2.3 Potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

I have learnt that there are so many courses and apprenticeships available now to young people to partake in to learn about film and help them network and work their way into the film industry. I’ve also been inspired by the idea to create your own opportunities, so if you’re not in a course or you have spare time between to constantly be creating your own content and putting it out there where you can.

I think I’d like to work in cinematography as I’m very enticed by the visual aspect of film and would love to create artistic looking films. However I am also interested in directing and think that I would like to start off by working in documentaries which would let me take a directing role whilst also shooting my own films, making films for charities is something I’ve recently been considering.

In September I will be starting a Anthropology and Visual Practicce course at Goldsmiths University. This will allow me to learn about something academic that I am fascinated in whilst learning and presenting using film and photography. I also hope that by third year it will aid me by having a specific interest and niche that will help me stand out from other filmmakers when I try and break industry.

I’d love to do work with the BBC in Bristol, and may possibly have the opportunity in the next couple weeks to do some work experience on the production of the War on Plastic programme which would be amazing not only for the experience but also as the topic is something I’m passionate about and would love to be making documentaries that educate about important world issues.

For now I plan to just make small scale self made short films on my grave,s and in summer which won’t need funding, but once I start university I’ll be able to use the resources there and make more educated films and hopefully also seek out other opportunities that may be available to me through the university and in London.

I intend to join the BFI alumni Facebook group and keep in contact with those in my team and on the course, I think it’s really good to have a mix of contacts in more senio roles and also at your age/level as in a few years we may all have jobs and opportunities that we could use one another for.