In terms of work experience over the past year I have completed a number of days at a variety of companies from social media content creation to high budget feature film/high end TV set work.
I have been working at a social media content creation company called MOB Kitchen since April 2018 as a part time video producer, this has included me creating a variety of videos for both clients and the brand itself releasing the videos to an audience of over 500,000 across all online social media platforms. As part of my role I run a web-series for the platform called Street MOB (MOB Kitchen, 2019), showcasing the best street food in the UK. The series involves me planning, shooting and editing the video before being approved by the brand’s creative director; Michael Sladden, and uploaded to the social pages. Videos usually last around 2 minutes and feature a variety of shots, including an interview, slow motion ‘food porn’ shots and VHS tape footage. I also shoot the promotion photos for the episodes which are posted on the page days before the release of the video. There is an example posted below.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working for MOB Kitchen over the past 20 months and have reaped many benefits from working there. I have been able to access a cinema quality camera in the Canon C300 meaning I can learn whilst on the job and apply to my University course. They have allowed me to experiment with different styles and I have learnt how to work in a small team in a pressured environment with, in some cases, large amounts of money involved. I have learnt many skills throughout my time at MOB Kitchen, mostly about social media production and how to be a self shooter and editor. This area of the industry is fast paced and constantly changing so adaptation is a key part of the role.
For 2 weeks last summer I was part of the Fulwell 73 team as a work experience intern, working in areas of pre-production and post production. The pre-production was labelled as Production during the application for the internship, however, I never saw a camera or a single set whilst completing my first week. I sat and assisted in the Pre-Production stage for a new comedy show they were developing for Channel 4 called Pants on Fire (E4, 2019). I assisted researchers and spent most of the days waiting for a small piece of work to slide across my desk, some days it never did! I felt very unneeded and raised my concern with my point of contact at Fulwell 73, I was moved to the Post-Production department for the second week. My second week was much better, I assisted the technical officer, ran hard drives between the studio and the off-site storage rooms, I was taught how to use Avid Editing software and given time to experiment on Avid. Overall, it was safe to say I enjoyed the second week considerably more however, I was not fully satisfied with the experience. I still felt unneeded but remained positive throughout the rest of my time there. It slightly put me off the ‘office work’ side of the industry, sitting in a quiet room editing with no one talking to each other. It drove me mad being there for 1 week so I can’t imagine doing it for any longer!
Finally, I had 3 days of set experience across 2 different productions, one day on a drama-documentary as a runner and the other two as a location marshall on a Disney Feature film titled ‘Outfit’, which has now been announced as Cruella (Gillespie. C, 2021). Both gave me very different experiences, the one day drama documentary was much more eventful as the crew was much smaller and was directed by Greenwich Lecturer: Justin Hardy. As part of the Runner/AD team I was constantly working to lock off locations, assist with car marks and bring actors to and from set meaning I was constantly moving and the day flew by. It was very interesting to be on the same radio channel as the 1st AD, he barked orders and ran the entire show. It made me realise how important that role was on set.
Whereas for the Disney production; Cruella, it often led to me waiting around for long periods in locked off areas which had next to no footfall far away from the actual set. At times I was closer and more involved with the set which was far more exciting, you could feel the on-set buzz. I was hooked instantly and is definitely an area of the industry I would love to explore further. Both on set experiences helped me learn a great deal, for example, basic on set lingo, radio etiquette and the importance of maintaining communication whilst on set.
Work Experience is beneficial and an important part of the entire process of selecting the area of the industry you would like to explore, I believe the several weeks I have completed have helped shape my idea of the industry and the future work I would like to partake in.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Cruella. (2019). [film]. Directed by C. Gillespie. Hollywood: Walt Disney Pictures
2. Pants on Fire, (2019). [TV programme] Fulwell 73 Productions: E4.
3. Street MOB, (2019). [Web Series] MOB Kitchen: Instagram.
IMAGES
Figure 1 – MOB Kitchen (2020). Oink London | Street MOB. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/B788ZpqIALw/
Figure 2- MOB Kitchen (2019). Nanny Bills | Street MOB. [image]. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3rrIQjFLsv/
Figure 3 – Fulwell73.com. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.fulwell73.com/
Felix Gibbons Portfolio 