ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

7 years, 5 months ago - Marlom Tander

Why London?

When I was thinking about what I thought would be my career (at 16), I was writing - plain old hand written letters - to the HR people of companies in that sector all over the world. (How the hell I even got the contact info in pre Internet days and 100 miles from the nearest commercial library is something my mind seems to have drawn a protecting veil over).

I agree that Uk film biz is very London centric and you will most likely end up in London, but cast your net as wide as employment law will allow, which is at least all EU, for the time being anyway.

And in London, try sending an old fashioned, though not hand written, letter to a named senior person showing that you have researched their biz and why you want to come there. If they can see that you put time into it, they will take it more seriously. Doesn't mean they will respond, but makes you stand out and pushes the odds up of a meeting, and even if they can't help, they might think "just what Mike was looking for last week".

Degrees and showreels don't get hired. People get hired. If they like you, the degree and showreel are pretty much box ticking.

Good luck

7 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran

As Marlom says, degrees in this industry are not nearly as important as is the demonstrable ability, character and personality of the applicant. Though a good and VALID showreel has always been significant for me (one that is evidently and truly representative of the applicants work). Even within the box ticking structure of large corporate bodies such as the BBC, film and media degrees are often valued less than other academic degrees, because a great many creative executives at the BBC (not including their corporate management desk jockies) rate their own training and career development culture to be superior than years spent in university. Nevertheless, years spent producing student films are not without value in the 'real' world; students can and do reveal excellence, even if the courses are unnecessarily long, far too expensive and milked primarily for the benefit of the institution. I recall an interesting research made some five years ago that revealed that although a high percentage of professionals (meaning actually working for money) in the film and TV industry had degrees, only a small minority had them in film and media; that might have changed a bit since.

What Marlom suggests about London not being the only place to find career opportunities is correct. There's lots of excellent production companies and major broadcaster hubs throughout the UK, Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff come immediately to mind, with each of those centres supporting significant satellites in the greater regions around them. Whilst London is the biggest hub it's relative importance is slowly diminishing. Modern communications and the punitively high cost of living in London, together with greater competition amongst job applicants there can often make opportunities out of the city look attractive.

7 years, 4 months ago - Stuart Wright

Learn to be patient... this isn't a race... Best of luck :)

7 years, 4 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

It's best to watch the credits of film, or look them up, and find out what the production company of a film you like is. Find a cinematographer you admire, and ask them if you could be their runner. Look for films with surnames like yours in the credits too, sometimes that helps.

Check the writer's and artist's yearbook. And Kays directory, KFTV, the knowledge online, the professional directories that are hard to get into. (Not Mandy's. Mandy's is a joke.) If that doesn't work, network on LinkedIn, where people list their day job, rather than filmmaking websites. Most filmmaking websites are created by wannabe filmmakers in order to drain money off of other wannabe filmmakers. (Maybe not this one, but a few are.)

If I were you, if you don't have family in London, I'd go to Scandinavia. They are much more open to foreigners there. (The British film industry is becoming increasingly incestuous, thanks to production incentives to hire "british" crew.) In France I saw a lot of plays put on in Eastern languages, so maybe France would work too.

7 years, 4 months ago - Andrew Ashaye

Hi, have you a showreel? Have you shot anything as a Cinematographer? Maybe that's a good way in.

Would you be interested in shooting a couple of Shorts? If so let me know.

Best of luck and keep trying/learning. Regards Andrew.

7 years, 4 months ago - Jamie Kennerley

As a DoP I'd be happy to give you some advice based on your showreel or any full projects you've shot. I think that's the best way forward for you - look at your individual skills and how to build on them, and THEN once you have a fuller picture of that side of thing, make some kind of plan as to how you're going to move forward in the industry. It's highly likely your first employment is not going to be as a cinematographer but as a trainee, assistant or kitroom person.
You haven't responded to a message on this though since you first posted, so I won't write much than that at this stage as not sure if you're even reading this anymore :-)

7 years, 4 months ago - Jamie Kennerley

???

7 years, 3 months ago - Yoanna Petrova

Thank you all for your responses, although I am not sure any of them actually answers my question and tbh some of them are even slightly misguiding, but I get what you mean. Whenever I posted this I was just trying to make sure I "tick most boxes" marketing-wise and education-wise. Truth is. I am a fresh graduate and I am lost and I am not the only one. Many of us do not know what to do after they graduate, how to start and where. Also, I am not moving out from London yet and going to Scandinavia or whatever some of you suggested, since I just moved in here, after thoroughly researching my other options. London was my last resort and this is why I specifically asked for advice or recommendations in LONDON and not for people questioning my choice. I am also aware of the fact that a degree means nothing in the industry, I only signed up for the course to get some networking and equipment experience. However, if any of you is seriously interested in helping out, my website is korsis.website, where everything from a CV to showreel and designs can be found. I would be more than grateful if I receive any useful advice.
Thank you in advance. :))))

7 years, 3 months ago - John Lubran

Was your website up and running when you first posted Yoanna? If so it was remiss of me not to have found it. I think you've provided greater clarity about yourself now.

I take it that you are Bulgarian and have established what will be entrenched EU rights here, even if Brexit actually happens? So you just need work and opportunity. The issue about London not being exclusive still stands even if you live in London. I live in Mid Wales where the sheep out number the people but I work all over the country and indeed all over the World. Success comes more easily if you are entrepreneurial as well as skilled, make your own luck. Also the need for great craft skills extends to factual and documentory even more than drama, across all platforms. Having a low budget broadcast standard camera kit of your own is now relatively affordable, which helps to open doors and get your business rolling, if you can stretch that far. Just a couple of ideas that are far from exhaustive.

Wishing you great success Yoanna.