Students wanting to work in television were given something of a reality check at the Wales Centre’s ‘Getting Networked’ event at this year’s Celtic Media Festival in Swansea. “As a freelancer, a good year means you’ll be lucky to get nine months work,” Locations Manager, Finlay Bradbury, told them. Samantha Price, a Post Production Co-ordinator, said it was a great industry to work in. She never wanted to be an accountant, but was lucky enough to get on a formal training course. She said you should be ready to work stupid hours and be very flexible at the start of your career.
Forty young people eager to get their first foot on the ladder attended the session on the 25th April, organised in partnership with Skillset Media Academy Wales and hosted by the Celtic Media Festival. Finlay Bradbury said that no job you do is ever wasted, and that working as a runner gave him a taste of every aspect of film making. “There is no single route into the business,” said 3rd AD Gareth Lewis. He got started after speaking to someone reading a script outside a cinema in north London, and has now worked on many of the Harry Potter films. He said you had to appear ‘bouncy’ even if you are at the end of another long day on set.
Faye Hannah from Creative Skillset emphasised the importance of networking and personal contacts to get in and get on. She said you need to be flexible and acquire a range of skills, but that there are a whole host of courses available to those at the start of their careers. The students were advised to find the right person to send your CV to, and Samantha Price gave one last word of warning. “Remember that employers are busy people. Be pro-active, yes, and do make contact. But remember that there is a fine line between being keen and harassment!”
RTS Wales and Skillset Media Academy Wales held a similar 'Getting into the Industry' event at Bangor University on 3rd May. On the panel were Kieron Collins, Managing Editor BBC Entertainment Production North, Catrin Cooper, Elfin Productions, Bedwyr Rees, Writer and Producer, Rondo Media, and Lorna Pritchard, Reporter, ITV Wales. In the chair was Hannah Raybould, Project Manager SMAW.
