Topic: Can't see the path ahead...
Posted : 27/06/12 / Views : 607 / Replies : 8 /
Dylan Evans 1 posts last on: 17/04/13 send private reply	Hello to you all, So I have reached a bit of a point in my life where I honestly cant see a way for me to carve out the career I want for my future. What I tried to do hasn't worked, I was perhaps naive to think that it would, and I can't now see a path to take. I finished Uni in 2009 with a 2:1 in Media Production, I did not spend my time wisely enough at Uni and developed no extra curricular work. Looking back on it now from the position I am in I can see what a grave mistake this was. After Uni I spent a long time at home, I lost my father and my life took no direction for the best part of 2 years. I did direct and edit a small production for a friends fathers martial arts school but this was all the work I did in this period. At this point I decided I had to try and get into the industry I always wanted to be in. With the job climate as it is I felt the best place to try and find work was in London. I had experience in restaurant work and my plan was to start off doing this and migrate into a career in the media, more specifically post-production. What I didn't fully appreciate was how difficult it would be to build my own experience and find a position whilst holding down a job and paying for accommodation in London. I have an offer to move in with my Mother to allow me to build my skills but she lives down in Falmouth, miles from anywhere I could gain experience. So here is the crux of my problem. In London I have to work too much in my dead end job to pay my bills, preventing me from committing to a job as a runner, or gaining any unpaid experience. I do not have enough experience to get even the lowest paid job in London. The only way I can see of building my experience is to take having to pay my way out of the equation, but moving back in with my mother puts me in one of the worst locations in the UK for the experience I want to gain. Just about every running job is a post-house is in London, experience I am desperate for but cannot commit to. I feel like my only choice is to go to Falmouth and start some of my own creative work, and hope I can find some work on Mandy and other job boards that will allow me to edit via 'proxy', receiving the footage via the net and sending it back, but I really am not sure of my chances. I am also terrified of landing in Cornwall and not being able to find my way out. Is is realistic to think I will be able to develop a portfolio of work whilst in Cornwall? There is so little media activity down there I cannot see how I can gain the relevant experience. If anyone has any advice or suggestions of how I might be able to start out on the right path it would be an immense help. I hope to be able to find a way!

	Reply #1
Posted : 07/06/12
Chris Woodcock 3 posts last on: 20/05/13 send private reply	London is not the be all and end all of film and television so don't set your heart on it there are other cities, if you don't mind me asking how old are you? I started last year working freelance at the age of 24. If you want it badly enough and work hard enough you will get there but there is no quick solution

	Reply #2
Posted : 08/06/12
Oliver Crawford 6 posts last on: 18/05/13 send private reply	To start off working for a post house it is mainly catering and waitering that you do, not experience within post is generally needed. Just keep applying to post houses such as Envy or 142 and eventually if they like you they will give you a job and you can work your way up from there. The issue is the volume of people that want entry level jobs but post production has a lot more doors than production. Keep trying and handing in CV's contacting the large post production houses and you will get there. You will be in minimum wage, working all hours of the day being treated like a small defenceless puppy, but at least you on a step of some sort of ladder :)

	Reply #3
Posted : 08/06/12
Tom Strachan 19 posts last on: 21/05/13 send private reply	Sounds like you've gone through a tough time. Sorry to hear that. I've never worked in London, there's plenty of work out there. It's not always easy to find it but keep looking, and try and develop a relationship with your manager where he'll be happy to let you get out for media work. I had a part time job and saved all my holidays so I could use them exclusively for working on anything that came up. Just keep on plugging away, make sure you use your spare time effectively. If you move away make sure you phone local production companies and ask to have coffee with them to get your face in the door. Sending an email rarely works. Soon enough if you keep trying something will turn up. All the best

	Reply #4
Posted : 10/06/12
Benn Jones 2 posts last on: 04/04/13 send private reply	I know exactly how you feel. just make sure you don't stop - keep working on little projects and build a portfolio to show employers that you are the right person for the job. All the best.

	Reply #5
Posted : 11/06/12
Oliver James Wood 3 posts last on: 18/05/13 send private reply	I can relate to your plight too and this sounds a little like my earlier experiences --- a lot earlier in life I hasten to add. Over the years I have 'dabbled' in quite a broad range of creative media activities then spent a lot of time in other industries and have now tentatively re-joined the biz in my late 40s! I would also echo the previous comment that London is not the be all and end all either. In fact, London can be very difficult not least because of the shear expense of living in the city (something I tried to do for two years in my 20s)and levels of competition. There are many good opportunities in most provincial cities. Manchester and Salford offer outstanding media industry opportunities at the moment and it is very much a growing sector up here with an interesting progressive feel, there may even bee a shortfall in talent in the NW so competition levels are favourable! Many great places to live that are also affordable. Good luck with what ever you decide to do :)

	Reply #6
Posted : 11/06/12
Benn Jones 2 posts last on: 04/04/13 send private reply	I know exactly how you feel. just make sure you don't stop - keep working on little projects and build a portfolio to show employers that you are the right person for the job. All the best.

	Reply #7
Posted : 12/06/12
Amie Nash 1 posts last on: 21/05/13 send private reply	DONT give up! keeping doing small projects to build up your network and experience. I myself am just starting out. I would never have thought that by doing smaller project i would meet so many different valuable contacts - gaining more work. I have been working on lots of projects as work exp for about a year now, and its paying off! Just dont give up! if you want it that bad it will come :)

	Reply #8
Posted : 27/06/12
London Sound Reco... 23 posts last on: 4 hours send private reply	I think you knew everyone on here would tell you sorry and to keep plugging away and if your not happy with where you are compared to your expectations then either do anything and everything to achieve them or lower or change your expectations. Not meaning to sound harsh because im sure 99% of us have sacrificed a lot to get where we want to go, its the nature of the beast, but the thing that will kill not just your career but all aspects of your life is self pity and depression, perception is the easiest thing to change your whole life, so just keep making decisions to gain that feeling of control back :-)

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