My name is Beth, and I am an aspiring screenwriter in the UK. I am currently at the very beginning of my career, but even getting this far has been a journey.

I grew up in a family that regularly watched films together, but hardly instilled a fanaticism around cinema. I had a big wobble before university, not knowing what sort of a career I wanted to pursue or what I even wanted to study. I took a gap-year to give myself more time, and it was on this gap year that the pandemic struck. Having always been interested in creative writing, and having been sent packing from the coffee shop where I was working to save up for gap-year travel, I decided to write a screenplay. With absolutely nothing else to do and ideas that I never before had time to put to paper, I spent the next six months teaching myself and crafting my first project. It was during this time that I chose to do a degree in Art History and Film Studies at the University of St Andrews. This felt like a palatable blend of academia and creativity and didn’t give me the same chills as when I was earlier considering studying Ancient History or German Literature.

I loved my degree, and I had so much fun studying art and film in such an academically challenging setting. But four years in a beautiful albeit small Scottish town felt reassuringly long, and I only began to actually consider a career in the film industry in my final year. I took a screenwriting module in my final semester, and in this class I finished my second screenplay. Feeling like I was starting to build a portfolio, I became more optimistic about my chance of actually pursuing screenwriting. When I graduated in June of 2024, I was on a massive high, but after travelling for a couple of months and moving to London in September, I quickly discovered that the film industry was indeed notoriously difficult to break into. All the cliches of ‘it’s about who you know’ started to be thrown around, and after a couple of months of looking for any and every job I could find on the classic job sites, I was disheartened and feeling bitter about the fact that I lacked personal connections in the industry. I didn't have anybody to give me a leg up and I didn’t know where to begin with making contacts. Film jobs are not advertised to the masses, and I didn't know where to look. My writing career was also starting to seem like an ever more distant reality, given the difficulty of finding representation or sending off unsolicited pitches.

Needing to pay rent (and eat), I took on a front of house position in a well-known theatre in November, which at the very least felt like an adjacent industry full of creatives. But it was whilst I was working this job that I heard from a friend about My First Job In Film. I might have come across the site earlier if I had been more vocal about my struggles to get my career started, but with a lot of pride and a newfound cynicism that I was not able to walk straight into a job after finishing a degree (which school and university led me to believe would be the case), I was suffering in silence. When I eventually had a candid chat with a close friend about how much I wanted to get into the film industry, but didn't know how, she immediately recommended the website. I felt silly that I hadn't come across it earlier, but it was no good dwelling on that, and I quickly made an account.

Though I was initially searching for writing adjacent roles such as script reader or editor positions, through research and conversations with my colleagues at the theatre, many of whom were also hoping to break into the film industry, I learned that the best way in was to start as a runner. I figured that until I get noticed as a writer, I should start working my way up in the right place whilst I continue writing my own material in my free time. I needed to focus on making contacts, gain on-set experience, and learn the ropes of the film industry. Whilst in theory I could be working as a receptionist or a barista, and perhaps be making a lot more money, as a runner I could be far better positioned to network and eventually present my work to relevant parties who might be interested.

So, with all this in mind, I was thrilled to see how many runner positions were being advertised in London on My First Job In Film, and I began to send off my tailored CV and cover letters.

I actually got an interview for the very first job I applied for on the website. The interview went great and I received very positive feedback, but unfortunately, the company moved some projects around and let me know quickly that they no longer needed me. Though disappointed, I kept applying for various roles on the site. I was not feeling too panicked as I was enjoying my job in theatre, and I remained optimistic as I fired off my applications, which was reassuringly straightforward to do on such a streamlined website. I also really appreciated the daily job list I received via email, which contains all the new listings posted that day on the site. In mid-December, after only being on My First Job in Film for a few weeks, I checked my emails to see advertised an urgent listing for a temporary runner position at a production studio near Wembley. I applied that night, and less than 12 hours later I woke up to an invitation to interview with them. That interview took place just a few days later, and I was thrilled to be offered the job.

Now it is mid-January, and I have been working as a runner for a few weeks. It has been a whirlwind. I might have studied film at university, but I had not been exposed to practical filmmaking and the intricacies of film production. I am now very much learning on the job and adjusting to the pace and the chaos. I've already met so many amazing people and I'm loving my team. Every day is different and unpredictable, but I'm feeling invigorated and optimistic that I am now climbing the right ladder. Furthermore, within just two weeks at the studio, I was offered a permanent contract. This has given me a new sense of stability that I didn't go into the role expecting, and I am now intending on making the most of this opportunity.

It is not lost on me that even getting this entry-level runner position is an achievement that many strive towards for a long time. I am extremely grateful to My First Job in Film for providing such an accessible platform where beginners like me can discover opportunities that are not advertised elsewhere. This is perhaps one of the most unpredictable industries, and there is certainly no guarantee that the next job will just come along or that my writing will take off anytime soon. I understand that a lot of hard work and persistence will now be required as a self-starter, but I feel a sense of accomplishment in knowing that I have been able to get my foot in the door and can now start to make an impression in the right places. Watch this space!