Where it all started...

After studying Film and Video Production at Derby University for 3 years and graduating with a first-class degree I knew the last thing I wanted to do was to head back down to Swindon to live with my parents. I loved my new life in Derby, and didn’t want to lose my independence and friendships I had made. As anyone who has gone to Uni will tell you, finishing a course and leaving university to head into the big wide world as a non-student is a daunting experience; but I stuck to my guns and decided to stay in Derby only hoping that I would find a job that will help towards my career.

My job at the time working as a Sales Expert at Jessops paid for my rent, bills and food, what little time and money spare went towards designing and buying business cards, building my own website, buying what equipment I could and anything else that could help towards finding a job more suited towards my career as a filmmaker.

I also worked freelance (mostly for free!) as a filmmaker whenever possible with a couple of friends from my course under the name Irrelevant Digital. We worked on a variety of projects for a number of clients including the NHS, University of Derby as well as creating a comedy sketch show called Jiggery Pokery for a comedy duo. It was invaluable experience and built my confidence as a filmmaker and varied my skills doing a lot of different projects.

A New Opportunity!

I had been a follower of Light Films on Faceboook and Twitter since I attended their Coming Home networking premiere in 2010. A few months after I completed my Uni course I noticed that they would soon be recruiting a Film Production Assistant and thought it was a fantastic opportunity I couldn’t miss, especially so soon after University.

I knew that I had to make a good impression and worked on finishing my website (that was nearly ready to go live). I published a few blogs onto my site as well as revamping my CV. A few days later I felt happy with my content enough to apply for the position. From previously employment and modules on my course I knew the importance of a good first impression and having everything there on paper, or website, for the employer to read or have access to, so my website had links to a variety of films I had worked on and my CV had all my up to date information neatly presented.

A few weeks went by and I had an email to attend the first stage of interviews with Julie and Charlotte. I had prepared with some bits of information I wanted to state in the interview but I didn’t over prepare myself, as I wanted to be relaxed and allow my personality to shine and not worry about saying exactly what I had planned. A few days after the interview I had a call to attend the second interview with Light Films director Tom Wadlow at the Light Films offices! I was very excited to get to the next stage and knew that at this stage it was all or nothing I was going for, plus I couldn’t wait to have a nose around the offices!

The second interview was strange, in a good way! I felt very comfortable and open with Tom and as soon as he opened Final Cut Pro I fell right into my comfort zone, I was asked to edit together a short sequence to show my editing skills, luckily I had been using Final Cut for more than 5 years and was able to demonstrate this instead of just saying it. A few days later I got the call saying I got the job!

Getting Stuck In...

My first day was thrown straight into editing my first project and getting to grips with the workflow and system used at Light Films. It was great being trusted very early on with the projects to edit and it was on my first job filming out of the office that Tom allowed me to camera op and get to grips with the cameras we use. I was very warmly welcomed into the Light Films family and it’s great to be working with some clever and talented individuals and being able to use the skills I have learnt and developed over the last few years.

I'm delighted to have worked on a few of the projects featured in our showreel already!

Just over a month now has gone since my first day at Light Films, and already I’ve lost count of how many projects I have worked on. I have learnt a lot of new skills, possibly more than I ever have done at University, there is nothing more valuable than real world experience. I’ve loved every second of my new job and is hugely rewarding, exciting and fun.

A lot of luck and hard work got me to where I am today, working for a great company and doing what I love to do, making films. However, my hard work and determination will not stop there as 2012 shall be a big year for Light Films, a lot of plans will soon be set in motion to make next year Light Films’ biggest and best year, and I feel very lucky to be part of making it happen.

Watch this space.

This blog was written by our Film Production Assistant, Chris Newman.  To get in touch with Chris, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .