An Insider’s Story – Film and TV producers’ assistant

Birmingham IMAX Tour – Film Reels for the Projector (Photo credit: William Hook)

Part of our growing Insider Stories, where professionals share their advice and experience

Producers Assistant

1 – What is your job?

I am a producers’ assistant at an independent Film and TV production company called Young Films

 2 – How did you get into it?

I did an internship at another film production company where I learnt what the industry was like and then I used that bit of experience to get payed work as a runner / production assistant on a film that was shooting. I had to be very persistent in getting the runner job (including going to the offices with CV to introduce myself and calling quite often.) But once I had that job – others followed.

3 – What do you enjoy about it?

I enjoy the potential of being able to put any story you like on screen! I really like talking about narrative and films and watching and making films, and the ongoing creative discussions that happen when you’re making films.

4 – What do you wish you had known before you entered your industry?

How much administration I’d have to do for so many years – and that it will likely never stop! That the industry is extremely limited by financial restrains which inhibits innovation – but I suppose this can also be looked at very positively, and as an obstacle to overcome!

5 – Top tips for someone wanting to start out in your sector

Be persistent, confident and charming and care about films. Be open minded but hold on to the stories, themes, styles and films you care about – as down the line you might get a chance to make the films you want to!

Our contributing writers are professionals who have valuable advice to offer. We assess and approve all our contributors to ensure their content is expert and relevant.

An Insider’s Story – Working in television

Horse & Country TV logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Part of our growing Insider Stories, where professionals share their advice and experience

I’m the Head of Programming for Horse & Country TV (Sky 280), responsible for commissioning, acquiring and scheduling all programming for the channel. H&C’s programming focuses on horse riding and the British country lifestyle. I’ve been working in TV for over 15 years now. I first decided that I wanted to when, aged 11, I won a competition to appear on my favourite kids’ Saturday morning series, “No. 73” on ITV. Being on the set of that show in Maidstone was such an exciting experience that I was determined to work in TV from that point.

Jonathan Rippon

People often ask me how to get into TV and I always say that you have to start by being passionate about television and wanting to work in this world and nowhere else, as it’s such a competitive industry. Personally, towards the end of my University years, I wrote to every TV company whose work I admired until, after plenty of standard rejection letters, someone from a production company gave me a chance for a meeting and then an offer to be a Runner/Junior Researcher. I do believe it’s important to work out which area of television you’d like to work in and, if that is production, then which genre of programme you’d like to work on and eventually make. Then I’d advise writing to TV professionals whose work you admire and ask if they’d take the time to meet you and give you some advice. If it works out, an enjoyable and exciting career could potentially await you – good luck!

http://horseandcountry.tv

Our contributing writers are professionals who have valuable advice to offer. We assess and approve all our contributors to ensure their content is expert and relevant.