Hi, I’m Jasmine, and I’m a Runner at the Factual Entertainment company, 72 Films. The word runner used to scare me as I always looked at it as being at the bottom of the ladder and I felt as if my years of videography experience accounted for much more than making teas and coffees. I had also come off a 6-week training programme at Sky Studios (more about this later), and I felt as if I was going backwards. However, after being at this company for nearly a year, I can now confidently say that running was the best thing that I could’ve done, and I’ll share the lessons I learnt along the way.
So, what would be your duties as a runner?
Of course, every company and production have different needs, but at the base level, it’s helping productions to run smoothly which can include keeping up with stock, answering emails, problem solving and yes, the dreaded coffee run (coffee is very popular in this industry). However, you don’t need to limit yourself to these duties; the best piece of advice I got from professionals in the industry was to put yourself out there, even as a runner. Let them know your passions, and where you hope to progress to because we are all aware that this role is only a stepping stone into the industry, and not a full-time career. From my own testimony, highlighting my interest in cameras from early on allowed me to come out on shoots, even though my role was office based, and get paid training in lighting and camera. Of course, not every runner role will give you these same opportunities, but you will never know the generosity of people until you ask.
Another reason why being a runner is so important is that you will find yourself amongst different people at different stages in their career; from directors to producers to production managers. Who better to learn from than the people already at the top? It’s important to familiarise yourself with people and their roles, because a simple conversation with them could turn into an opportunity to help them out with a task that furthers your career.
So, how do you become a runner in the first place?
You might find callings on LinkedIn or even see postings on Instagram or group chats dedicated to TV & Film. Similarly, you could send a cover letter and CV to productions you wish to work with, and ask to be kept on file in case any runner roles pop up. However, in the industry, it can be a lot about who you know, and some companies ask for previous experience, but how can that be if you haven’t been a runner before? It’s a chicken and egg situation. A scheme that helped me was from the charity, Mama Youth who provided free 6 weeks production training, located at Sky Studios. During these 6 weeks, I got to produce a short film and found myself across everything from call sheets all the way through to the editing process. After this, the charity helped me find work in TV as their goal is to train young people so that they are ready for the creative industries. I couldn’t recommend this charity enough as it’ll help you get that foot in the door.
Other ways to get runner work is to look within your network; if you have a friend who’s making a short film, or they are a photographer who needs help in the studio, lend them a hand and offer to be a runner for a day. You don’t need to be a runner on big productions to gain experience, it can come from anything.
To summarise, don’t wait for a role to be advertised, reach out to companies or people that you know for any opportunities to help as a runner. Get stuck in where you can and be open to tasks that go beyond your role because if you can do those things, then you’re ready to move up. Be someone that’s easy to work with and don’t shy away from problem solving (people will appreciate the help and remember you). Lastly, being a runner only limits you to what you allow it. Tell people your passions because that’ll make it easier for them to place you in the right department, and steer you towards things that are relevant to you.
Wishing you all the best,
Jasmine Josephs
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