Christmas 2017!!!!

What a Christmas Period! After the amazing month November was for me, I didn’t expect December to be half as busy (I was WRONGGG) After meeting and networking with the amazing team at Stellify in November, I got 2 (paid! Eeeek!) jobs with them! I was working as a games tester/runner with Patrick McKenna and then again as a runner and handled paperwork for Georgia Parkinson (who I know from RTS Futures) who was in charge of taping a casting session. I had an amazing time working with them (despite me and Georgia almost freezing solid in the snow on our boojum break) and would be so up for anything they needed me for again!

I also worked on a talk show that I helped create as part of my coursework with Belfast Met, we finalised the pre-production and shot in late November, and developed the final edit in December! I was the producer/floor manager and I had an absolute blast in the role. 

I also was given the opportunity to get in front of the camera for a Met talkshow, created by my friends in the other class. It was all about comparing/contrasting the recent ‘It’ remake with the 90’s miniseries and I was the host, so I got to chat to their 2 resident ‘It’ experts and debate which version was the best (the remake, shhh)

I was also selected through an online application process onto the Networkshops Factual week, which was 5 days of masterclasses held by industry professionals and organised by Christine Morrow and Julie Gardner for NI Screen! There were only 4 other candidates picked (out of 70 applicants) so I was really proud and excited to be there! The small class size also meant we got loads of face time with the people leading the classes! 

Whilst I love producing and being heavily involved in the project from beginning to end, the assignment made me reconsider the job role, as typically a producer is mainly based in a production office and I LOVED being on set. I could change my goal to First AD (Assistant Director) but (right now, I THINK) I want to work in factual television and, with those crews being typically very small, they don’t usually have a first AD! So I’ve more thinking and exploration to do, which I’m really excited about! 

(Photo credit to Michael Murray-Draine)

After such a fab, busy end to 2017, I’m really buzzing about what opportunities 2018 has to offer and can’t wait to see what all I’ll be up to!