When did you join the Ark Academy?
April of 2023
Where did you grow up and at what point did you realise you had an aspiration to join the film industry?
I grew up in Hull. Mum and dad used to take us to films a lot each weekend. Just before I applied to Uni, I realised that film was actually a potential job so I took a year out and applied to Sheffield Hallam film studies and then eventually did a masters. I was initially going to study law but changed track.
Did you have any experience with film or filmmaking before joining CineArk?
During my masters I started freelancing and what we learnt from that was incorporated into the course. After Uni I was starting to make inroads in TV doing camera assisting. But knew I might be pigeonholed so was looking at a kitroom role to expand technical knowledge and then try to reposition within film.
What was it about the job opportunity that appealed?
It was the tech and the type of clients that CineArk worked with. We had a lot of new tech that I could learn and didn’t want to be narrowly defined within camera as its over-saturated.
What do you feel is unique about the Ark Academy?
It gives you a good timeline. It gives you motivation to keep advancing and it’s really motivating to know that when you get to the third year you’ll be supported to go on set, which is really unusual for a kit house.
Talk to us a little about how the Academy is structured and what you hope the outcome will be for you?
It’s structured through a pipeline. So broken down within time periods but you can move through quicker as you wish. Starts with basic knowledge of kit, then advances to check out and mixing with operators and working with more advanced kit. I would love to be on set in 3 years time.
What are some of the things you’ve learnt since joining us?
I’ve learnt a ton of kit. I knew nothing about DIT. Knew a little about video. Learnt about network kits, comms kits, troubleshooting. Getting hands on with the kit. I have learnt how bespoke it can be depending on the operator. Having spent time on set beforehand I had some understanding of kit deployment but now i’m learning on a broader scale. Carnets are new and good to have been exposed to.
What are you looking forward to learning?
I feel my knowledge is more than basic but I start to panic when it’s something that feels outside of my comfort zone. I want to get comfortable and confident to fulfil more tasks without going to someone else for support. Really enjoying getting to know the differences between operators and how to meet their needs.
If you were to have an ideal version of your career trajectory after leaving us, what would it be?
I’m looking forward to being freelance and working for myself. I Want to work on high-end projects. I’m passionate about films and doing passion projects. To begin with I’m happy to be on the tech side but longer term I’d like to be involved creatively.
What is your view on conventional film schools versus a hybrid work/learn scheme such as this?
This is more beneficial as its hands on. You also get to work with operators which helps you to gain a lot of work experience from them so you get a much better sense of the pressures of set and the intensity of shooting. I think coming into somewhere like CineArk with base knowledge can be helpful as it gives context. That was very beneficial to me. I don’t think it has to be the root for everyone. It’s mostly about working hard when you get the opportunity and you can learn as you go.
What other impressions have you formed about the industry from your time at CineArk?
I always thought I knew it was intense but seeing it from the troubleshooting side is really eye-opening. The strikes made me realise how vulnerable freelancing can be. Seeing people out of work for that long. At work you see how some of the operators are really tired and it’s clear jobs can be gruelling.
What film from the past or future would you like to have a credit on?
From the past – ‘Sorry to Bother You’ looked fun to make. It’s very quirky. Future wise I’d love to have a credit on an Avatar film.
And what film or TV series are you ashamed to love?
I really loved the Twilight series. I watched them when I was younger and still watch them now.
