Alexia is in the frame
Director and producer Alexia Merrington is proving that she gets the picture when it comes to keeping her camera skills and knowledge up to date.
Alexia is one of a number of people working in the broadcast, film, video and multimedia industries, who have taken advantage of professional development courses through the Skillset Employee Training Programme.
The project has provided places on a range of courses in animation, broadcast and interactive media. Delivered by BBC Training and Development, 01zero-one, Escape Studios, Soho Editiors and VET, the courses cover post production, camera skills and interactive media. Subsidised by 80%, courses are aimed at employees of small and medium enterprises within the audio visual industries in the London area, backed by funding from the European Social Fund and the London Development Agency.
Alexia's own appetite for media started at University where she studied European Cinema in her final year and became a member of the Film and Television Society. It was here that she got involved in film making.
Getting her first break as a runner in television production companies gave her an opportunity to learn about editing. From here she undertook a media training course before becoming an assistant editor and setting up her own edit suite with a friend.
"I joined Avanti Screenmedia as a production manager and I could see the opportunity to maximise the use of the equipment and the workforce that we had. I had some knowledge of camera work but we had a new camera that no-one knew how to operate.
"The training course enabled me to go back and learn the basics on the new camera which was becoming increasingly popular within the industry."
The camera course run by VET is aimed at researchers, assistant producers and directors. As well as focussing on fundamental operational skills such as framing, colour temperature and white balance, it enables non-skilled camera operators to produce broadcast quality pictures. The three day course also features the health and safety issues surrounding working as a skeleton crew.
"The course was ideal for learning all the basics you pick up when self taught but never understand the reasoning behind. It is good for brushing up skills and reminding yourself of the ins and outs and good habits to adopt. The best thing about the course is that it allows you to put into practice all the new skills you've learnt and go out shooting yourself. Technology moves so quickly within the industry and it is really important to keep up to date with all the different equipment that is on offer."
Since completing the course Alexia has been able to put what she has learnt into practice by making a short film on the new camera. "The Skillset funded course has given me the confidence to go out and shoot material on my own. I also have the course notes which were excellent and I have found really useful for reference. I would encourage anyone within the industry to take advantage of any opportunities to learn new skills and develop existing ones through additional training as requirements are constantly changing and the more experience and skills you have the more employable you are."
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive, Skillset added: "The audio visual industry is a fast moving sector. This means the skills that people need are fast moving too. By working closely with the education and training sector, keeping ahead of technological changes and meeting the needs of employers and individuals, Skillset is helping to bridge the skills needs of today and the skills needs of tomorrow."
Notes to Editors
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.