Class of 2010
Film & TV Production (BA Hons)
Job:
1st AC Focus Puller
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
Yes, at York St John University
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
I chose this photograph because it represents what I do for a living, which I wouldn’t be able to do without my time at York St John.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I would recommend YSJ as I feel its the right sized University. Big enough for people to find like minded friends, in or out of their course, but small enough to get a good education & not just become a number in a massive system.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I picked YSJ for a combination of reasons, its a beautiful looking University that is well placed in the great historic city of York and, at the time, I was impressed by the Film & TV kit room and facilities.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
Since completing my studies, I eventually moved back to London and pursued a freelance career in the Camera Department. Some of the connections I made during my time at YSJ helped me get my first jobs in the Film & TV industry. Some of those jobs weren’t great, but I worked hard and met more people. Ive been working in the Camera Department for 15/16 years now and I’ve been a Focus Puller (also called a 1st AC) for the last 12 years.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I had three passions growing up; building things, taking photographs and watching movies. Doing a practical course in Film & TV Production seemed like a good way of indulging those 3 passions.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The best features of the course were the fellow students that I met and the ability to rent equipment from the kit room over the weekend. Nothing beats creating something (good or bad) with other people and learning from it.
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
YSJ helped me to become a more confident person, ready to make my way in the world. It allowed a safe space for me to make mistakes and to learn from them.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Don’t expect to leave University and walk straight into a job on set. Spend your time at university learning to work & collaborate with other people because that is what will get you rehired. Cultivating a network of people at University who enjoyed working with you is key, it’ll be one of them who will get you your first jobs on set. Also, enjoy the social side of University, it will help you work out who you are as a person. Join a club or a sports team and develop your social skills. Finally, use the resources available to you whilst you have access to them. Rent out equipment and make some short films, it’ll be much harder to source equipment and crew for free once you leave.