By Oliver Arnell – University of Exeter Placement Student
Intro from Fresh Ground Films:
Over the last year, Olly joined us on placement through the University of Exeter’s work experience scheme, supporting us across shoots, social content, and generally mucking in wherever needed. As his placement wraps up, we asked him to share a few reflections on the experience and what he’s taking forward from his time with Fresh Ground.
A Year on Placement – words by Olly
My experience with Fresh Ground Films has not only equipped me with the filmmaking skills necessary to kickstart the career I want to pursue in sharing authentic stories with meaningful impact. I have also gained the perspective on what a fulfilling, enjoyable career could be. It has cemented the values with which I will align all my future career choices. At the start I was stepping into the (relatively) unknown. Within my first 6 weeks at the University of Exeter (September-October 2022) I was frantically writing and sending tailored CVs and Cover Letters to all the opportunities that piqued my interest. A couple that I thought I had secured hit dead ends and the others left me at the application stage or fizzled out after the interviews stage…no time wasted though! All these experiences were helping me learn how to articulate and demonstrate myself and my skills to a potential employer.
The stars aligned…
Then, in October, an email from the university came through asking for volunteers to appear in a short film advertising a master’s course for my degree: Communications. I asked a mate if we should go along for the fun of it, with my hopeful, ulterior motive of potentially finding some work experience out of the afternoon. If nothing else, I would have gotten to experience some more time on a film shoot. This would be in addition to some time spent two summers prior (2021) volunteering to help create educational films with the charity Wight Aviation Museum, in Sandown, on my home of the Isle of Wight.
Example of my experience with the Wight Aviation Museum, prior to Fresh Ground Films:
The experience with the charity museum had at least got me past the barrier of “What is a camera and where do I point it?” and into the very early stages of being creative through that medium and working with people in that context. I presented to camera, filmed B-roll and vox-pop interviews at a couple events. This experience would be one of the main factors in securing the chance to work with Fresh Ground and I suppose proves that well saturated advice of: “Say yes to as many opportunities that may come your way!”
The cameras we were shooting with at the museum:
Jump back…forward…in time to the afternoon filming for this promotional video for the master’s course, after tapping on keyboards, and chatting away to my friend and lecturer for B-roll, I approached Ross to pop the question. That’s right, I was so awe-stricken by Ross’s chilled and friendly character, and excellent beard, that I knew at first sight it was meant to be—I walked up to him once people had begun to disperse, got down on one knee… No, I said hello, gave a quick introduction and asked if he would be open to taking me on for some work experience as I was really interested in pursuing this sort of work after my time with the charity and during that afternoon. I was left on an optimistic, open ended: “Send me an email with an example of your experience and we’ll go from there!”
It wasn’t really until my work experience began with Fresh Ground Films that I began slowly expanding my knowledge and increasing my time spent with a camera. I was watching Youtube videos about photography & videography, getting to grips with the exposure triangle and basic composition principles. I was shooting on the old family camera, an Olympus Pen E-PL1, and borrowing out small vlogging cameras from the University.
It wasn’t really until my work experience began with Fresh Ground Films that I began slowly expanding my knowledge and increasing my time spent with a camera. I was watching Youtube videos about photography & videography, getting to grips with the exposure triangle and basic composition principles. I was shooting on the old family camera, an Olympus Pen E-PL1, that Dad had bought back in 2013 and borrowing out small vlogging cameras from the University.
Getting stuck in and learning a whole lot
The first couple shoots were great experiences and had me excited for all subsequent shoots. Ross threw me straight into everything which I really appreciated; I was handling the cameras and lights, taking photos for social media with the sexy Fujifilm X100V, manning the auto cue, chatting with the clients, fetching coffees, and appearing in B-roll again. I felt immediately comfortable and trusted with my responsibilities on those first shoots—filming with DPT Occupational Therapists and staff from the MHST service—and every shoot since has only built on this.
Two years on and I feel confident with framing and lighting interviews, capturing interesting and authentic B roll, and collaborating with clients and their visions for the day or supporting them with their worries about appearing in front of the camera. I have learnt a whole lot about camera operation, implementing professional lighting and handling sound equipment which has unlocked new creative potential and problem-solving possibilities for me. I know how to dial in exposure using false colour, capture great audio in spite of the ever prevalent air-con that can’t be switched off for whatever reason even though we pressed all the switches and…, how to pay attention to everything in a scene or frame, how to position a subject in an interview or for B roll for the best visual and narrative results, the list goes on. Before this experience I had only seen the tip of the iceberg. Now, I have seen how deep the filmmaking iceberg really goes and I’m on the journey of understanding and exploring it all. I have been taught, through experience and insight, how to approach all sorts of scenarios to capture the most attractive and effective shots; to trust the process and encourage the serendipity of those perfect moments for telling the story; and how to translate clients’ visions into filmmaking solutions.
For me, the shoots aren’t only about learning filmmaking skills, they’re also about what I learn from talking with the clients or hearing their stories during their interviews. Each shoot has given me insights into different lives, careers and aspects of the working world that the modern university experience wants to prepare us for. It seems to me quite a unique and especially valuable opportunity that I have had the chance to hear these perspectives, meet these people, and gain these hard and soft skills in a ‘real-world’ setting, alongside my studies in this way.
Not only the clients, but working with the Fresh Ground team, and all the other filmmakers we’ve met and worked with along the way, has always been fun and insightful. I’m very glad to know Ross and Rouben not only as mentors, colleagues or employers but also as my friends. I feel a whole lot more confident taking my next steps in my career, knowing they’re there for support as well as for a chat and a laugh.
My key takeaways
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
Especially when starting out, not knowing what to expect on a shoot could lead to more anxieties about what I was supposed to be doing. I still get a rush of excitement and nerves during the setup for an interview, or getting the mics ready for multiple speakers at an event, and ensuring I am ready with kit for the schedule ahead. But rushing only ever results in a bag ready to be tripped over or a piece of equipment set up too early that doesn’t contribute to finding the shot or being ready for the client. I have learnt to just take a minute, stick to the routine, and work one piece of kit at a time, in the right order. I now feel confident completing the setup in a way that helps us frame the shot and adjust lighting, background and subject position appropriately. Same applies for packing down: work piece by piece, slow down and pack everything properly so it’s stored well and ready for the next shoot, and the process becomes perpetually smoother. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
Be adaptable
Every situation is different. Every room, every story, the weather, the person. It’s all about applying principles and not being afraid to flex and think on your feet. Prepare to move lights, shift a load of furniture, and have your hands ready for battery swaps or packing up ready to move on to the next scene.
Have a chat
Everyone is slightly nervous on the day because everyone wants to do their best to get the best results. No matter whether you are the professional filmmaker, the enthusiastic assistant or the client who hasn’t sat in front of a camera before. Establishing a connection, talking, asking questions, and being honest and open about the process is so important; before the camera starts rolling and in between takes. The best moments on screen and the best days working definitely come from sharing the experience and stories with one another.
Where I am now, and where I’m going
Now, I am in my third year of my degree, undertaking a work experience year. I had been working as a freelance videographer myself for a project that has helped tell the stories of staff and residents at a care homes company. I’m continuing to assist on shoots with Rouben for Fresh Ground Films as well as contributing to our social media and website. And, the rest of my schedule is full with other projects to make the most of my time before my summer job begins.
I’m incredibly grateful for the people who have empowered me to have these experiences and I believe this time spent now will prove valuable in the future. The hard skills I’ve gained in handling a camera, editing, building interview setups and understanding the filmmaking process are transferable to many careers and allow me to enjoy the hobby and seek opportunities that I’m sure to enjoy. These skills in filmmaking mean I can pursue a career that transcends language barriers, for communities I want to support, wherever I might end up in the world. Alongside this, the soft skills I’ve developed in self confidence, responsibility and the perspectives I have gained will also carry over into whatever I might do next.
I want to still try everything whilst I am young and can afford to take the risks. Perhaps shooting a documentary in the world of car rallying, or about the Isle of Wight that I feel proud to have grown up on. I may spend a year working in a London PR, Marketing or Video company, to bring my insight from this experience into those roles. Ultimately, I intend to end up in a stable place within an organisation I believe in, that may one day facilitate me moving from the occasional, freelance project alongside my job, to making filmmaking my main pursuit.
My time so far with Fresh Ground Films has been consistently enjoyable and fulfilling. The people I work with, behind and in front of the camera, and the stories we tell are the main reason why I enjoy the work so much. This has founded those principles that I wish to stick to throughout my career: contributing to something that I believe has a genuinely positive social or environmental impact, whatever the profession. Additionally, I would not have had the confidence to take on other more precarious projects or roles, were it not for my placement with Fresh Ground Films. Not least because I have had at least one consistent experience and income throughout, but also because working with Fresh Ground Films has shaped who I am today; I feel confident enough in myself and my abilities to step out and try new things, and to not worry if (and when) any of those paths reach dead ends. It’s all valuable somehow. As I approach the final year of my studies I feel well-equipped, so that what might be a leap for many, can be just a step for me into my working life.
