Are The Odd Job Title Postings & Unrealistic Demands Of Employers Another Result Of Poor Teaching At Universities?

I couldn’t tell you how many interviews I have been through in the past 3 months alone or so and I have to say after some of the knock backs, its not been a pleasant time. I love the industry and I love the people I get to meet in it (most of the time). But it keeps coming back to the same thing at least 80% of the time. Education and employers and a complete mind field as to what the hell is going on here?

My most popular blog to date was ‘Why I Chose NOT To Go To Graduation,’ after I completed a wish-washy Screenwriting BA at Bournemouth University. That blog even attracted some attention with Dorset Echo & BBC for a brief spell before I got the impression there were too many chicken shits afraid to address the issue. Main thing was whilst younger students were too BLOWN AWAY by a number and signature on a piece of paper to focus on what the piece of paper actually meant, it was something that found (rightly so) no gravitas with employers. I get it from an employers side, how many are going to produce a script, investing loads of money into someone they don’t know and usually have nothing else to offer such as previous ‘professional’ film work, the ability to work with others. Not to mention their degree hasn’t even taught them how to network, given them any proper work experience in literary agencies, media production houses, trips to festivals or screening Q&A’s or studios let alone even taught them anything in advertising, video game narrative, radio, theatre or even bothered support them getting something made. I mean they could have at least blended it in with journalism but oh… Silly me, guess that’s not a profitable option? BOLLOCKS, of course it is and you think the student or employer for that matter would complain you have made them more employable?

Out of the frying pan and into the fire… I was about to have to sign on to the job centre unless I found something really fast. Unfortunately, despite myself I found myself pursuing an MA in Cinematography. I had wished to get the hell out of BU and got into Kent but their admin was so poor and badly communicated with regards to the set up of my finances, I had to move quickly. I was already living in the GREATEST place I had ever lived – Bournemouth and a great reputation coming through very nicely and BU offered the discount for having already sucked up 3 years of my life so I checked the course they had here + I knew someone who had filmed one of my shorts as a graduate from it and I even knew the lecturer and what surprise – for the first half of the course. A great lecturer, practical workshops and engaging with other students from sound, radio, producing, directing and writing. FUCK ME, the amount I learned in such a short space of time from an incredible teacher, Mark was great. Every week I was thoroughly enjoying and was always kept busy and I even liked the students I met – not one of them would bitch (too much) about the work. We loved it and we had a great year when we went out too. A great bunch of people across the entire board. It is a nasty, royal shame that BU once again missed so many important parts. Hot topics such as drones, 360 filming, VR, live event were completely skipped and although being called “Cinematography for Film & TV” – there were ZERO TV workshops. 


That’s right, broadcast cameras, multi-cam set up etc were completely missed, despite them having two studios with Sony HDC 1500’s, there was no engagement. Furthermore, although there was ‘some’ exercise towards product and service shooting, we were required to seek the project(s) out for ourselves without support, whilst all BU had to do was tick it off our boxes and give us a grade. 

Ironically, they always liked to feedback planning when they never got involved with that anyway and the chaotic deadline organisation at times would leave students in a state, they’d just have to say ‘fuck it, I’ll just have to do something simple’ and then in no time at all everyone is back filming dramas, where although by all means they’re free to take out and practice with movi’s, jibs, tracks, lenses, lighting and different cameras they are unfortunately minimising their chances because of this niche area in which they are deploying these skills. So I am not going to slag off the timetable of this course, if maybe the entire MA Framework’s courses would DEFINITELY be significantly improved if they spent at least two semesters working in advertising on product and service shooting as well as working with students of a balanced calibre in PR & Marketing so that each tribe learns how to work and communicate with one another, getting a feel for things to come and it is in THIS that the MA has failed to deliver. 

Every week or two I send out carefully crafted cover letters and probably the strongest CV and showreel I could wish to have. This includes my additional work with animators, my continued independent filmmaking, supporting of external organisations, festival competition participations, freelancing as well as my volunteering and mentoring. Take a look at my CV for crying out loud! Seriously, take a look on my website right now on the CV tab and look – Good luck beating that right?

Employers continue to post odd job roles that media production people like myself have to decipher, such as; Videographer, Content Producer, Senior Creative…?!

Most of the time these titles mean they expect you to be a writer, storyboard artist, producer, cinematographer, sound recordist, director, production manager, video editor, sound designer, visual effects artist, an animator, a graphics designer, a media manager and sometimes even a photographer too. Oh and lets not forget the colourist who grades everything. Absolutely ridiculous!

This is 15! – FIFTEEN – jobs all neatly packaged into one obscure job title, where if they’ve bothered to even post the salary, you’re supposed to feel lucky if they’re paying anything past £25,000.

Even if these people existed the amount of training and time it would take to perfect the skills across the board would rid them of any time to get the professional experience this insane job application is saying it requires from the person filling it out.

Almost 32, at the peak of my abilities, in the past year alone, a fluent writer, script editor, producer, cinematographer, director, video editor, 1^st AD, even production management and occasional sound assisting and acting I am on my ass! My past year I have completed more films and adverts I can count with another festival win under my belt and two big client names and more contacts than most in my area – both students and lecturers always asking for another contact from me on a regular basis. I also manage to keep busy in my free time teaching and mentoring, supporting fellow indies etc.

Most students come out of University with ‘freelancer’ displayed on their LinkedIn, usually meaning unemployed, living with parent(s), whilst I am one whom  actually found the work and for what I think is a cracker of a deal at £200 - £300 a day of my services, I am usually greeted by; “Oh, that’s too much!”

I mentioned Merlin Entertainment Group before; a multi-millionaire organisation debated £200 (let alone some rented car cost) with me after I had already filmed for them and spent an entire week editing their corporate video, to which they thought asking for another was perfectly fine without the payment… What the…?! The equipment I booked, checked, transported, set up, along with my expertise, my time and all you’re paying is a total of £400??? Not to mention most of these guys also expect people like me to have my own equipment at no extra cost to them as well lets not forget.

Needless to say I’m going after a permanent role now as I’m done with freelancing and explaining everything over and over and feeling like I have to justify such small payments. It’s insane, right? They don’t know what they’re asking for but they don’t want to listen about (perfectly fair) costs but they want previous experience and for you to be the best.

It was good seeing Slavi, Murad, Tom, Anna & Nawaz last weekend after so long. The perfect thing to recharge my batteries are people that take the whole thing as seriously as I do but also know when to get the hell out doors and party our souls out. They even got to meet Sam from Shelbourne Productions. It sometimes can feel like I’m building my own little empire but hell yeah, why not? I admit only nice people with the best work ethic and a passion to keep going and enjoy life. We’re a surprisingly rare breed.

Dorset Film Office had its first social evening last night. It’s a great thing to see your familiar film tribe, people you’ve worked with, trained and those ‘feel good’ moments when people are charging to you on your way out asking if they can work with you. Was nice to see one of my new guys, Will who had apparently read through one of my blogs amongst his interesting summer activities, meeting Carrie Fisher at a recent London based fan event, thanking me for a nice mention. Well you’re welcome mate. And as for those I’m just starting to see more of like Stefy, Derren, Stefano and new actors like Laurent and Corinne. I hope there’s a project you guys can join me on soon enough.It will be a sad day when I have to leave Dorset one day, having built such a reputation down here that would be far harder in a place like London to do.

Gilly Tully’s Film Expo South’s script pitch winner, Ida Frank’s story ‘Paper Stain’ draws nearer to its shooting dates.

Working under Thomas Shawcroft later this year, which should be worthwhile as not only do I get to be the one to learn something off a professional for a change. Only problem is its another unpaid job and I’ll be sleeping on a bloody inflatable mattress for a couple of nights as well as having agreed to it, it turns out she needs to acquire other crew for which I guess I’ll end up having to contribute towards, let alone the provisional back up editor if its got a chance of getting shown at the Expo next year although not sure I’ll have enough time on my hands by then so we’ll see.

It’s been a difficult time trying to keep level headed with no-one paying me. Sure I could probably get a full-time job easier if I were willing to go back to living like a loser in bedsits, having to even do my washing up in a shower, freezing to death each winter in a job where I literally could tear my hair out as my heart wouldn’t be in it but there’s also no way I can call myself ‘entry level’ with what I know so I guess I’ve just got to keep going. It’s through the hard times that I remember how many nice people (douchebags aside) make it a bit more bearable.