I always knew I wanted to work in TV but didn’t know how I was going to get there. So, in my spare time I brushed up my knowledge on the industry by attending RTS networking events, watching ‘The Talent Manager’ webinars, and messaging people who work in TV on LinkedIn asking to go for a coffee. During this, I worked on my CV and cover letter by taking advantage of Facebook groups such as ‘People in TV: Runners’, and most importantly, learning from my mistakes.

Studying Media Production and Journalism at UWE not only fine-tuned my technical skills but also uncovered a knack for crafting stories that truly strike a chord with audiences. This ignited my curiosity to delve into the realm of natural history content creation, a journey that perfectly aligns with my passion for bringing people closer to the wonders of the natural world.

In my final month at university, I stumbled upon the True to Nature Logger internship on the UWE InfoHub website. The ethos and values of True to Nature deeply resonated with me, and I made sure to infuse these shared principles into my application and interview. This sense of alignment fuelled my determination, opening the door to the incredible opportunity I'm now immersed in.

During my internship, I’ve embraced a range of responsibilities, from meticulous logging to extensive research and building valuable connections within the industry. The most reassuring part was realising that every team member had been in my shoes, and their genuine willingness to guide and support transformed my initial hesitation into a newfound confidence.

As I transition into the role of an Office and Kit Hire Assistant, I'm thrilled to contribute to the essential gears that power our creative projects. From ensuring smooth office operations to managing the equipment that brings our ideas to life, I'm excited about every facet of this role!

Thanks to UWE's guidance and the supportive environment at True to Nature, I've harnessed my passion for storytelling and nature to forge a fulfilling career path. If you're looking to break into the TV industry, my advice is to seize every opportunity that resonates with your values. Whether it's attending networking events, honing your CV, or being persistent through rejections, each step gets you closer to your goal.

I have always been an avid film and television-binge watcher and loved watching behind the scenes videos to understand how things on set work and the processes behind visual effects. At the age of 13 I would produce and edit cheesy stop motion videos to my favourite songs. This was the beginning of my interest in the creative arts realm.

I enjoyed studying Media and Sociology at A-Level, learning how media, people and society impact the other. However, upon finishing college, I was naturally overwhelmed though as most teens are who feel they must have the next 10 years planned out. I didn’t know where to go from there, so I decided to take a year out of education. During this time, I developed a passion for adventure and marvelling at natures beauty, and thus nature photography.

I decided to hone into my creative interests and study Media and Cultural Production at UWE which fully established my desire to work in the film and television industry. I didn’t know what role or how to get there, until I found the UWE internship scheme with True To Nature.

I started here on an 8-week internship as a digital asset logger. I discovered how many roles were possible and the path to get there. I have since progressed within the last year into the role of Office Assistant & Kit Coordinator, and now Production Management Assistant.

True To Nature have supported and pushed me to grow in every role. Most importantly, I have been shown that every role and task, however big or small are invaluable to the processes that go into aiding and creating projects.

What’s the one piece of advice I’d give to people starting out today? There will be moments of feeling directionless and uncertain, but persevere and be pro-active and you will find your place!

Throughout school I never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do. All I knew is that I loved Geography and so I carried it on to university. I was always more fascinated in human geography and thought I would work in politics after university. However, I quickly found out that I did not have the right personality type to work in it! After that experience, I thought if I could do anything for a job - what would I want to do. I’ve always loved watching documentaries but working in TV had never felt like a real option. It always seemed like an impossible ‘dream job’. But if I didn’t try, then it would always be impossible!

I had previously applied for a job at True to Nature whilst I was at university, not really knowing that much about the company. It didn’t come to anything, but the company name stuck in my head – so two years later I was back looking for opportunities here. I saw on their website that they were hiring for entry-level positions through Babbasa so I got in touch! The team at Babbasa are amazing – really going out of their way to help you. They offer so much of their time and really care about each person that comes through their schemes. Not having a background in media or film I was nervous that I wouldn’t have the industry knowledge that many other people applying would, but sometimes that can be your biggest asset! I later learned that my CV was one of the weakest out of the group and that it was the interview that got me the opportunity. It showed me that it’s worth going for things even if you don’t have any experience and that having enthusiasm and a desire to learn can be worth more than you think!

A lot of the skills I use on production I had learnt through my different part-time jobs through school and university. I’ve learnt so much in my first 8 months in TV – everyone is willing to answer all the questions that you have, so taking advantage of that means you can grow your industry-specific knowledge really fast.

I think it’s great that the natural history industry is opening up to people from any background and interest. I think different perspectives can only bring more creativity to the content that is made.