As part of the Learning the Ropes six-month programme the group took part in a 3-day intensive Industry Bootcamp which comprised a whistle stop tour of all things production from Commissioning to Post Production and everything in between. Inspirational talks, masterclasses and workshops were run by the amazing folk at in-house Fremantle UK labels, some freelance creatives and a few of our amazing mentors including Channel 4 commissioners & writers.
Written by Chloe Wheatcroft
After a much anticipated, jam-packed, intense but inspiring two days, we mentees were eager for the final day of the Bootcamp.
After a short break, mentor Ivor Baddiel discussed Writing for TV/Unscripted. Originally interested in Psychology and then not finding it interesting at all, Ivor found his calling in writing for stand-up and eventually TV, including X-Factor. He led a workshop where we wrote intro scripts for Dermot O’Leary to open X-Factor, with any music theme up for grabs. Despite the tight 10-minute deadline, it was a fun exercise, and we enjoyed sharing our diverse themes, from Country to Halloween.
Post-lunch, Kevin Pace, Sound Supervisor, emphasized the critical role of audio in TV. Through a guessing game, we learned about the various roles in the sound department, including the Fisher Boom Op, a skilful role akin to a camera op, whereby you push the boom out on a mechanism, it is often seen in sitcoms. Kevin’s key takeaway: “Without audio you have nothing” and the importance of respect and communication in the industry.
Next, Stuart Pring, Lighting Director, walked us through the lighting setup for an MTV Push 2024 Live Performance, showcasing the creativity and planning involved. He also emphasized the importance of communication, sharing a story about an editor who completely changed the agreed-upon lighting in post-production. This highlighted the critical need for effective communication among all team members to maintain the integrity of the original vision.
The day concluded with a Camera Demo and Workshop by Peter Green and his HotCam team, with Stuart’s support. We were divided into groups and tasked with recording a 2-minute piece on ‘What Makes A Good Story’. My group created a skit spotlighting the importance of each role in production, ending with a unified message about teamwork. Watching everyone’s performances was a perfect end to the Bootcamp.
I want to extend my gratitude to Fran & Moona at Fremantle for organizing and facilitating this event, the speakers for their insights, and my fellow mentees for making these three days so enjoyable. Special thanks to the Learning the Ropes Mentorship Program for this incredible opportunity. To close, here are a few comments from my fellow mentees.
Maya:
“Hearing from the Art Department, Writing, Sound, Lighting and Camera was insightful, super relatable and inspiring. Karl, Props Master, broke the ice with everyone straight away, he and Sarah together were a laugh-out-loud comedy duo delight-come-highly skilled team. Hearing the everyday struggles of a Props Master working with a Producer who didn’t know how to measure things properly, how the Head of Art Department got her break on Lord of the Rings by doing a runner through security. By the end of our session with Ivor, my face was hurting and I found myself realising I am definitely more of a creative than a commissioner.”
Lee:
“I found the Bootcamp very informative, helpful, and interactive. Not only did the speakers share their knowledge about their specialities but also their experiences which made the Bootcamp extra special. The experiences they shared with us were raw and beautiful at the same time. Fran and Moona absolutely took care of us, making us all feel included and part of the team, the sense of belonging I personally felt in the three-day training gave me many reasons to love the people I work with. We were all encouraged to participate in the activities and to ask questions without making us feel dumb or shallow, it offered us a wide range of professional overview and personal development to set foot in the doors of the industry.”
Hope:
“Day three was very exciting and the standout of the days, for me, it was the practicals that we did in the afternoon that were one of the things I was most excited for. It was really fun getting to make our own 2-minute shorts about what makes a good story and everyone’s ideas based on that brief were so fun and creative. Another stand-out was the workshop we had about sound, Kevin was really engaging and I learned a lot about something I hadn’t really looked into previously. Overall day three was a blast and even though we were all exhausted every single workshop kept me engaged in one way or another.”
The overarching lesson from these three days is that many professionals in the industry didn't initially set out to work in film and TV. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences eventually led them here, proving that it's never too late to follow your passion.
As someone transitioning from Art to Film, I found great reassurance in knowing that not having studied Film or Production doesn’t make me any less deserving of opportunities. Hearing Sarah and Karl’s stories about their unconventional paths was truly inspiring and helped alleviate my imposter syndrome. It reinforced the idea that “it doesn’t matter what you studied, it matters that you are here”.
Huge thanks to all the speakers, and to Mark Wynter and the team at Global post house Picture Shop for the brilliant tour & talks and to Peter Green and colleagues at Hot Cam for the technical camera, light and sound workshop.