From Acorns ..... |
By Rupert Lloyd Parry, GBCT |
The GBCT recently launched a completely overhauled Camera Trainee Scheme with the primary aim being to provide productions with camera trainees of varying knowledge, skill levels and experience to help work on films and television programmes. This is a project that a number of Guild members have been involved with and dedicated a lot of their time to make sure everything works properly! |
| GBCT members have: |
| Sifted through over 250 applications and provided interview short lists Sat on the interview panels and selected people for the training course Provided their skills as tutors for the 6-day training course Observed, tested and assessed trainees on their skills Become mentors to the trainees (Anybody out there willing to help, please?) |
Competition was fierce but all the trainees have now agreed to either join us – or - in the case of the existing trainees, stay with us. Over the next 3-18 months (the duration of the individual’s ‘trainee-ship’ depends on existing experience), they will be trained in all aspects of camera assisting, be placed with and mentored by Guild members as they gain more knowledge and experience of working on different productions. |
The GBCT has a remit to pursue the highest of standards and that means a solid foundation in the basics. The course was extremely comprehensive in nature and many of the students had quite a steep learning curve, although all the tutors were highly impressed by the quality of everyone who attended the course. |
The course would not have been possible without the support of Tom Hannon of Hannon Media, John Sutton of Panavision, Phil Cooper and Alistair Smith of Arri Media, Justin Doran of Alpha Grips, Vince Wild and Tracey Pryor of Take 2 Films, Millie Morrow of Fuji, Julie Taylor-Butt of Kodak, Dan Mulligan of Rogue Element Films, Nigel Horn of ilab, Len Thorne of Soho Film Lab, Paul Cable of Media & Entertainment Insurance Services – and everyone else involved in helping out our trainees. We are very grateful for all contributions made. |
| Some of the Guild Members involved include: |
| Julian Bucknall; Hilda Sealy; Peter “Skip” Howard; Steve Brooke Smith; Tim Potter; Graham Martyr; Emma Edwards; Axel Ulrich; Renee Willis; Rupert Lloyd Parry; Dermot Hickey; Clive Mackey; Paul Wheeler |
| Since their initial 6-day training course: |
The trainees have been working on dailies for “Bo and the Spirit World”; “Criminal Justice”; “Gulliver’s Travels”; “The Forgotten Fallen”; “Poirot”; “Marple”; “Casualty”; “Holby City”; “M.I. High”; “Life Goes On”; the VFX Unit of “The Prince Of Persia”; “Inception”/”Oliver’s Arrow”, “Nanny McPhee 2” as well as a variety of low budget films, pop promos and virals |
| The GBCT Camera Trainees are: |
| (Existing Trainees who will shortly be completing their time with us are also included below) |
| Angel van den Akker – Based in London Niall Cullinane - Based in Dublin and London Tommy Holman – Based in Brighton and London David Palmieri – Based in Berkshire and London Jamie Starr – Based in Berkshire and London James Watson - Based in Devon and London James Blann - Based in Chester and London Nick Crew - Based in Surrey and London Svetlana Miko – Based in Bristol and London Martyn Culpan – Based in Yorkshire and London Paul Keating - Based in London Milos Moore – Based in London and Hereford Christopher Nunn - Based in London Roland Phillips - Based in London |
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This whole project is reliant on support from Guild members and the industry in general. So remember, if you need a camera trainee for your next job - or know someone who does - please contact the office. |