Back-To-Ones
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Ah, the old Hollywood saying – “Back to ones!”
Let me tell you, I’ve become quite familiar with it myself.
Like a forgetful actor, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes while securing a placement. But you know what they say:
practice makes perfect!
So I’ve reset and tried again numerous times.
All in the name of getting it just right.
The process of securing a film placement unveiled itself as a formidable challenge which has only cemented my passion for the creative industry as – growing up as the youngest sibling with two older brothers – I have always enjoyed a challenge. It has given me a more realistic perspective on how challenging networking and making connections in the film industry can be;
“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.”
(John Dewey, 2003)
Therefore, reflecting on my errors and learning from them is a vital aptitude not only for finding placement but also for life. In this regard, I will utilize Gibb’s method of reflection to accurately examine this experience and draw meaningful insights that will help me grow professionally and personally.
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Description: “What Happened?”
Following the end of my second year at queens, I decided to pick the placement module to broaden my experience in the industry and help build my confidence. Immediately I was unsure of where to begin. I tried emailing production companies in a “speculative application” by taking “the initiative [to] approach an employer to see if there is a possible vacancy” (Mulvey & Done, 2016), but I received few replies.
I concluded my CV needed to be updated. I looked at the examples given to us in the module and realized my CV was not a good portrayal of my skillset. My second draft of my CV was constructed to highlight the films I have worked on and my range of abilities. I included things I hadn’t considered like emphasizing my editing skills and photoshop skills.
With an improved CV I tried again as “you..have to make your presence in the marketplace known” to employers (Done & Mulvey, 2016) Only to receive a lack of response or “The position has been filled, sorry!” After seeking advice from a family friend who used to produce for the BBC, he advised me to pick a few production companies that interested me and to introduce myself through a call, as they receive hundreds of emails, and a call could make the difference.
I heeded his advice, and I received much more help through phone calls. Even if it was a rejection people in the industry often offered valuable advice, sometimes even forwarding me to production companies looking for help.
Finally, I received positive replies. I settled on a company and my search was complete. I could relax for the rest of my summer… or so I thought. With two weeks to the deadline, I received an email “you have a car, right?” and my dreams were crushed. My poor 2006 polo has not been running in three years. Turns out the production company has two warehouses, and I would be helping in the remote five-hours-away-on-a-bus warehouse.
So, I was Back-To-Ones. I began my search in a panic. I sent over a hundred emails, all with negative responses. All hope was lost, I accepted I was going to have to author a Dissertation (My envisonment of a hell devised just for me) As a final ditch effort, I emailed SARC (Sonic Arts Research Centre). I had accepted defeat; it was too late. Then like a shining light I was offered a spot on the SARC video team at queens.
Feelings: “What were you thinking and feeling?”
When I was first faced with the challenge of finding a placement, I was faced with imposter syndrome or what Clance and Imes first defined as impostor phenomenon; “an internal experience of intellectual phoniness” and initially focused their research on women in higher education and professional industries. (Clance & Imes, 1978) I felt completely out of my depth and when reading the example CV, I was overwhelmed. I felt like I had not worked on enough projects for a final film student and especially in comparison to my peers.
However, when I began listing my accomplishments and the films I have worked on, I felt better. I felt more confident and hopeful as I emailed companies that interested me…right until I was faced with rejection after rejection. That can affect a person’s confidence.
My confidence was restored however, speaking to my family friend. He told me to use my natural talents, inspire confidence in my abilities through my personality. He said, “you’re hilarious, show that” – a direct quote may I add – which raised my spirits. Anxieties aside I began calling companies, although I did not receive placements from them, I feel much more confident about networking and making connections with people for the future. Done & Mulvey write that; “There is no doubt that networking is important and, in some occupational sectors, e.g. photography, creative arts, it is invaluable.” (Done & Mulvey, 2016) So, getting to meet people who have experience was invaluable and has only encouraged my passion for the industry and its collaborative structure.
Following finding out I did not have a placement; I felt crushed when I had to begin all over again, when I was sent right back to where I started. A sense of overwhelming doom enlightened my fear of failure (and writing dissertations) so I tried again with vehement vigour. My endurance paid off and I am now only filled with eagerness and enthusiasm to begin.
Evaluation: “What was good/bad about the experience?”
Although the narrative of my experience had an exciting denouement, with me pulling together a placement in the final act, I am excited for what I can learn in the future of beginning my placement. However, there is still much to learn and reflect upon in my experience so far, which is why using Gibb’s Reflection Cycle is essential. In the middle of a situation, it can be hard to take on a new perspective, so with the power of hindsight let us address the pros and cons of the experience.
The experience encouraged feelings of inadequacy following rejection or even lack of response. However, dealing with rejection, although scary, taught me an essential skill for life, not just my career. It has helped me learn and grow as a person. I reached out for advice and gained many new friends from simply changing my battle plan and picking up the phone. Although sometimes arduous, learning how to network while still being genuine has been an extremely rewarding experience.
“When you network, you aren’t asking directly for a job, you are simply making people aware that you exist, and are the kind of person anyone would like to work with. Just by introducing yourself you show that you are confident”
(Done & Mulvey, 2016)
During this experience I also attempted to build a showreel, which was challenging. How do I choose which aspects of my creative personality to show? What format are they meant to be in? Overwhelming questions I should have asked before. A good result of the initial stress was that I was motivated to watch hours of showreels on YouTube to find a style that suited me and watch tutorials guiding me through the process. The experience has motivated me to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone.
Analysis: “What sense can you make of the situation?”
I realise now that when I finally got a placement that I got lackadaisical and negligent with details. As a perfectionist I am usually hyper focused on tiny irrelevant details, but I was so filled with excitement that I did not consider researching the other warehouses of the company. I think it was a result of a lack of communication on both fronts. However, I will endeavour to confirm the final details of projects and jobs in future.
Conclusion: “What else could you have done?”
Mistakes are meant to be made. Sometimes we are sent back-to-ones with a fresh perspective. We can begin shooting the scene again, with better knowledge of the space around us. Just like shooting a scene, mistakes are made in life, but we move forward with knowledge that we would not have previously acquired. During this experience I have definitely made a few mistakes. Initially not following up with emails after no reply, in hindsight I have learned that tenacity is key when contacting larger companies.
Secondly, after tackling the further reading list in the module Christine Fanthome advises to create a database of each cover letter you send, every email and every conversation you have when networking that you can go back and reference. (Fanthome, 2004) In hindsight this would have been much more efficient than me relying on my terrible memory. I will endeavor to keep a record in the future as it could be essential for my career.
Thirdly, calling is much more effective than emailing, and saves a lot of time as people are much more willing to help over the phone. Finally, effectively communicating finer details like locations and commute. Ultimately, I have learned that networking is not as terrifying as it seems. Although it had its difficulties, this experience has helped build my confidence and helped me grow. I am excited to take these lessons and use them in the future.
Action plan: “What will you do next time?”
Going forward, I have realized my showreel is vastly unprepared for representing myself for future employment opportunities. So, I plan to use my spare time to build on my Showreel experience and tackle more projects to enhance my CV. I have joined filmmaking groups and clubs to renew my passion for filmmaking and build my portfolio. I want to build a strong online portfolio so when I apply for jobs in the future, I have a good online perception of my skills and past projects.
When I begin placement, I plan to throw myself into each project I do with my usual passion and learn as much as I can in the process and undoubtedly making lots of mistakes setting me Back-To-Ones!
Bibliography
Done, J. and Mulvey, R. (2016) Brilliant graduate career handbook, 3rd Edition. Pearson.
Fanthome, C. (2004) Placements: A Survival Guide for Students. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Jasper, M. (2013) Beginning reflective practice. Melbourne & London: Cengage Learning.
Hundal, S. (2016) Betwixt & Inbetween: The Journal Of Parntership Brokering, Back to Partnership Brokers Association. Available at: http://partnershipbrokers.org/w/journal/the-value-of-reflective-practice-for-partnership-brokers/ (Accessed: 10 November 2023).
Clance, P.R. and Imes, S.A. (1978) ‘The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention.’, Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), pp. 241–247. doi:10.1037/h0086006.
Queen’s University Belfast (2023) Facilities: Sonic Arts Research Centre: Queen’s University Belfast, Facilities | Sonic Arts Research Centre. Available at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/sarc//facilities/ (Accessed: 17 November 2023).