An Audience with Kathleen Kennedy

Kathy Kennedy is arguably the world's biggest film producer. Her IMDB page boasts a filmography of over 60 titles - including huge family blockbusters such as Jurassic Park, heart-wrenching emotional stories like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and award-winning masterpiece Schindler's List.

I was lucky enough to see this amazing filmmaker in the flesh and sit amongst an audience to hear her tell her own story. It is an inspiring tale of determination and true talent and I'm excited to share it with you.  

Believe it or not, Kennedy originally planned to be a nurse - until she saw Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the film industry became her goal.

My Top 5 London Cinemas

I bloody love the cinema. Everything about it! The first film I saw was the 20th Century Fox animated picture "Anastasia". I used to think TV and VHS were my great loves, until I was taken to a dark room with a huge screen and surround sound, and I mercilessly threw aside the small screen for a bigger and better version.

If it was up to me, I'd see a new film every week. Unfortunately, ticket prices are a wee bit expensive nowadays... but if you know where to go you can find a good bargain and a hidden gem. Here are my faves:

Why Disney's Frozen is Brrrrrrilliant

The Not-Quite-Every-Tuesday Film Review

No spoilers - pinky promise!

One of the perks of working in the film industry is seeing things in the cinema before they are released! I've somehow managed to wrangle my way into a company big enough to have its own big, proper, fully operational cinema in the office. And the first thing I was invited to watch there was...

So it was inspired by the fairytale The Snow Queen which I'd heard of but didn't really know - in terms of fame it's no Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast. But in Disney magic and fuzzy-feeling it's just as special.

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

Through the migraine and the approaching deadline stress... I give you CATS THAT LOOK LIKE PIN UP GIRLS

From this amazing blog 

http://catsthatlooklikepinupgirls.tumblr.com/

You are welcome x