Why Being a Runner in Film and TV Is So Important
It's the bottom rung of the ladder and the most common route into the industry...Lots of people hate being a runner and try to either bypass the stage or get promotion as quickly as possible - but you need to embrace it, find the positive angle and treat it as a vital part of your education.
Tough times for TV writers.
80% of writers in the screen industry are freelancers and the cost of living crisis is hitting them hard.
I’ve been cancelled - should I get paid?
Getting cancelled for a job at the last moment can happen to anyone - what are your options if it happens to you?
Lucy Horsman. Concept Media Academy.
A crafty attempt to prise some money out of a job applicant. It’s pretty poor practice for anyone to try to extract money from a young, inexperienced (and likely broke) keen industry entrant when all they are trying to do is get a job in their career of choice.
Nikky Akinwande (aka Nicole Rodger). Production World.
Caution is advised for anyone thinking of signing up to any ProductionWorld events arranged by Nikky Akinwande. Is this a marketing exercise to promote her company and its wares than a legitimate way of recruiting for a job?
I think I want to work in telly…
…but I don’t know where to start. Jude Winstanley has compiled the definitive set of resources to get you going.
Fabricio Brandi.
A warning to anyone who comes across an individual called Fabricio Brandi, a “filmmaker”, eager to make a “low budget Netflix production”.
The National Youth Film Academy (NYFA).
“I would not recommend the NYFA to anyone who is looking to improve their skill set in the film industry”. Do not waste your money on these “courses”. A lot of people give their reasons here.
Peter Wilson NMUK.
It seems that the spell at Her/His Majesty’s Pleasure has done little to persuade Vladimir Peter Wilson to join the ranks of honest upstanding citizens. A look at his latest activities.
Callum Johnston (aka Common Wisdom). Stone Empire Films.
Big red warning signs over this individual.
John Pavlakos fails to pay his cast and crew…again.
Producer John Pavlakos has struck again. The man with the worst reputation for non payment of his workers in the business has made another film.
Worthily Films – avoid!
Despite numerous requests from many people, neither of the owners of this company, Steve Dodsworth and Chelsea Leigh Macleod, were able to say why this work would not be paid at least the legal minimum. * This post has now been UPDATED
Thinking about a career in the screen industries?
Have you been thinking about a career in the screen industries but don’t know where to start?
Aaron Thomas. It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye.
Sigh. Another dodgy company has slithered out of the shadows. This film catchily (or not) called “It’s so hard to say goodbye“. Strong recommendation to freelancers to tread carefully if offered work by him or any of his companies.
Crew Network: Avoid.
There must have been a moment in time where some exec said: “hey, why don’t we set up a thing where we gather up some TV jobs and then charge people to apply for them”? Another company after your hard-earned for very little: Crew Network, run by Rhian Howells.
Maia Films. Kennington Film Studios. Fortemus Films.
Avoid this company. The individual behind Maia Films/Kennington Film Studios/Fortemus Films (Andrew Greener) has a longstanding and very poor record for failing to pay freelancers who work for his companies on time, and sometimes at all.
Janet Marrett. Kashif Boothe. Mediathirsty Productions.
This company has recently recruited someone to work on a production and then failed to pay them the minimum wage to which they are entitled.
Spoke TV/Northern Dragon Media. Andy Lewis
Unpaid workers on YouTube production “Shaun & Bez: Call The Cops”.
Are you interested in working in Film?
No experience? No contacts? No worries – here’s a great place to start. “Set Ready is a training and employment programme that supports the next generation of film and tv talent as they take their first steps into production and on to set.”
Root2Fruit Media.
Please note that a considerable number of people have recently been left unpaid after working on a production for Joe Gaffney, Jermaine Pinnock and Root2Fruit Media.