After 10 days of filming in Derby and the surrounding area, principal photography has wrapped on the pilot episode of sitcom ‘Jobseekers’. Set at the height of the recession, Jobseekers, produced on an extremely small budget funded by the sale of one of the writers’ cars, donations from well wishers and a fund raising event, follows the experiences of a group of friends recently reunited and looking for work. Jobseekers is the story of a group of three friends reunited after years apart and searching for work. For this Midlands born trio, job seeking is a full time career.
Predominantly featuring cast and crew members from the East Midlands, the script was the inspiration of Lee Dilley, who having worked in many different roles, became increasingly exasperated with the farcical and bureaucratic procedure that he had to endure as someone looking for work. He found an outlet for his frustration in his idea for a script for Jobseekers five years ago, which was developed with writers Beth Foster-Hunter and Paul Farrell. Over 100 people including cast, crew and extras came together to help make Jobseekers happen.
The majority of the filming took place at a number of locations around Derby between 15 July and 21 July, with most of the premises being offered for free. Director and Co-Producer for Jobseekers, Christopher Bevan, said: ” We have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of local businesses and organisations for our project. The making of our sitcom pilot has attracted a huge amount of goodwill for which we are extremely grateful. Some of the businesses Jobseekers has been supported by include Derby Homes, Hox Wine Bar, Bar Marrakech, SSC Steel Service Centre, Giorgio Reggiani & The Great Northern in Mickleover. YSP Media are looking to continue to developing film projects in Derbyshire for the foreseeable future.”
“When completed, we are aiming to screen the pilot episode of Jobseekers to a number of television production companies in the hope that one of these will finance and commission a full series of the situation comedy and this would be our dream scenario.”
Writer Lee Dilley, added: ” We are looking beyond the introductory pilot episode to future episodes and already have episode two partly written. The making of this pilot with the support of our great cast and crew has been a dream come true and we are very proud of what we have achieved.”
Filming for the pilot took place during July and August and editing has now begun on the pilot with the view to a premiere being held before Christmas in Derby. The sitcom has also been covered in local media with an article featuring in the Derby Telegraph recently which can be read here. BBC Radio Derby also picked up the story with some of the team being interviewed in the studio on 7th September 2013. Above you can listen back to the interview with Ian Skye.