INDUSTRY INTERVIEWS
This section lists a series of industry interviews with crew members interviewed for a chapter that unfortunitely never made it into the final book, so I thought I would share them here.
For this section, I wanted to interview working professionals in the business of all ages and try to soak up as much takeaway information as possible. What can each person in their chosen role teach us so that we can become better film-makers? I talked to 19-year old production assistants who have just landed their first big job in the business, seasoned professionals who have been working in the industry all their life, all the way through to a Hollywood writer and director for their perspective. I wanted to cover not only hints and tips on particular roles but also the people and organisations film-makers would come in to contact with when making films and entering the film industry. By speaking to the camera hire companies, independent production companies and post-production houses who employ young film-makers, I was also able to hear what they look for when hiring new blood, so this section is not only about shooting better movies, but entering the business too.
Over the course of these interviews, a few common traits and similarities began to show; many said the key in their particular area was thinking ahead whether in preparation or on set. A few also commented after working with a few graduates, that there was a trend for students to leave university and believe that they now know most of what can be learnt and that they gave off a ‘know-it-all’ attitude. The interviews also reinforced that there really is no one right way to enter the film industry; each person had their own path they took and no one way is the same as the next. Some went to film school, others didn’t, some worked for production companies full time, others went freelance straight away.
Perhaps one of the most eye-opening sections of the interviews was the questions regarding advice and mistakes. It’s reassuring to know that it’s okay to make mistakes and that feelings of doubt and low confidence affect us all, no matter how long you have been in the business and at what level. I hope you learn as much reading these interviews as I did asking the questions.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT – GEORGIA REDMAN
CAMERA ASSISTANT – SCOTT WALLER
TV DOCUMENTARY CAMERAMAN – JOHNNY ROGERS
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – MATT GRAY
FEATURE FILM CAMERA OPERATOR – ROGER PEARCE
TV DRAMA DIRECTOR – STEVE HUGHES
VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR – JOHN SWINNERTON
POST-PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER – GRAHAM WILD
TV PRODUCTION COMPANY/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – JONNY YOUNG
CAMERA AND LIGHTING HIRE COMPANY – VIDEO EUROPE
POST-PRODUCTION HOUSE MANAGER - GINA FUCCI
WRITER/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR (THE HOLLYWOOD PERSPECTIVE) – PEN DENSHAM
