Millen, who heads up ScreenHI, said: "This programme is all about helping people to take the steps which will help them succeed in creating high quality digital content.
"We have tailored this series of workshops and networking events to make it lively, practical and easy-to-access.
"We are offering the practical support to help take a business or an idea to a higher level. And it's all free to access. We want to throw the net out wide to people who are working away on their own or in a small group. It could be that the connections they make through our programme will make all the difference between success and failure."
Lochaber-born Millen stresses that it's not all about the "big idea" - or what is perceived as the glamorous side of the creative industries. "It's about giving people useful and practical tools and advice to go off and do a good job," she says.
"A good example of this is the health and safety course for people working in television and film production which we're running. Participants will walk away with an industry recognised certification which is required for those working in production and live events, including gigs. Speaking from experience as a drama producer of many years standing, that is a valuable thing to have in your back pocket."
The Honeycomb workshops are free to anyone who registers beforehand. ScreenHI can contribute towards travel and accommodation expenses for those applying to attend the events from within the Highland catchment area covered by ScreenHI of Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, and Argyll and Bute.
www.screenhi.co.uk//honeycomb-creative-works/
www.thehoneycomb.net
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