With much of the TV industry in the economic doldrums, the West of England centre held an event in July to support the region’s freelance community.
The Bristol session featured a talk from junior casting and location researcher Jacob Lloyd and runner/production secretary Frankie Forsyth from Channel 4 series The Dog Academy, which is made by Five Mile Films.
The duo explained their roles and identified key attributes. Lloyd cited “being personable”, while Forsyth said “versatility” was needed to ensure shows ran smoothly.
Days are varied, they said, involving anything from looking after (misbehaving) dogs, to dabbling in camera work, to supporting contributors. Good communication on a large set of 60 was vital to the production’s success.
Both shared tips on how to stay connected and motivated when work is quiet. Forsyth tries to maintain a structure to her day when out of work, while Lloyd supplements his income by taking hospitality jobs between TV contracts. Keeping in contact with friends in the TV industry was a lifeline as “they are going through the same thing and understand”.
Career highlights included the location month on The Dog Academy, and the creative buzz and satisfaction of working in a team to deliver a new format and successful show.
