How They Started

We all have to start somewhere. These people are all successful, how did they manage it?

Job Title	Background
Claire, Production Manager	Education: Business degree, postgrads in marketing and film theory. Worked in industry/HE for a few years then on postgrad film school shorts. After three of those landed a Studio Supervisor post in interactive TV. Then moved onto PM work in documentaries, low budget features, channel studio launches, lifestyle and entertainment programmes and more documentaries. Currently working as PM on a documentary series for a major broadcaster.
Mark, Camera Operator	Education: HND in photography and postgrads in photography and film production. Worked as an advertising photographer in UK and Ireland, camera operator on film shorts and sports OB's, gaffer on features/pop promos. Currently freelance Studio Camera Operator on live terrestrial TV. Also runs a web design company.
Stewart, Head of Production	Education: Drama degree and postgrad in business. Trained and worked as an actor for a number of years before moving behind the camera. Worked as PM on a wide variety of high profile network TV studio projects in the US and UK. Currently Head of Production with a major independent.
Jon, Camera Operator	Education: Degree and postgrad in electronic engineering. Worked on a huge range of studio and OB projects in the UK. Currently Studio Camera Operator.
David, Floor Manager/1st AD	Education: A Levels. First job working as a Runner on a wide range of TV studio projects. Promoted to Assistant Floor Manager and then Floor Manager. Currently FM on live terrestrial TV.
Rob, Director	Education: GSCEs. Gained worked experience at local TV station during school and was offered a Runner job on completion of exams. Worked on a wide variety of news and current affairs programmes. Gained lots of on the job training and in a few years became a Vision Mixer - worked in this role for several years with different broadcasters. Currently freelance Vision Mixer/Director .
Phil, Sound Recordist	Education: Communications degree. On graduation offered a trainee sound post with major soap drama indie. With on the job training then became Boom Operator and after a few years Sound Recordist. Currently freelance Sound Recordist mainly working on TV drama.
Cath, Assistant Producer	Education: English degree, history of art postgrad. Worked in publishing as a Copywriter for a few years, then moved into TV research. Currently working as freelance Assistant Producer/Writer in the US.
Tom, Runner	Education: 2nd year degree student. Worked on various terrestrial projects as Runner both on work experience and in paid postions during all college holidays. Currently Runner for the summer with a production company specialising in comedy programmes.
Maddie, Make-up Artist	Education: HND beauty therapy. Worked on various film shorts and low budget features. Then worked on various commercials/pop promos. Currently freelance Stylist/Make-up Artist mainly working with a well known top 10 group.
Julie, Production Manager	Education: MA in English. Worked as PA to directors at an indie, promoted to Production Co-ordinator, then worked for a number of other well known indies as PC on documentaries and large-scale entertainment series for key broadcasters. Currently Production Manager working on single documentaries.
Tony, Gaffer	Education: O Levels and Electrician C&G Parts I&II. Worked in various areas of industry after school eventually retraining as an Electrician 5 years ago. Worked on one low budget feature and since then worked as freelance Spark/Best Boy on a huge number of mainstream dramas/promos/commercials and features.  Currently freelance Gaffer on a long running drama series.
Lesley, Location Manager	Education: Teaching degree. Worked for a number of years as an English Teacher then moved into production. Worked on a single low budget feature as unpaid Location Manager, worked as LM or Assistant LM in paid posts since then.
Christine, Production Co-ordinator	Education: Degree in psychology. Worked as a runner on several large scale live TV series, then production secretary, researcher and production co-ordinator. Currently PC on a documentary series for a major broadcaster.
Lisa, Production Co-ordinator	Education: Film/TV production degree. First job as production company Receptionist, soon promoted to Production Assistant and then Co-ordinator working on documentaries. Currently working as PC with a major indie.
Sophie, Production Co-ordinator	Education: A Levels. Worked as Production Secretary on long running arts programme, Resources Co-ordinator on studio launch, currently PC for a travel channel.
Claire, Assistant Producer	Education: A Levels. Worked as a PA to channel editor, then Junior AP on the same channel. Currently freelance Assistant Producer on a bespoke travel channel.
Helen, Stage Manager	Education: History of art degree. On graduation worked as Stage Hand for local theatre, promoted to Assistant Stage Manager. Then worked as freelance ASM and then Stage Manager on a wide variety of touring theatre productions and OB events.
Claire, Production Co-ordinator	Education: Film production degree. First job as Production Assistant on documentary series, second PA to Exec Producer on long running weekly TV programme, third Production Co-ordinator on single documentaries.