A promising young creative has taken his first steps towards a career in film production following a partnership with arts charity, Culture Warrington.
Callum Baker was part of the 2024/25 cohort of Culture Warrington’s Young Producers scheme, launched to support young people in developing skills in areas such as event planning and project management.
The 20-year-old from Warrington landed his first paid job in film production after the scheme connected him with actor and producer Darren Jeffries. Darren was working on EMBODY – a Department for Transport-funded project creating immersive VR training for rail staff – and needed a production assistant he could trust.
“I knew what Callum was capable of, and that’s entirely thanks to the Young Producers programme,” said Darren. “He showed a lot of passion and eagerness for the industry. That makes anybody’s job easier when they’re working with someone who genuinely cares.”
Owen Cotterell, Creative Director at Liverpool’s Juice Immersive, was equally impressed. “The shoot logistics were often complex, but Callum was a constant source of calm and positivity. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.”
For Callum, the turning point was learning how to back himself. “Young Producers introduced me to a whole other side of the industry and gave me the confidence to go for it when this opportunity came along.”
Warrington has a track record of turning creative ambition into career opportunity, and Callum’s story is a good example of what happens when young talent gets the right backing.
Image: Rob Watson Photography and provided