On Saturday 7th December, Resource Productions hosted a ‘Moving Image Mela’ at The Curve in Slough, to celebrate their 25th birthday. The Mela – which is a traditional festival, derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘a gathering’ – saw alumni artists, industry professionals and friends of Resource Productions come together with performers and the local community.
The Mela showcased a selection of art projects from people that Resource Productions have supported and collaborated with over the last 25 years. This included photography, films, live singing and dance performances. Performers from Creative Academy and The Dhol Collective each treated the audience to a spectacular, energetic display that got the audience on their feet.
Event attendees included the Mayor of Slough, Balwinder Dhillon (who gave a short speech on stage), as well as Resource Productions alumni, Lina Gabari Singh, who recently finished her latest industry job as Third Assistant Director (3rd AD) on the film Wicked (2024) and Director and Screenwriter, Myriam Raja, who has most recently completed directing the fifth series of Netflix’s ‘Top Boy’.
Speaking about the training she received through Resource Productions, Myriam said;
“What a fantastic night celebrating 25 years of supporting people (like me) into jobs in the arts! Resource Productions are the reason I got into film. Quite literally, I took my very first steps in filmmaking with the help of Dom (Unsworth) and Resource Productions. They have since then supported me along every step I’ve taken and been absolutely instrumental in helping me get to where I am. Through Resource Productions I’ve not just been able to find my dream career and be helped to make it a reality, but also found community and lifelong friendship & collaborators.”
Lina Gabari Singh said; “This is where it all started for me in Slough. I first met Resource Productions in 2017 on the BFI Film Academy course at Pinewood studios. I stayed in touch with the team and they brought me onto their project ‘Little English’ as the Directors PA/ Runner. This gave me not only my first credit, but also invaluable experience of what to expect from the industry. I am very thankful for the various opportunities that have come from working with Resource Productions. The skills they taught me have supported me in my career, like when working on films such as ‘Wicked’ which has recently premiered in cinemas.”
Speaking on the success of the event, Dominique Unsworth MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Resource Productions said;
“It’s been fantastic to see so many of our alumni and collaborators from the last 25 years here tonight, all of us coming together and sharing in the joy of the work they have produced and the successful careers that they have gone on to carve out for themselves.”
“As I’ve said before, there is still more work for us to do, and many more passionate and talented people who need support in helping to break into the arts and creative industries. That’s what we are here for and why we are so grateful to our partners like the British Film Institute and Arts Council England who have been helping us to nurture those skills and talent in others. Here’s to the next 25 years, and the future generations of artists who will come through and share what they have to offer with all of us.”
Impact Highlights
Resource Productions was set up as a social enterprise in Slough, in 1999 with the mission to enable social change through art and film, whilst diversifying the creative industries. Over the last 25 years they have built meaningful partnerships with industry leaders, such as Lucasfilm, AMAZON, Arts Council England and the British Film Institute (BFI), delivering industry skills training to people from across the region.
Over the last 25 years, Resource Productions has had a significant positive impact on the local community, both socially and economically, playing a large part in building Berkshire’s reputation as a thriving cultural hotspot for the arts and local industry talent.
Resource Productions works with partners to devise and deliver inclusive screen sector training activities. This includes their co-development of the BFI Film Academy, through which they have directly trained more than 300 young people to date. In 2024 alone Resource Productions supported some 12,800+ under-represented artists and crew.
Messages of support from the industry In support of Resource Production’s 25 years of impact, Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director at Arts Council England, said; “From its grass-roots in 1999, Resource Productions has grown into a beacon of creativity and inclusion in Slough. Their commitment to empowering under-represented communities through digital storytelling and the arts is truly inspiring. Over the years of our partnership, we have witnessed their bold and transformative impact: fostering diverse talent, breaking down barriers to access, and building a vibrant cultural hub in Slough. Congratulations on such a significant milestone, and to many more years of inspiring new generations of creative practitioners.”
Candice Campos, Vice President, Physical Production at Lucasfilm said; “For 25 years, Resource Productions has been a transformative force in the creative industries, championing voices that are too often overlooked in mainstream media. Their unwavering commitment to empowering underrepresented individuals has enabled countless people to tell their stories, express their perspectives, and challenge societal attitudes through art and film.
“By providing the tools, training, and opportunities necessary to create high-quality content, Resource Productions not only fosters authentic representation but also organically diversifies the creative sector. At its heart, the work of Resource Productions aligns perfectly with the mission of storytelling itself: to reflect, challenge, and inspire.”
Tom Florino, Director of Worldwide Economic Development at Amazon said; “Amazon MGM Studios is a proud member of The BFI Berkshire Screen Cluster, a hyper local partnership devoted to talent development. So far, we’ve provided placements for 23 Berkshire residents on Amazon MGM studio productions. At Amazon MGM Studios we are devoted to the future of talent development and skills training and we really appreciate our partnership with Resource Productions. Congratulations on your 25th anniversary and we look forward to all of the work that we are going to do together in the future.”
