Debutantes
Six UK teenagers will be given the chance to make their career dreams come true in a new documentary series airing this weekend.Debutantes is a new series being shown as part of T4 talent weekend this Saturday and Sunday. The six part real life show will follow the teenagers as they get tips and support from celebrity mentors including MC Kano, DJ Nihal, fashion designer Oswald Boateng and GQ editor Dylan Jones who will help them on the path to their dream careers.As these determined young minds learn from movers and shakers in their dream industries they embark on a journey of challenges to reach their goals, and deliver a series of breath-taking results.“I’m mentoring an up and coming artist Floss,” says MOBO winner MC Kano “He's willing to learn which is the most important thing and is enthusiastic and keen and he's got a lot to say. He's really done a lot with his life, in terms of working with youth centres and stuff. I’ve given him some tips on recording and helping getting him into the industry.”Debutantes is made in conjunction with Transport for London and follows on from the success of its recent 'Don't die before you've lived' road safety advertising campaign. The campaign featured imaginary film, sport and music stars of the future denied their glittering careers by a premature death on London's roads. Every day a teenager is killed or seriously injured on London's roads and the ultimate aim of the campaign is to reduce this number.
Tune into T4 this Saturday and Sunday to see how the Debutantes get on or check out www.channel4.com/debut to watch the show online now.
Find out all about the Debutantes and the dreams they are trying to make come true below:Sophie aka DJ Decibella – Radio DJ:Born and raised in Borehamwood 21 year old Sophie aka DJ Decibella has loved music for as long as she can remember. At present she has a job as a box office attendant to support her obsession – discovering new tunes and playing them to an audience, but she harbours dreams of turning it into a full time job. Coming from a broken home, Sophie’s background was full of constant moves and below average school grades, so she counts her biggest achievements as avoiding drugs, pregnancy and prison. Music she believes is what inspired her to do her own thing.
After getting her own set of decks a couple of years ago Sophie wanted to do more than play to a crowd at her local club, so she got herself a Friday night slot on an internet radio station Vertex FM which gave her a taste for working in broadcast and production. Sophie is on the cusp of bringing her love of underground music into the mainstream, how will BBC Radio One’s DJ Nihal help her to realise this dream?
Alex Barham – Journalist : A 22 year old whose ideal job would be editor of Heat, although she feels she would be equally suited to working in a male lifestyle magazine.She is currently working as an assistant on local newspaper “Borenhamwood and Elstree Times”. In her spare time Alex volunteers to teach dance and english to deprived kids and runs drama workshops in women’s prisons.
Alex will be working with GQ editor and newspaper columnist Dylan Jones, what good advice will he give to our budding hack?
MC Floss - Music : Born and raised near Old Street 18 year old MC Floss has had a tough upbringing but is trying hard to make the best of his life. He does youth work, he has started his own drama company, is chairman of youth forums and involved in London Urban collective.
But his big passion is making music, how will UK rapper Kano and music producer Mikey J make his dream a reality?
Naomi Ncube – Photographer : 19 year old Naomi Ncube is a student at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies reading African Studies, Zulu and Chinese. Once she finishes at university she has her sights on photography as a full time profession. Naomi is lacking in confidence about her compositional skills and as a self-taught photographer is worried that she lacks the technical skills of developing her photography which may hamper her career.
British portrait and fashion photographer Rankin will come to the rescue and give Naomi a one to one master class she won’t forget in a hurry.
Jodie Mosaid - Fashion : Originally from Maidenhead, Jodie is a 20 year old English and Media student at Brighton University. Her passion is fashion. She is entirely self-taught and is incredibly driven, already selling her clothes successfully on the internet.
Jodie is looking for some direction, she only makes women’s wear at the moment but is keen to branch out into menswear, Savile Row’s tailor to the stars Oswald Boateng will be on hand to show her how.
Riffat Ahmed - Music Promo: Riffat is an art student at Central St Martins in London. Originally she wanted to follow a career in set design or decorating, but became interested in production when she was given a video camera to use for her set design work. Riffat soon discovered that video offers her more possibilities to capture art than a still camera.
Riffat has completed courses in post production and script writing and is desperate to get some advice on how to turn her hobby into a career. Sarah Chatfield, British music video and documentary director famed for her work on promotional music videos for artists such as Lily Allen and Goldfrapp will be on hand to advise her on how to make this happen.