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Back To School With Nik Powell
Creative Calderdale was proud to host a packed event in Sowerby Bridge on Tuesday night (5th April). Over 200 delegates from across Calderdale’s digital and creative sectors came to Ryburn Valley High School to meet, network and listen to a presentation from Oscar-winning film producer Nik Powell. Head Teacher at Ryburn, Honor Byford, opened the evening by saying: ”Through creativity and teaching young people to take risks, we develop the innovators and entrepreneurs of the future.”
Powell, who delivered a lecture about his 30 lessons of creative success, began his career in the late 1960’s founding Virgin Records with his childhood friend, Richard Branson. Originally a mail order catalogue for cheap and overseas records, the venture was instant success and led to stores and a record label releasing work by the likes of Boy George and Mike Oldfield. One of Powell’s ‘lessons’ was: ‘Everybody needs a bit of luck’ about which he stated: “It was luck that I grew up in the same village as Branson, and luck that we were friends – what we achieved with Virgin Records was to do something the other guys weren’t, meaning we sold records cheaper than anyone else could. That’s why we were successful.”
After leaving Virgin Records, Nik Powell went on to form Palace Productions, an independent film production company that produced award winning films such as Company of Wolves, Mona Lisa and The Crying Game. It was during his time at Palace that he learnt another valuable lesson: Love Change. “You have to embrace change, accept it and be open to adapt. There’s no point scouting for a film location only to turn up on the day and despite it a bad location, forcing everyone to plough on through a days filming in a place that doesn’t work. You need the courage of conviction to recognise when something is wrong and change it.” Another of Powell’s lessons was about risk. Towards the end of his time at Palace Productions and massively in financial debt, the company was committed to two films when Powell was given the opportunity to take on a third film. Knowing that it was a huge risk, Powell followed his instinct and went on to take on the third film, The Crying Game. It saw Nik bankrupt but also won countless awards including an Oscar for Neil Jordan’s screenplay. Nik said: “The Crying Game taught me the importance of recognising talent. Of belief in one’s conviction and being boss. There’s no shame in losing everything financially if you’ve done everything straight, we should remember that more in this country.”
After Palace Productions, Nik went on to start Scala Productions where he produced films such as Terence Davies’ The Neon Bible, and classic British films such as Ladies in Lavender and Little Voice. Throughout his career he has been driven by passion. “People can say they are passionate about something, but I say you’re not passionate until I see you doing, not saying. There’s an old proverb that goes: Life is so short, the craft so long to learn.” Nik Powell is currently director of the National Television and Film School in London as well as continuing his work with Scala Productions.
Creative Calderdale currently has over 300 members from throughout Calderdale, and through its website supports creative and digital professionals to encourage the start-up of new businesses in the sector, attract inward investment, and improve competitiveness of local creative and digital industries. The next event will be held on 5th July at Brighouse Civic Hall.
Author: Hannah Crank
Source: Creative Calderdale
Date: 7th April 2011
Photos: Kieron Nevison Photography