#bectu

‘I want to work in film/tv but I can’t because I don’t have this camera or go this school or have this computer or software and I don’t live in the right place’

Now I’m not going to say that people who have these advantages don’t get into the industry easier but it is entirely possible to get in without any of them.

Here’s some resources free resources that I used when I also had none of those things!

1) Nofilmschool.com Ahhh the classic. The go too guys. Lighting, camera, editing, producing they have guides on it all and are always up to date. 

2) FilmRiot More free lessons on everything from how to make a film with your iPhone to making fake blood!

3) Avid Media Composer/Protools First Avid is still the leading provider of post-production software in the industry. Learnt it. It will help you get into the industry. Avid offer free versions of the software to get your started as well as tutorials!

4) Blender (Animation software) or Renderman (Pixars own software!)

Free animation software and tutorials to go with it! You can make some amazing graphics with Blender if you put your mind to it. Renderman speaks for itself and is free for non-commercial use!

4) Youtube I always say it but I’ll say it again. Youtube. Is. Your. Best. Tool. Find interviews with your favourite directors and editors. Comment and ask questions, Upload your own videos and get feedback. Use it.

5) BFI

Free information. A film library that’s open to the public. Competitions to win free cool stuff and £5 tickets to your favourite classic films.

6) BAFTA Guru 

Everything you need to know about the different roles in the film industry, how to get there and what you need to know. Interviews and seminars. Opportunities and online workshops. Go and be free with all of the information!

7) BECTU

BECTU is a union of creative technicians who help each other out with everything from all the legal stuff and to networking. Just remember you’re not alone and if someone says they’re paying you for something get it in writing. Even if you email them confirming something they’ve said in person or on the phone it can help your case in months to come. **There’s a joining fee to be a member but their website has a lot of free info.

8) Facebook - networking events

Facebook is full of networking groups for film and TV. My personal favourites are Looking for TV Work: Runners and Film Talent London. Ask questions, apply for jobs and get feedback on your CV. But stick to the rules, employers don’t like people who don’t fit the requirements trying to apply.

9) Linkedin

Make sure you’re linkedin account is amazing and if you don’t have one make one. This is your professional profile that people will look at even when you’re employed - you never know someone could see you’re employed and be prepared to offer you something even better!

10) TVwatercooler.com and https://youdbetterwork.com 

This may be UK centric but they both have so much knowledge to help you starting out - read it all, use it and you will be the top pick for recruiters. 

So I wanted to look more into this movement, but ironically, I don’t have the time or energy because I just started burnout leave today but have been receiving messages since 7:12am over 11 hours ago from my department head regarding “urgent” major decisions where they’re basically trying to bend my will to get their way, I don’t talk about on this blog because it’s not what I made it for but they just crossed a line with me that if you read my posts is a fairly predictable breaking point.

I’ve only just started to bring myself to discuss this IRL with disability informed theatre practitioners so I won’t go to into detail right at the beginning of this time of healing but my love for theatre and the value I put on receiving an education has been weaponised against me for to long. It’s had a detrimental effect on my health and wellbeing and I would say how I am treated now classifies as emotional abuse.

I am being messed about and they’re coming for many of the things I hold dearest,

1. They’re weaponising the possibility of taking another year of my life from me where my abusers would have complete control of my life, reputation and future prospects and those abusers have made it clear no work will ever be good enough to stop them disparaging me. All this because I took leave off of 1 show cycle where another abusive influence would have far too much access to me.

2. They’re weaponising so many factors including the future prospects of a peer against me to make me “choose” not to work on the only show I requested to work on. They have me the opportunity, took it away, gave it back and now they are forcing my hand because they know I wouldn’t do what they did to me to someone else.

3. They are threatening three of the things outside of me family and friends I care about most my ability to finally see Beetlejuice The Musical in The West End, my ability to see Hemlocke Springs live in concert and my ability to attend valuable industry training in one of my Niche specialisms.

3 might sound silly but if you look back and my blog you’ll see how much those three things have meant to me for YEARS.

I can handle if I end up not seeing Beetlejuice because of Union action that will improve the lives of people like me but I cannot handle not seeing Beetlejuice because the people I’ve given thousands of hours to hoping one day I will be good enough to work on a show even a fraction as meaningful to me as Beetlejuice are trying to stop me seeing it because I dared to say I needed a break from their torment for what can be 12 hours a day) days a week unpaid and unable to get a major chunk of benefits i could get, while studying full time because I refuse to take a student loan but the benefits system calculates it like I took one anyway.

New blog post: Lights, Camera, Industrial Action.

Last week, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) trade union began industrial action, shutting down production on many high-profile TV shows. The union leaders’ demands are complex, but they revolve around issues such as contract lengths, payments from streaming media, and the use of artificial intelligence software. Here’s a background of what’s happened so far. This strike is particularly…

Ok I love bectu, and thank fuck for the new bectu/pact agreement but fuck me the deal is flawed. They were campaigning for scripted tv work days to not be longer than 10 hours (aka, 10+1 hr unpaid for lunch HA), but some departments get 10+1+1 which is BULLSHIT. We’re still having to work 12 hr days, we’re just given one extra hour’s wage for the +1. Literal bullshit.

Yeah I get it, it pays well and the fact that we actually get overtime is great, but it pisses me off to no end that 12 hour days (not including the drive) is the norm. I don’t have a life except on the weekends when I’m catching up on sleep.

I left the house at 5:15 this morning and got home at 21:40. That’s does include actually somehow making it to the polling station on time and returning something at tescos, but fuck me. I was literally thinking “I need to eat and go to bed in an hour” and now it’s 23:20 and I should’ve gone to sleep at least 20 mins ago so I can get 5hrs sleep. I’m fucked, and the job literally just started. I have to do this until the middle of July

Bectu Rejects Pact TV Drama Agreement Terms – TheWtcho

Broadcasting union Bectu’s members have voted “overwhelmingly” to reject trade body Pact’s latest offer and the future of the pair’s TV Drama agreement could now be in doubt. In the past few minutes, Bectu Head Philippa Childs said members had followed Bectu’s position of voting against the terms and the move has given the union a “clear mandate to seek further discussions.” The disagreement…