HELLO!
I've never really known what I wanted to do... but knew I wanted to be creative... but never found what that is. I had an interest in Photography since I was about 15 and was always taking photos of everything and anything.
My first work experience at 14, was at Nickelodeon Studios where I decided I wanted to work in TV so I wrote letters to all the studios and never heard back. Back then, it was quite hard without the internet! So I ended up doing an IT degree thinking it would be more design based and was completely wrong.
After University, I signed up with a bilingual agency and said "Please find me a fun job... I can't sit in an office all day"... and at the same time went for an interview with a Sports TV channel. They offered me a trainee role at the same time the agency rang me with a job in a bank at double the salary. Being young and having debts from Uni, I followed the money. 2 years later, the agency rang again with a role in Formula 1 Motorsport. My dad used to take me to races so I was excited by this prospect.
Working in F1 was challenging at times but a lot of fun. A job became available on the race team, but I was always made to feel like it was a mans job. No girls worked at the track at that time. This made me even more determined that one day, I would be there too. After years of persuading and going on and on and on, I got my opportunity and travelled the world for 2.5 years setting up and managing the IT in the garage and supporting all the engineers and mechanics. I could write a book on the experiences I had here.
Later, a film crew filmed a TV series at McLaren where I was working, and we got asked to be supporting artists. I jumped at the chance to see what a film crew was like. I was mesmerised by the 1st AD and felt like I had finally found what I really wanted to do. I googled everything I could about AD's and how I could be one and found the NFTS (National Film & Television School). Thinking I wouldnt get in, I applied and forgot about it. Then suddenly got called for an interview. I turned up to the interview in a suit, being used to corporate environments.
Looking around me, I was so out of place amongst the casual students!
I got in! But what was I doing... going back to school at my age.... how would I live with not earning any money for a year.... I'd worry about that later...
That day, I handed in my notice of 3 months and started at the NFTS for the one year Assistant Directing diploma. I wouldn't recommend film school if you want to be an AD and are just starting out. Go and get experience in the field first, then go and do the AD course. But for me, I wanted to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could. And I needed contacts and quick. It was worth it for the experience, the knowledge and the people I met. I will be forever grateful for the people who have helped me and shown me so much kindness in my new career.
A few years later and I love what I do. I started again from the bottom and have met so many talented and amazing people who share a love for creativity as I do. In that time, I have also persued photography over the last 10 years, by going on workshops with photographers I admire and respect and learning as much as I can in that field too.
My motto is to always follow your dreams and do what makes you happy and don't have any regrets. I don't have anything that I wish I had done or done differently.
Work doesn't feel like work anymore. I love what I do and can't wait to move further forwards and make a difference. Whether it be to AD an amazing film or change someones opinion of themselves by giving them a portrait that they love.
I love to travel so when I'm not working I'll jet off to wherever I can, to go and explore a new country, their culture and food - and photograph it all. I'm also interested in Psychology - looking at how people act, think and live.... life and people are very interesting things!
Over the last few years, I have been out shopping for a chandelier for Olivia Colman, become friends with some amazing actors/actresses, shouted "Rolling...Quiet Please" more times than you can imagine, followed Helena Bonham Carter around with Tea, Coffee & Diet Coke (all at the same time), thrown chickens past a camera lens, watched in awe at amazing cinematography and lighting, ran sets by myself - sick of hearing my own voice by the time I call 'WRAP' and best of all met and worked with some truly awesome people.
Now, I am casting all the Supporting Artists on various films and TV programmes which is keeping me busy!
So.... I'm pretty happy with where my journey has led me so far and to be where I am now! And still have a long way to go...
If you've got this far.... thank you for reading and I hope you are also following your dreams and are HAPPY :)
2017 - 2018
NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL (NFTS)
ASSISTANT DIRECTING & FLOOR MANAGEMENT
1999 - 2003
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
INFORMATION SYSTEMS & DESIGN (BSc)
Languages spoken
English, Japanese
Hobbies
Piano, Exploring, Travelling, Theatre, Eating, Drinking coffee...
The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of the health and safety of the crew. The role of an assistant to the director is often confused with assistant director but the responsibilities are entirely different.
The first assistant director (first or 1st AD) has overall AD responsibilities and supervises the second AD (2AD). The "first" is directly responsible to the director and "runs" the floor or set. The first AD and the unit production manager are two of the highest "below the line" technical roles in filmmaking (as opposed to creative or "above the line" roles) and so, in this strict sense, the role of first AD is non-creative. Their responsibility is to keep the production on schedule throughout the day, communicate to the entire crew, and to maintain the safety and security of the staff and shot itself. An assistant director must be very good at estimating how long a scene will take.
REF: WIKIPEDIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_director