Having been involved with the Haltwhistle Film Project from it’s early days I was given the opportunity to learn from a hands on a approach, working on a number of projects under the hugely helpful guidance of HFP head honchos Vicky Jones & Marc McKeirnan. One of the biggest projects I was lucky enough to be involved with was the brilliant first light funded ‘The Halty Job’. My role on the film was as 1st Assistant Director, a role at the time I’d no doubt ever heard of, but that was the level of learning both Vicky, Mark and the film itself provided. It’s not often your given the opportunity to make a film, no matter what age or stage of your career you are at, so to be involved with a project that allows groups of young, like minded passionate filmmakers to create an ambitious piece of work such as ‘The Halty Job’ is hugely important and influential to anyone involved.

The Haltwhistle Film Project and ‘The Halty Job’ inspired me to pursue a career in film making. Graduating from University with a first class honours degree in TV & Film production, I went on to produce an RTS award winning short film before beginning work as an in house runner for one of the UK’s leading independent drama companies, Company Pictures. To say I learnt a great deal about how the industry works from my time running for Company would be an understatement. I gained valuable work experience in various roles on numerous shows. I was then given the opportunity to produce a making of documentary for BBC1’s Inspector George Gently from which I was lucky enough to graduate to the job of Assistant Online Producer on Bafta Award winning TV show Skins. On Skins I was given the opportunity to work alongside some fantastic industry creatives and bolster my knowledge of the industry tenfold. Currently I am producing and directing mini episodes of Channel 4’s Shameless as well as all online content for Skins series 6 whilst developing a number of my own projects with various collaborators.

For any young filmmakers out there, especially those in under represented areas, I’d advise you to be seeking out like minded people and making as many films, music videos, animations, commercials etc as possible and then I’d be banging on my local councillors door and demanding they support my ideas and ambitions by starting and supporting small independent groups such as The Haltwhistle Film Project. Work on as many different projects as possible, in as many different capacities and with as many different people. Learning as much as you can about every role involved in making a film and collaborating with everyone and anyone who is willing, will serve you well.

It’s a safe bet to say that without groups like The Haltwhistle Film project and funding bodies such as First Light I would not have made it into such a fun, creative and rewarding industry.