CREATIVE Scotland is delighted to announce the appointment of Natalie Usher as director of Film & Media. She will take up her post in early May.
Currently a partner in the film and TV group at Lee & Thompson, one of the UK’s leading Media and Entertainment law firms, Natalie specialises in the financing, production and distribution of film and TV, representing producers and financiers.
Natalie has extensive experience of working with the film and TV sector in Scotland, the UK and internationally and has worked with a large number of Scottish producers.
Prior to joining Lee & Thompson, Natalie was senior business affairs executive at the UK Film Council, where she was legal advisor to the New Cinema Fund, the production fund dedicated to innovative approaches to filmmaking and the development of new talent.
She also spent time as senior counsel at HIT Entertainment and, before that, as head of Business Affairs at Gullane Entertainment.
Natalie said of her new role: “Scotland has a huge wealth of creative talent, both in terms of established talent that needs to feel supported and new talent that should be nurtured.
“I relish the opportunity to be part of a team whose ambition is to create an environment that can bring out the best that Scotland’s film and media industries have to offer by promoting greater inward investment, collaborating with existing partnerships and forging new ones.
“I am looking forward to working to realise a confident Scottish film industry with the potential to compete on the international stage.”
Janet Archer, chief executive of Creative Scotland, said: “Screen is very important to us as one of our key areas of responsibility alongside the arts and creative industries. As such, I am thrilled to announce Natalie’s appointment as the director of Film & Media at a time that is both exciting and challenging for film and TV in Scotland.
“Natalie brings with her a huge amount of understanding and practical knowledge about film and TV production, financing and distribution. Importantly, she also brings extensive experience of making positive things happen in the film and media sector and is well networked across these industries in Scotland and internationally.
“Following the publication of our review of the film sector earlier this year, we have committed to producing a clear strategy for film by the end of June and Natalie will now lead on this work and its successful delivery.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Natalie Usher CV
May 2006 – May 2014: partner, Lee & Thompson (http://www.leeandthompson.com/)
July 2003 – April 2006: senior business affairs executive, UK Film Council (http://www.bfi.org.uk/film-industry)
January 2000 – June 2003: Head of Business Affairs, Gullane Entertainment/Senior Counsel, HIT Entertainment (http://www.hitentertainment.com)
2. The Interview Panel
There were six members of the interview panel for the post:
Janet Archer, CEO, Creative Scotland
Paul Welsh, producer, Edge City Films/DigiCult
Stuart Cosgrove, director of Creative Diversity, Channel 4
Iain Munro, deputy CEO, Creative Scotland
Karen Lannigan, director of HR, Creative Scotland
Bonnie Clark, director for Scotland, Badenoch & Clark (recruitment partner)
Creative Scotland is the national organisation that funds and supports the development of Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. Creative Scotland has four objectives: to develop and sustain a thriving environment for the arts, screen and creative industries; to support excellence in artistic and creative practice; to improve access to and participation in, arts and creative activity; and to deliver our services efficiently and effectively.
For further information on Creative Scotland, please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Media Contact:
Kenneth Fowler
Director of Communications
Kenneth.fowler@creativescotland.com
07970 557 960
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Contact: Sophie Bambrough
Phone: 0131 523 0046
Email: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com
