Employment in the British Film Industry

STARTING OUT FAQs

I'm at school and want to work in film when I am older. Is there anything I can do now to prepare for my future?
Most schools can get access to a video recorder and you could possibly integrate it into your studies or form a club with like minded students. There is a organisation which encourages film education in schools - called Film Education and they can probably give you information about funding, as can your local council. This could involve getting equipment such a camera or an i-mac with the simple "i-movies" editing software. The Childrens Film Foundation Unit may also be a useful resource and you can visit their website www.childrensfilmunit.com

Do I need to go to film school?
It is not a necessity to have a film degree to get a job in film - I studied photography at art college, for example. But it can be useful for contacts as well as knowledge and shows dedication - the competition for film industry jobs is very fierce, so knowledge is important. Instead of film school, which can be expensive and courses can last for 2 years, you could invest in short film courses, such as those run by Raindance. See my training page for details. Most film schools prefer some experience in either writing or making your own short films. (You could possibly do this by using your school facilities - see above - or starting your own group or club and getting funding from Youth orientated charities such as The Princes' Trust. I would recommend film course, rather than a media course if you wish to study.

I have just left film school / media college and can't find a job, what do I do now?
Yes, it's a really tough industry and it feels like your degree makes no difference at all. Plus you are in competition with the 10,000 or so media students that finish their courses every year - not to mention the students from last year and the year before that and the existing, more experienced workers already in the industry - and considering there are only roughly 70,000 jobs going in the media industry... you get the picture?... As well as that you have to start again from the bottom, even though you have been directing or editing your own films, no one will let you do it in the 'real world'. It may not feel like it, but you still have a lot to learn from experienced professionals and should treat them respectfully. Rather than barge in arrogantly demanding that you will not be doing the usual assistant jobs as you have a film degree and are 'beyond being a runner' it is better to show you're willing to do the work, whatever it may be, to get to the place you want to be in the film industry. Keeping your head down and helping people out and demonstrating your many skills will take you a lot further.
• Be open to opportunities as they arise.
• On your CV or resume list your skills high up and try to keep it to one page. State what you want to do and what job you are applying for: (I am looking for employment in the position of Runner, but I hope in the future that I can progress to an assistant director, assist in the camera department, art department, etc.)
• Make sure you list yourself in the media and film directories - this is usually free to do.
• Also, make sure you write to busy production companies. You may not get a reply, but this is usual as there is so much competition.

What formal training do you have and how did you start out in the industry?
I got a National Diploma in Photography at Reading Art College. I was originally going to then go on to film school, but wasn't over keen on the idea as the film students I kept meeting seemed pretentious and arrogant and didn't particularly have a good reputation within the professional industry. Plus after two years studying I was keen for hands on experience. I had a Saturday job at Woolworths, so I stayed on there for an income while I set about making contacts and took time off for doing odd-jobs in the industry as a runner / general assistant. It was a tough time, but while schmoozing at a screening I managed to impress a supervising sound editor who said he'd take me on on his next picture as a junior sound assistant. I got a call about six months later for a low budget picture called Cyborg Cop.

You have come from a background that has been dominated by the moving-image industry. Can you tell us more about that and how it influenced you to work in film?
Well when I was born, my dad had already been working in the film industry 18 years in optical film fx, so with my dad being a huge film buff I watched a lot of classic movies from a very early age. I also got a running commentary of 'can you see the matte lines', 'look out for the changeover dots', 'see how they cut that together', 'they did that effect by...' and other assorted film trivia. I was the only kid at school (apart from my big brother) that REALLY knew how Superman could fly: invisible strings and blue screens, otherwise known as movie magic.

It wasn't just my dad, the whole family are creative. My Uncle Ronnie and Auntie Diana are both actors and my Uncle Charles was a writer and journalist and I think it must be in the genes as my brother became a dubbing mixer and my cousins have all been involved in artistic pursuits; My cousin Sas does make-up, Mandy is an actress, so was my cousin Sue for a time, my cousin Jonathan is a musician and even my Auntie Barbara has started writing a novel.

My parents weren't actually too keen on me working in film as they both knew how tough and unfair it can be, but somehow it didn't manage to put me off. It's always an advantage to know the downside of something before you choose to get involved. When I made that decision my parents were 100% supportive, but I had to make my own way and although I had easier access to the industry I had to work just as hard to find work as anybody else and start from the bottom. With my background though, I do feel like I was born into it and film-making is my destiny.

How did you learn about film-making?
Apart from my background growing up surrounded by the industry, I'd say I�ve learned a lot from watching a lot of movies, reading and evaluating a lot of scripts and being lucky to have worked with so many talented professionals and listened to what they think makes a good or a bad film. I learned my trade on the job and was very lucky to come from a background in editing as I think it is the best opportunity to learn about the whole film process. I would say I learned most from an editor called Phil Sanderson. He has worked on some amazing movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Aliens... He was so keen to share his knowledge and we would talk about everything from how Spielberg visualises and sets up a story to how to add pace and tension through editing. He would give me videos to watch over the weekend and we would discuss them in the week. For example he used �The Magnificent Seven� to show me character introduction, �The Red Shoes� for editing techniques and planning them in pre-production, �The Wind� to show the importance of strong visual images. It was like having my own personal film school.

I have no film contacts at all... what do I do? Help!
Joining Societies and film groups is a good way to make contacts and many hold social events. Doing a short course somewhere like Raindance is a good way to meet like-minded people and you have the added benefit of learning at the same time! Also industry events such as The Production Show is free if you book in advance. Also making your own short films and entering them in competitions is a good way to get mingling, as is going to local film festivals. I list some on my festivals page.

What do you do?
See my C.V. / Resume for details.