I have just finished working as a Production Trainee on the feature film ID2: Shadwell Army (2016), which was shot entirely in Hull. After a few years of hard work, gaining a place on Channel 4’s 4Crew and becoming a Skillset Film Trainee, both came together to provide contacts as well as funding to help me gain my first feature film role in the relatively small but amazing production team.  The film is a sequel to ID, released in 1995, and had two incredible Producers, Sally Hibbin (Ken Loach’s producer) and Patrick Cassavetti [Brazil (1985), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)] who both felt very strongly about providing film training for local people. I spent 7 weeks helping to create our fictional Shadwell and learnt so much about working in Production as well as how feature film works.

The cast was also incredible, with the likes of Simon Rivers, Linus Roache (pictured with me), Neil Pearson and Lee Ross, I learnt a lot from watching and speaking to them on set/in the office as well as helping them out with anything they needed. Being a trainee in a smaller team means that you get to know every person in every department and receive much broader training. Continue reading →