Learning from Masterclasses

Masterclass speaker: Nick Shearman

Job role: executive producer, worked on lots of history and documentary work- focuses on non-fictional pieces.

Progression route: He started by doing drama at school and getting involved with theatre. he got into arts journalism and knew an actor who he went rock climbing with. he then found a contact with a director who used his specialist rock climbing knowledge to help create a film about a rock/mountain climber. He then took a director’s training course and got into tv. He’s been a commissioner for the BBC and has done lots of training courses.

What I’ve learnt:

• Specialist knowledge helps you stand out
• Find a good mentor
• Create as much as you can
• have a sense of yourself
• be ambitious
• learn the technical side as well as the creative side

Progression routes I’m now thinking of:

• Start low and climb up (get a job as a runner etc)
• indie training fund
• BBC training courses
• Films@59