Vision+Media can announce the resignation of its Head of Film, Tara Cook, after over two successful years at the company. Her notice period was three months and she departs 17 September.
Tara is leaving an incredibly strong 2010/11 Film sector plan in place including DRAFTED, a screenwriters programme for new and established talent and ‘Produced By’, a producer hot housing project which launches in autumn. Both are aimed at developing and assisting North West talent, strengthening their projects and enabling them to move up the film business ladder. This is in addition to the funding, bursaries and production support; script reading service, short film schemes and numerous film surgeries that Vision+Media has undertaken for North West Film Makers.
Tara joined Vision+Media in June 2008 from Neal Street Productions (formerly known as Scamp Film and Theatre / Donmar Films) as Head of Development. She brought with her a wealth of industry experience having worked with high profile directors including Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) and Gary Oldman (Nil By Mouth) and being Executive Producer on the award winning drama Stuart a Life Backward.
Over the past two years Tara has helped develop the Film department at Vision+Media working with the local film community and also on projects such as Nowhere Boy, Route Irish and A Boy Called Dad. She has also succeeded in bringing big name speakers to the region, including acclaimed writer Olivia Hetreed, esteemed developer Simon van der Borgh, Liz Rosenthal from Power to the Pixel and Working Title Films.
Tara Cook comments: “It has been a challenge that I have thoroughly enjoyed, working with both established and upcoming talent in the region - I have been amazed and excited by the level of talent in the North West, - the region has a great legacy and an amazing potential - the best is still to come. It was a very hard decision to hand in my notice but I am glad to be leaving on a high, but I’m looking forward to future challenges and the opportunities which they bring.”
Paul Taylor, Director of Business Delivery at Vision+Media comments: “Tara brought to Vision+Media a high level of industry expertise but also an unrivalled passion for film, which is why she has managed to achieve so much in the last two years. She leaves the department in fantastic shape, having devised an exciting schedule of activity that will keep us busy until April 2011. We wish her all the very best with her future plans.”
Tara’s position is not being directly replaced at this time – given the announcements by the coalition government on the abolition of the UK Film Council and the regional development agencies, we are currently evolving our future business plan. Accordingly we are not making any new appointments at the moment. We believe we have the best film support activity calendar we have ever had and can deliver this with our experienced team and specialist partners.