Emmey Little: Politics and Communication Studies
Tell us a little bit about the role you do now.
I'm an Assistant Development Producer at Multistory Media (ITV Studios) and it's my job to develop new ideas for TV Shows.
What do you like about the role?
How did you get into it?
When I was ending my contract as a Studio Researcher at The One Show the Talent Manager recommended me to people she knew as someone who is able to pitch ideas for TV and take feedback constructively. I was picked up Twenty Twenty (First Dates, A House Through Time) and these days I work for Multistory Media (Come Dine With Me, Paul O' Grady's: For The Love Of Dogs).
How have you used your degree?
I have developed documentaries where it's been super helpful but it also helped me understand how TV works in this country. A lot of successful people in TV have politics degrees, like Karl Warner who is head of E4!
What are your top tips for students wanting to work in your field?
1. Be resilient and enthusiastic (a lot of it is luck so keep trying).
2. Apply to The Network Edinburgh TV Festival scheme (again be resilient I got turned down three times before I got in).
3. There's a Facebook group you should join, People looking for tv work: runners. Abide by the rules its strict!
4. Find mentors, then listen to them.
5. Work for local TV as long as it grows your skills and experience and for no longer.
6. Save money for the winter months, freelance work slows down then (and it's all freelance these days).
7. Accept zero hours contracts are your friend (that way you can take freelance TV work at short notice and still have an income when things slow down).
8. Find relevant additional work with transferable skills if you can or that help back up your specific interest whether it be drama, documentaries, news etc.
9. You are only as good as your last job so don't take any of them for granted.
10. Invest in comfy shoes, runners shifts are long.
11. Join the student union film and tv making society (LSFilm back in my day). You'll get skills and contacts and be able to make whatever you want with their equipment and support.