Jamila Autumn Byam - Post Production Technical Operator Apprenticeship
Putting my experience to good use
What drew me to this apprenticeship was the in-depth technical skills that it taught. After completing a degree in Film Practice, I found myself in the position of wanting a career in post-production without having the adequate skills or technical understanding required for the role I wanted to go into. The course gave us a huge range of technical skills, as well as provided us with the support of an on-campus environment and a tutor where we could support each other and discuss the different experiences we had on our placements.
Your current role and what it’s like
I now work at a post-production facility called TVC Soho as an Edit Assistant.
The apprenticeship at LSBU trained me perfectly for the role I’m currently in and gave me a much more well-rounded understanding of the job, culture and industry than I otherwise would have had to start as a runner. As an Edit Assistant, I’m enjoying the responsibility of working on all aspects of lots of interesting projects, multitasking on different jobs ranging from ingest, syncing, QC, conforming and edit support.
More than just a degree?
The apprenticeship provided more than just technical skills and knowledge - part of the course involved keeping up to date with the industry and developing soft skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Film & TV can be different to other industries - making connections, staying up-to-date with films and TV shows you’re interested in and attending events can be a huge part of what makes a successful career; the course environment fostered an understanding of that.
What advice would you give to people thinking about studying at LSBU?
I think this course is the perfect start for anyone thinking of getting into post-production. The industry can seem daunting when you’re new to it and you feel there are so many departments and terms and processes you haven’t heard of. My advice to anyone starting this course would be to embrace the volume of new information (as there is a lot!), make lots of notes and ask as many questions as you can - the best thing about being an apprentice starting in this industry is that people are very inclined to help and give as much information as they have to offer - so it’s always worth asking.