Finding your way into Film and TV and working your way up

In this panel discussion, Film and TV professionals at varying stages in their careers share insight into how they have got to where they are and the variety of routes in – some of which might be on your radar and some of which you might not have currently thought of!

Panellists

• Ciara O'Grady, Post-Production Manager, That Lot
• Farrah Jaufuraully, Edit Producer
• Jude Winstanley, Freelance TV Line Producer and Founder of Unit List
• Katarina Leszkoova, Floor Runner and Production Assistant
• Patricia Chanda, Founder, Glow Media

Our confirmed panellists may be joined by the following, depending on work commitments:

• Alice Murray, HR Assistant/Contracts Logger, Studio Lambert (TBC)

Panellist Biographies

Ciara O'Grady, Post Production Manager, That Lot

Originally hailing from Melbourne, Ciara has spent the last 15 years as a producer, filmmaker and editor.

Her career began with producing commercials in Australia, but she soon fell in love with London and has spent the last 10 years doing all things post production here.

She's edited for a multitude of brands and people such as Sir Paul McCartney, Coca Cola, Virgin, and Sky Sports.

Moving into the world of theatre, Ciara took on the role of Filmmaker and Post Production Supervisor for the National and National Theatre Live.

Ciara is currently working as Post Production Manager with social media giants That Lot, creating online, award-winning content for HSBC, Channel 4, and the BBC.

Farrah Jaufuraully, Edit Producer

Farrah has worked in TV for over fifteen years now. Her Edit Producer credits include Junior Bake Off, Ibiza Weekender, Kirstie's Handmade Christmas, Dinner Date, Dickinson's Real Deal, The Only Way Is Essex and A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away.

She has a strong track record in working across multiple edits on fast turnaround projects, writing entertaining and factually interesting commentary.

Working as a Producer/ Director, Farrah has wide-ranging location experience directing crews and self-shooting throughout the UK, Europe, India and the USA. She also has excellent people-finding and casting skills and not only found the 40 year old virgin, but completed the seemingly impossible tasks of finding vegetarian children living in meat-eating families, and Brits wanting to live off-grid in Yellowstone National Park.

Tenacious and go-getting, Farrah has camped outside Westminster Abbey with a Royalist, charting her story during the Royal Wedding of Kate & Wills, secured interviews with the Indian Special Forces, gained filming permission at a well-known LA strip club and developed good working relationships with well-known presenters.

During her career Farrah has worked on projects for a variety of production companies, including RDF Television, Sky Vision, NBC Universal, Hat Trick Productions, Endemol Shine Group, Two four Productions, Love Productions and Lime Pictures.

Farrah graduated from Middlesex University with a BA in Film, Media & Cultural Studies.

Jude Winstanley, Freelance TV Line Producer and Founder of Unit List

Jude Winstanley is a freelance, broadcast television Line Producer with 23 years experience within the broadcast television industry. Working across entertainment, factual, documentary and children's, Jude has most recently been working on an entertainment pilot featuring Noel Fielding.

Jude runs TV jobs board, theunitlist.com and is regularly booked to deliver talks on ‘Getting Started in Screen Industries’ and ‘Being a TV Freelancer’ and is also a Producer for RTS Futures live events.

Find out more about Jude: www.judewinstanley.com.

Katarina Leszkoova, Production Assistant and Floor/Base Runner

Katarina graduated from Middlesex University with a BA in Film in 2015. Since then, she has acquired experience working for a range of production companies on feature films, Film and TV dramas, commercials and broadcast TV (studio, factual entertainment, live, documentary and sport).

Her recent Film and TV Drama credits include: His Dark Materials Series 1(Base Runner), produced for BBC One and HBO; Poldark V (Floor Runner) and The Trial of Christine Keeler (Floor Runner), both broadcast on BBC One; Pure (Production Runner)and Shamed (Production/Floor Runner), both shown on Channel 4 ; The 2nd series of End of the F*cking World 2 (Floor Runner), shown on Netflix; and feature film, Carmilla (Floor Runner), produced by Hysteria Pictures.

Factual credits include: Lego Masters (Production/Set Runner) for Channel 4; Secret Agent Selection: WW2 (Set Runner), shown on BBC Two; and Babolat Touchtennis Master Cup(Production Assistant) for Sky Sports.

She has also worked on commercials and music videos, including adverts for both Lancombe and McDonald's.

Patricia Chanda, Founder, Glow Media

Trish graduated from Middlesex University with first-class honours in BA Film in 2016. After graduation, she became a Film and TV Casting Researcher, working for the likes of Channel 4, MTV, BBC, and Channel 5 across a range of genres, including reality TV, documentaries, entertainment, and factual entertainment shows. Her role included finding 'real' people or 'talent' for a variety of productions, as well as checking for factual accuracy on Documentaries and TV dramas.

Using the skills from her film degree and her experience working in television, Trish started her own agency, Glow Media, in 2019. Glow Media is a boutique marketing agency that advises small business owners on how to navigate the world of social media marketing. Its services include social media management, paid advertisements, business coaching, content strategy, and production.

Alice Murray, HR Assistant/Contracts Logger, Studio Lambert (TBC)

Alice is currently an HR Assistant/Contracts Logger at Studio Lambert, a fast-growing independent television production company based in London and Los Angeles.

She is an aspiring development researcher with a keen eye for detail, interesting content and developing story-lines. Her career to date has included stints as Head Logger at Endemol Shine Group and as a Senior Logger at BBC Studios. Within these roles, she worked as a Senior Logger on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Hunted/ Hunted, with previous credits on The Island With Bear Grylls and Strictly Come Dancing.

She also worked with Pinewood Studios on the release of the Division 2.

Alice graduated from Middlesex University in 2017 with a BA in Television Production.