Last summer (2014) I emailed a variety of production companies with my most up to date CV asking if they offered any work experience opportunities. Luckily enough Big Talk Productions got back to me offering work experience for two weeks at their offices in London.  I was so pleased and excited as Big Talk was a company which produced some of my favorite films such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and the World’s End and TV series such as Friday Night Dinner, Him and Her and Spaced, specialising in comedy and drama, which are my favorite genres. Having done some background research on the company, it was motivating to know that Nira Park the founder of the company began as an office runner and had worked her way up through her talent of producing.

The two weeks involved myself taking the role of a office runner working in Big Talk Pictures (Film) office the first week and then Big Talk Productions (TV) office the second week. 

I worked with a team of two runners, Gareth and Fred, who guided me on the responsibilities and duties that the office runners participated in on a daily basis. A day in the office would consist on going on a food run to ensure staff had fresh bottled water, fruit, coffee, tea and snacks available to them in the kitchen as well as several lunch and coffee runs throughout the day. Other duties involved collecting and distributing post for the company, shredding confidential documents, clearing and setting up meeting rooms and organising relevant paperwork. Although a busy office, it held a laid back and friendly atmosphere, with the runners and office manager Sophie making me feel welcomed and feel part of the team. I also explored other areas of the company by being given tasks in script reporting and production script breakdowns, which taught me a lot on the area I eventually want to go into.

Overall the experience was rewarding, with the office manager congratulating me on my proactive nature and offering to recommend my CV to the company as well as Working Title if any office runner opportunities become available. So fingers crossed.

I’d like to thank Sarah Barrow (Head of Lincoln School of Film & Media) for allowing me this opportunity through the 21st birthday scholarship scheme.  If it wasn’t for the fund I would not have afforded the train fare to London everyday and would not have learnt and gained the knowledge to get my foot in the door and move ever closer to getting a career in Film and TV.