The Runner: A Definitive Guide

Run.ner (rūn'er) :

1. TV/film crew member
1. Tea maker, messenger, willing slave
2. Lowliest of the low
2. Beginner
1. Enthusiastic and wide-eyed with wonder
2. Cheap
3. Achy achy feet

A reader has asked me to write more about what's expected of a runner, following on from my summary post Getting Started in TV & Film. So this is a rewrite of a post from a past blog of mine, which The Unit List passed on to their followers on Twitter. Number one top tip: follow The Unit List on Twitter for daily production jobs.  

I'm gonna passionately shove my application up your ***

So I've noticed some upsetting trends in job applications recently. I apologise in advance for the following - completely justified - rant. Before you say it, this is not a bitter response to rejection, because I have a job and went through three interviews to get it. Nonetheless, I worry about the next time I have to go through the application process again.

The big grad schemes (BBC, Channel 4 etc) are guilty of this:

"You don't need experience for the role, just a passion for film and television"

Great! So my months of working at minimum wage, my £23K degree and my 3 YEARS experience count for nothing?
I just need to prove that I'm PASSIONATE about film & television?

{Dear Diary} This Graduate got a JOB

Celebrating because I got some great news recently!

1. I've been offered a job at an international television production company (a big one!) as Original Programming Intern.
2. I graduated from university with 1st class Honours.
3. I will be moving to London to begin my new life on the 18th of August.

Wish me luck! I'm bloomin' terrified!

xx

Getting Started in TV & Film

This is meant for people just finishing their A-Levels or university and thinking about a job in TV or film.

Frankly, it's super hard to get a job in the industry, unless your uncle's an exec producer or your cousin is the BBC controller (dontcha just hate nepotists?). But there are ways. I'm no media mogul but in my short experience, this is what has worked best for me...


The best CV advice I've ever read 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/collegeofproduction/articles/tv/writing_the_perfect_cv

Don't put things like "makes a great cuppa tea" - a 5 year old can make tea (if you actually don't know how then you need to learn FAST). Don't make it funny. If it's looking empty and bare find transferable skills in your non-directly relevant experience and make it clear that you're eager to learn - eg. sales assistant? Then you have great communication skills, are used to long hours on your feet and you work well in a team etc etc.

To fill your CV you need....

{Dear Diary} Officially a Grown Up - an Unemployed One

Yesterday I officially finished my degree. The graduation ceremony isn't until November so I'm lacking a sense of closure. I just uploaded my last assignment to the server and with a click I had put an end to my time at university.

Three years of hard slog, £10,000 and 'click' it's done. Talk about an anti-climax.

So, whilst not completely unemployed (I work at the local cinema to pay bills - yes I am that cliché) I am now lacking a purpose. I don't do well with too much free time and I know I need to get a proper job soon or I will do something crazy like get a face tattoo or elope to Thailand.

It doesn't help that almost all of my fellow classmates finished their degrees months ago (due to randomly assigned submission dates) and as such are already employed in the industry. I'm happy for them but I'm also very jealous.

Don't get me wrong, I've been applying to grad schemes and jobs and I've had a couple of interviews, but I'm still in limbo, waiting to hear back. I'm ready for my life to begin!

Putting this out there to the powers of the universe, in the hope that I get some good news soon. If not, I'll be that cliché cinema worker forever, telling customers and new recruits how I could have been the next Kathleen Kennedy.

xx