Why YSJ? – Ethan Glanfield, Film and TV, 2014
Why I chose York St John. A bit too big for a tweet, but if it helps you in anyway, then I guess its a plus.
After already dropping out of my first year of University elsewhere I debated at great length whether returning to another would be the right idea. Was higher education for me? Back then only at 19 years of age for some reason my chance had passed, the sudden thought of further education was all it could be to someone like me. So for the rest of what was meant to be the first year of university, first year of independence, first year of the rest of my life. Instead I was back home, working full time tipping delivery wagons in a yard, in the wet, cold and on a nightshift inevitably, dark. For a while I had written off the idea of doing anything else, annoyed at myself, all the pressure of going to university never would I have thought it wouldn’t work out for me.
York st John had been my insurance choice the first time round going to University, I remember how much I enjoyed the campus, small in size but not in what it had to offer. Set in the heart of York this University had a real feel of both heritage and a pioneering attitude to its purpose. This was reflected across the Film & Television Production faculty and facilities and I had no doubt that not re-applying to go back would be a huge mistake, one to regret. With A-Levels already in the bag, a strong application led to an unconditional offer meaning a guaranteed place in 2011. Fast forward to three years later I’d graduated with a first class honours, worked on several short film projects as part of my curriculum, several of which received RTS nomination and two accepted into the Cannes film festival.
On the back of my University I used the contacts I’d acquired during research for my dissertation to gain entry into the Film & TV industry, the same year I got my first job as a camera trainee on a prime time BBC drama, from there I moved to bigger jobs, my contacts grew as did my area of work. Now at 26 I actively work as a Clapper Loading on high end television dramas and feature films, stepping up to focus pull for DOPs and operators when required. My recent credits include HBO’s Gentleman Jack. Warner Bros. Wonder Woman. Ongoing commercials for Nike, Adidas, Warbutons, New Balance, Standard Chartered Bank, Lego, etc.
When I look back at being that 19 year old boy working in that yard tipping delivery wagons I really felt I was at a low point. But everything up to now routes back to making that choice to re-apply for York St John. My office is no longer a wet and cold yard but instead it can be in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, the blockbuster studios of London, the streets of Budapest, Croatia, Germany, France, Ireland, are just a handful of places I work on a regular basis. Granted still cold and wet more often than not. But I now work in an incredible niche industry, and while I will be quick to say I’m not saving lives, but I am bringing joy to them, because cinema and moving image really is a thing of beauty. And all of this, without doubt is why I’m proud to tell people that I, Ethan Glanfield, am Alumni of York St John University, holding a First Class BA (honours) in Film & TV Production class of 2011. And I encourage anyone who is thinking of higher education, to take York St John strong consideration.
