Like many without relevant experience, Emma Lyth found breaking into the screen industry difficult. After having two children she decided it was time to focus on her passion for costume and returned to study specializing in costume design but when she started to look for work in TV and film she didn’t know where to turn.
“I found it near impossible to know where to look for vacancies, how to find contact details for head of departments and even struggled to find out what productions were about to start filming. I found the industry quite closed off in that respect making it extremely hard to get your foot in the door.”
It was during her time studying for her MA in costume that her research led her to ScreenSkills and the HETV Trainee Finder programme, a discovery that offered a breakthrough. “When I found Trainee Finder online it seemed to answer all those issues I was facing and would hopefully allow me the opportunity to get my first job in film/tv.”
One successful application later and Emma soon received her “extremely exciting” paid placement on the production of ITV drama, Grantchester, as a costume trainee.
“I was part of a small costume team of 6. The fact that this was a small team meant that I was fortunate to get the opportunity to take on a wide variety of duties whilst working as a trainee.”
The programme provided Emma not only with the placement but also a wider understanding of how the industry works and what steps can be taken to develop a career further. “At the start of the Trainee Finder programme we were given online workshops, these were also very interesting introductions to working within film and television, I particularly found the CV writing tips useful and have continued to apply them to my current CVs.”
The initiative provided her with advice on how being proactive and building contacts can lead to further opportunities.
“I began to build a network of people within film and TV that has allowed me to gain steady work within the costume department. Before Trainee Finder I would never have had this network. I have gained work as a direct response to their recommendations of me. I feel that my in-depth experience on Grantchester developed my knowledge of working within a costume department for tv and allowed me the necessary skills to feel able to take on other trainee roles with confidence.”
Her time on-set has sparked a new passion in Emma and given her the skills to focus on a career path.
“I am extremely passionate about textiles and the use of breakdown and dyeing techniques within the costume department. This is the area I am keen to build a career within. I am currently looking at gaining work as a breakdown trainee with the hope to develop a career as a textile/breakdown artist for tv.”
Emma is now working as a costume trainee and daily, and to anyone else looking to get into the sector, she has some keen advice: “always have a small notebook and pen with you at all times! I made multiple lists on a daily basis to ensure I didn’t forget any jobs for the day that my supervisor needed doing! Also, being dedicated and proactive in looking for work, staying in contact with your network, always be eager to learn from those with more experience and take on board constructive criticism with a humble attitude.”