By Eshan Puri, Junior Researcher at Unscripted TV (Royal Holloway BA Film, TV and Digital Media 2019)
With several years of experience working in the TV industry, Eshan talks about the steps that will help you get your first job in this industry!
How did I start out?
As someone who watches a lot of TV, when I graduated from Royal Holloway I was desperate to work within scripted TV, such as drama or comedy. After a many month of rejections, I finally got my opportunity to work as a production trainee working on a BBC Comedy, a role I found advertised on Creative Access (more on this later). The feeling of elation was real and I’m sure you will all feel with the same when you land that first role! Many years later, after working on a variety of different shows from The Graham Norton Show to Never Mind The Buzzcocks, I realised unscripted is the side of the industry I really wanted to work and progress in.
What advice would I give to students who are keen to work in this industry?
My advice would be that you can start working in TV earlier than you think! Start looking for work now for your holidays (whether it be Spring, Christmas or the long summer break). That is the perfect way to quick-start your career and meet industry professionals before you graduate. No matter what you aspire to be, starting out as a runner will be such a valuable time in your early career, where you will meet a range of different people and might just discover a creative path you didn’t know you wanted to pursue. You can find out more about running here by following this ScreenSkills link.
Make the most of your time at Royal Holloway. Use your facilities and course mates to create projects that enhance your skills. For instance, if post-production is the path you want to pursue, create projects that allow you to learn everything and anything about software such as Premier Pro or Avid. The same goes if you want to be a camera operator for instance, learn the Sony FX7 because they use it in the industry too. In my 2nd professional job, I was tasked with editing together a blooper reel which was used in the final project and shown to the cast of the documentary I was working on. My point is, these skills will come in handy during your professional career and might just give you an advantage over others.
What do I wish I had known?
I’m someone who hates networking with a passion, but unfortunately, networking plays such an important part of working within this industry. Many of my jobs have come through recommendations as opposed to me applying for roles. Going off from what I said earlier, if you can find entry-level roles and work during your holidays, that will allow you to meet professionals that you can keep in touch with.
My other piece of advice is to understand that the TV industry is in a strange place. It’s important to be realistic and realise that currently there are less jobs available than there have ever been. As such, I truly believe that gaining experience outside of the industry is extremely worthwhile and will only make you a stronger candidate. For example, consider receptionist/office assistant roles that will allow you to develop transferable skills for your CV.
The best resources for job hunting at the early stage of your career
ScreenSkills:
A fantastic organisation that offers brilliant free courses to learn more about the industry. They also have mentoring and networking opportunities so I would highly recommend looking over their page. I would highly recommend checking out the ScreenSkills Trainee Finder scheme. I know over five people who have had the most amazing experience through being successful on this scheme.
Creative Access:
A truly wonderful organisation that aims to make the creative industries more diverse through offering mentoring and networking opportunities. Importantly, they offer opportunities for communities that are under-represented in the creative industries. It’s a brilliant community to be a part of.
Facebook- People In TV: Runners
The main resource for starting out and still keeps Facebook relevant somehow! This is the hub where I find a lot of entry level runner roles will be advertised. You can post your CV (following the advice they highlight within the community), ask questions to the community forum and also keep in the loop on what productions are looking for runners.