On set with our Pathfinders – Catching up with Lizzy

In January 2022, we launched our Pathfinders scheme, offering a chance to break into the TV & Film industry with 6 month paid placements for five young people who have not had the opportunity to follow a traditional path into the industry. In this article, we go behind the scenes and hear from Lizzy, one of our five Pathfinders, to find out what the experience has been like for her so far. 

“From time to time, the universe grants moments that make life feel brand new. My week in London with the BBC provided a myriad of these moments – words of wisdom from experienced television industry creatives, hands-on camera and script work, and a lovely induction into a support system of friends and mentors. When I was offered this apprenticeship, I was excited, nervous, and uncertain – but it turned out excitement was the only feeling that was warranted. When I arrived, I got set up in a beautiful hotel, and was soon introduced to Steve, the leader of the project, as well as my fellow apprentices who I’d be working alongside. 

Steve immediately made us feel welcome, and we began the week with a lovely meal and a great conversation. This was among the most meaningful moments to me, as I haven’t been fortunate enough to be around others who share my passion before, and it felt amazing to let loose and talk about film and television with people who see it as an artform rather than just a pastime. It felt as though everyone in our group, along with our shared interest, had a proclivity for different elements of film – directing, producing, videography, editing. The differences among us helped to make us a cohesive unit as we worked on various challenging and inspiring tasks throughout the week, though it did help that everyone was incredibly friendly as well.  

That night, I didn’t sleep much, as I was feeling a great deal of enthusiasm for what would follow. Throughout the next six days, I felt like I was on a sort of dream vacation – the work we did felt meaningful and realistic, but it was also loads of fun. Getting to write a script with my peers was amazing; I felt that we had such great synergy with our ideas, though it was fascinating to be introduced to different perspectives on what makes film pop – what makes it interesting and important. I was so proud of the end result, as it felt like the lot of us had created a real piece of pride. Speaking to some of the lovely actors instilled a sense of confidence in my abilities that I hadn’t felt before – their cooperation and understanding of our directions was incredible, and made us feel so welcome into an industry that had previously felt unreachable. The people that inhabit this new world have such a charisma about them, and they helped me more than I can express. 

The same goes for the plethora of guest speakers that we were introduced to. Simon Lipton was undoubtedly my favorite – he provided us with loads of intriguing stories about the industry and also personally aided me by giving me advice on my own aspirations and the various paths to attaining them. His words – “follow the story” – still stick with me, as I feel that as much as it’s great to have a game plan, going with the flow can at times be equally beneficial, especially in an industry with as many beautiful twists and turns as this one. When we weren’t at work, the group and I would be taken to lovely events that made us feel like a part of the BBC. We had an amazing time at SoHo House, where we were introduced to executives with the experience that we sought to acquire ourselves. Their kind interactions were invaluable, as they helped to dampen some of our insecurities about ourselves. They would often say that they began their careers in the same place as us, and knowing this made me feel like I could rise to their level.

The week I spent in London felt like a lifetime at the time, as we made each day as productive and fulfilling as possible, but in hindsight, it seems like it flew by, and I already miss it. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been granted this opportunity, and I intend to take as much care as possible in pursuing my dream, as I now feel it’s more possible than ever.” 

Want to find out more about Pathfinders? Read more about the scheme here and follow our LinkedIn to be kept up to date on the next cohort.