In April I will join Calltime Connect's Calltime Foundation runners' scheme, so please contact me through them.After working on over 70 productions as an SA I am beginning to combine the on-set experience I have gained and my creativity to move to the production side of the industry, and have recently worked on a branded content shoot and a music... Read More

In April I will join Calltime Connect's Calltime Foundation runners' scheme, so please contact me through them.After working on over 70 productions as an SA I am beginning to combine the on-set experience I have gained and my creativity to move to the production side of the industry, and have recently worked on a branded content shoot and a music video. My experience is in drama, though I am interested in all areas that will allow me to use the experience I have gained.My previous career was in a very high pressure industry which required that I constantly devise creative solutions under time pressure and in which I achieved results in sink or swim situations – for example, a year after leaving university I was posted to Tokyo and successfully established and managed a new division for the company I worked for – so have no fear of being thrown in at the deep end and told to get on with it. I managed teams and co-ordinated across teams effectively, winning industry awards for the excellence of our work.By close observation and conversations with ADs over more than 2 years performing SA roles I have gained a deep insight into what is required to creatively direct SAs in order to fulfil the aims of a given production in a manner that will enhance the visual presentation of the script’s intentions.I believe the greatest contribution I have been able to make to the productions I have worked on is my ability to improvise, sometimes in an instant, a skill I am sure would prove valuable when it is necessary to devise SA positioning, moves and reactions under time pressure.From experience the more information about a scene and its intentions SAs have the more commitment and dedication they bring to a project, resulting in a better performance. To aid this I would outline to the SAs the type of production and what is required of them when they are hired for a production.Within the constraints of secrecy surrounding the story demanded by all productions, I would explain the aims of a given scene and its mood, then direct the SAs in the appropriate direction in the knowledge that most have the ability and creativity to carry out their given roles effectively. To point out any tweaks or individual mistakes with humour, reserving criticism for those SAs (fortunately generally a tiny minority) who regard this kind of work as a lark or ignore the demands of secrecy or the production company's code of conduct. To achieve this I combine the person management skills gained managing in my previous career with the experience gained working as an SA myself.Practical experience I have gained includes a knowledge of FAA regulations and the process of signing SAs on and off plus, always learning the layout of the set and the location of facilities and any dangers that the filming process may present to SAs and other staff. I am aware of on-set etiquette and the way the AD function contributes to the overall filming process and the necessity to be on time and to retain focus at all times.My experience has driven home the importance of establishing the camera’s field of view so that SAs can be directed within the appropriate space on set, and of noting the timing of actions during scenes so that, for example, if it is necessary to repeat a scene starting from a later point in the action, I will have taken note of the appropriate starting point for the actors at any stage required for a re-take. This experience will prove invaluable when it comes to preparing call sheets for individual days or scheduling an entire film’s shooting run.I am familiar with the conventions and abbreviations used on call sheets, have used a radio on set and know the etiquette to be observed when using them, while I have also received driver training and driven on set and also have experience of working with horses.I have intermediate spoken and written Japanese plus basic ability in French. My SA experience will prove invaluable in situations where it is necessary to provide advice and guidance to less experienced SAs, for example by sharing the techniques I have developed for myself through my acting experiences in difficult situations such as miming.I am able to respectfully deal with people in order to effectively deal with problems as they arise in accordance with the conditions of employment in force on each project, such as managing difficult SAs and when it is necessary to escalate problems to a higher level if required. Read Less