I realise I’m very lucky to be working in a job I enjoy, and one that’s a direct continuation of my studies. It is also excellent experience to work within the heart of a well known brand and know my work is achieving high levels of exposure through a number of different outlets.

Here is a compilation of my recent work:

My story so far:

Two years after studying Media Production at the University of Lincoln, I’m still based in the area and am currently employed as the Video Producer for Interflora British Unit.

During the course, I began to specialise in single camera video production, alongside digital video and special effects. In the final year we produced two large-scale productions. I assumed the role of producer for a documentary piece, and was responsible for the visual effects for a blue-screen drama. I graduated from this course with a First Class degree in 2007, but with no job immediately in sight. During the summer of graduation I was able to turn my hand to a small production jobs as a freelance camera operator and editor, including training videos for a large boiler manufacturer. I then received a phone call from the e-commerce manager at Interflora, offering one day’s unpaid work experience to test an idea they had for adding video content to their website.

Over the next few weeks I was asked to work on a few more shoots, as Interflora were keen to continue to further test new ideas. The work was still unpaid at this stage, but was now looking promising as a potential longer-term project. Indeed, after a successful trial I was recruited to produce their online video content for Christmas 2007, then Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day 2009 on a project-based contract.

Also at this time, Interflora began to forge a partnership with the University of Lincoln, after they recognised the mutual benefit of sharing resources, ideas and enthusiasm between the two organisations. They signed up to the Government’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership Scheme, which promotes links between academia and industry by part-funding a project managed by a recent graduate. The project in this case would be Interflora’s development of video content; and I was selected as the graduate to take this forward.

The scheme enables Interflora to use the expertise and facilities the University has to offer in order to achieve its objectives, whilst at the same time helping the School of Media to provide courses such as Media Production with a viable link to industry. So far the project has being moving fast, we are now adding video content to the site all year round. Over the last year we have produced 4 video webcasts to improve communications with the 1900 Interflora florist shops across the country, with a number of other exciting plans in the pipeline.

My day to day job involves taking the production of various video pieces from planning, through scripting, shoots and editing and finally to distribution, whether that be on the website, as IPTV or via DVD. It really furthers skills I acquired at University, from practical production skills, to planning and organising shoots. I realise I’m very lucky to be working in a job I enjoy, and one that’s a direct continuation of my studies. It is also excellent experience to work within the heart of a well known brand and know my work is achieving high levels of exposure through a number of different outlets.

If I were to offer advice based on my journey so far it would have to be never turn down an opportunity whilst you are looking for work – I did end up working unpaid for a while but ultimately it led to a full time job. Opportunities will come along for a whole variety of things – you never know who might be there or where it could lead. Of course they don’t all lead somewhere but the best thing to do is give them a chance!

I’d also say value your contacts – the brilliant thing about the Media Production course is you emerge with a phone book full of like-minded people with a huge variety of useful skills. You never know when you’ll may call upon each other to make that all important break into the industry.

Best of luck!