ny are not able to take on people for a whole year, which is an apprenticeship requirement at the moment. But in England, there’s a Level 3 apprenticeship as a photographic assistant. You might be able to find a job through that standard with an employer in another sector, such as a government department or digital media company. Think about taking that job, learning the core skills of photography and transferring those skills into film and TV drama at a later point.
Before taking any apprenticeship, check what you’ll be learning with your prospective employer and college, so you can be sure it will be giving you the skills you want. Go to how to become an apprentice to learn how to find apprenticeships in your region or approach companies directly.
Make a portfolio:
If you would like to become a DoP, or director or filmmaker, it might be worth creating and updating a portfolio, in the form of a showreel, of your work. Get as much experience as you can in photography, both still and moving images. Have a passion for making your own short films. Look at our advice on how to make a showreel. A showreel is essential for impressing admissions tutors and people in the film and TV drama industries.
Work for an equipment company:
Contact an equipment rental company like Panavision, Provision or ARRI Rentals. Ask if you can become a kit runner or driver for them. That way you will get to learn more about the kit and build up contacts.
Get a degree:
It’s not essential by any means, but if you want a degree, have a look at ScreenSkills’ list of recommended courses and select one in film and TV drama. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicated time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the film and TV industries.
Get work experience:
Contact video making companies and ask if you can do work experience with them. See our advice on approaching employers to learn how to do this.
Go to ScreenSkills’ events, especially Open Doors where you can meet people who work in the industry. Give people in the camera department your details and ask if you can do work experience. Look at our page that explains how to network well.
Create a LinkedIn profile. See if there’s a Facebook page or other social media group for people making films or videos in your area. Join it. Create a ScreenSkills profile.
Being a camera assistant in unscripted TV. This can give you a good grounding in working with cameras, but it’s different from drama.
Involves making sequences on a computer that can't be created on set, like enormous crowds and fire-breathing dragons
Combines art with programming as well as production, design and testing - the UK’s fastest growing entertainment industry
Creates the illusion of movement, includes computer-generated, stop-motion and hand-drawn animation
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