Lou On Set - Top Tips For New TV/Film Runners

So you want to become a runner in the Film/TV industry but where do you start?

KNOW WHO TO CONTACT

Unless you know that you want to be in the Art/Editing/Camera etc Department, most people will start out as a Floor Runner or Production Runner/Assistant. You can try sending out your CV in a scattergun approach to various production houses but it's not likely to get to the right people.

For Floor Runners, you need to be emailing your CV to the 2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. This may vary slightly on some productions, but for most they will be the person in charge of hiring runners.

For Production Runners, you need to send your CV to the PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR.

I keep track of everyone I've contacted in a spreadsheet with the date, their details, whether their response was positive or negative. You don't want to end up pestering people so it's good to keep an eye on when you last contacted them when following up (1 - 2 months is a good time to leave it). Spread your net wide and contact as many as possible!

TIDY UP YOUR CV

Don't send out a carbon copy, tailor your CV for each individual role and whatever you do don't attached a picture or a tea bag! Your CV should be no longer than a page and spaced out - these folks are super busy and have only mere minutes (sometimes even no more than 30 seconds) to scan over your CV amongst the hundreds of others they get. It needs to be short, snappy and to the point listing the features you've worked on, your role, relevant transferable experience and any useful skills like First Aid qualifications.

If you have to put a personal statement, keep it only to a couple of lines. Always send your CV as a PDF so there's no bouncing around with the format when it arrives on a different computer.

LEARN HOW TO DRIVE

Runners will be needed to ping all over the place - if you're 25 or over, it's definitely an advantage for productions who need to hire a car for runners to drive. If you've got your own car, even better. Make sure you pop that you have a license right at the top of your CV - it's important.

If you do have your own car, make sure it's got business insurance so you're covered when doing any driving/errands/picking up cast members for the production.

TALK TO EVERYONE

Someone knows somebody knows somebody who works in film or tv.....sound familiar? You never know who might just be that connection you're looking for. Talk to everyone, network, ask around. Check on Twitter - is anything filming in your area? If it is, go down and talk to the crew.

I've done this several times recently with productions filming at the town hall in Manchester - wrap up warm and be prepared to wait around for several hours for a break in filming or filming to wrap. Be friendly and chat to everyone - network, network, network!

BE AN EXTRA

If you have no experience at all, being an extra is a great way of getting first hand experience of how a day on a film or TV set works. You see first hand how each member of the crew works and even get paid. It's also a great way to be in a position to chat to that AD at the end of the day, speak to the runners about how they go into it and decided if it it's a something you really want to get into.

SIGN UP TO DATABASES

There are many excellent databases and resources out there for new runners, all over the UK. Wales and the North are becoming ever increasingly popular meaning there are more opportunities than ever for those based outside of London. Sign up with these folks to get the ball rolling

Creative England

The Talent Circle

The CallTime Company

The Knowledge

Remember running is all about  

 PASSION, PATIENCE & PERSEVERANCE!

Lou On Set - New Beginnings

I recently decided I wanted to finally make the leap and change career from PR/Social Media into the Film & TV industry. I've always wanted to work in the industry but straight out of uni, I was more attracted by the steady monthly income in my bank account and the regularity of a 9-5! In a nutshell, I wasn't quite ready. Several years later and some brilliant friends along the way, I've now started to make the leap into this wonderful and exciting new career and follow my dream (as cheesy as that sounds!)

So where to start?

I wasn’t quite sure – I had a few contacts but no idea on how to best approach them or where to get the ball rolling! I spotted a dream job for Game of Thrones as Production Secretary and whilst I had the admin experience requested for the role, I’m pretty sure my application was completely wrong and tailored incorrectly for a TV job! No wonder I never heard back!

Luckily for me, I spotted on Twitter that The Production Guild was doing an intensive training course for runners trying to break into the industry. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect!

Lead by industry professionals and offering advice on how to tailor CVs, what to expect, set etiquette and opportunities to network, I booked a ticket without hesitating! I’d missed the Manchester session (they run them at various locations throughout the country) so a few days later, I was on a train down to Cardiff to attend the course at the beautiful Millennium Centre in Mermaid Quay.

Not only is it a fantastic area (BBC Cymru is just across the water – home to Sherlock & Dr Who) but I even made a new friend during the course. I cannot recommend the course highly enough for anyone looking to break into the industry – every single bit of information was invaluable and I made some great contacts from Production Co-Ordinators to Assistant Directors, who have remained in touch with me.

You can find out more information on their website – http://www.productionguild.com/training/runner. Sessions in Belfast & Birmingham are still available for booking later in the year. Even if they're not local to you, it's worth the trip and only costs £41.
 
Feeling exciting, inspired and raring to go, I got back to Manchester and immediately set about tailoring my CV based on the notes I picked up from the course and sending out emails to all local productions.

You can read more on my Top Tips For New Runners

Only a few weeks and a bit of cheekiness later and I’d landed my first role as an Additional Runner for the new Russell T Davies Channel 4 drama currently filming in Manchester – looking forward to the future already! Stay tuned!

Ice Ice Baby - The new Fruit Broo Iced Tea Range

So some of you might remember a few months ago, I was raving about the delicious Fruitbroo range. A 100% natural delicious juicy fruity syrup you simply mixed with hot water, it was vegan/pregnancy suitable, gluten free, caffeine free, dairy free and ridiculously low in calories. Phew!

A couple of things I mentioned in my previous Fruit Broo blog post, was how I wished the bottles were larger and how I thought the Elderflower & Lime would be brilliant as a cold drink in summer. It seems like the Fruit Broo gods heeded my call because they got in touch to let me know, not only had they brought out an Iced Tea range but they were in bigger bottles too! 

 "FruitBroo is made from real fruit juices, herbs and spices and this recipe has been specifically blended to be served Iced."

I simply had to try it out and soon the lovely Fruit Broo folks were dispatching their new Iced Tea range up to Manchester for me to delve into. The minute the sun peeped out, I got stuck in. 

Sweet Pear of Peaches! It's the Peach, Pear & Honey Iced Tea!

The juicy peach aroma melts into a tantalising taste of pear with a swish of honey. So tasty it should be naughty!

This flavour hadn't gone down particularly well last time as a hot version but as a cold drink, it was delicious. I don't know if they've altered the recipe slightly or if because it was a bigger bottle and I just chucked it straight it without measuring it out, but the flavours were much stronger. 

Clean tasting and naturally sweet without being sickly and very refreshing - can definitely see myself sipping this at a picnic on a hot summers day or making it up in a flask to take with me on one of my big walks in the Peak District.

The Unquestionably Splendid Darling, Elderflower & Lime!

The refreshingly posh taste of elderflower sparkles thanks to a light twist of lime.

For some reason, I just thought this Fruit Broo syrup would work better as a fizzy drink so I mixed it up with soda water and ice instead. 

An excellent choice (I later tried it with still water, not as keen!), the flavours were more subtle, the lime standing out slightly more but that was to be expected as elderflower is always a light flavour. The overall taste was thirst-quenching, refreshing and very more-ish. I nipped outside, popped my feet up with a book and enjoyed the delicious taste fizzing in my mouth. This is definitely a winner for the summer months, I can see myself adding a splash of Pimms and fruit to the mix! 

 The bigger bottles mean it should hopefully last me a little bit longer than a week - you can see the difference in the bottle sizes here.

However I am prone to just pouring it in straight from the bottle. You can probably make it last longer if you actually measure it out but I like my flavours quite strong - you can see roughly how much I used in a glass this size in one go here

Overall, this is a fantastic product – I'm already in love/obsessed with Fruit Broo and the new range has definitely converted me. They've replaced all the concentrated mixes like Robinsons and Vimto in my kitchen already!

These new Iced Tea versions are currently only available direct from The Fruit Broo Website though hopefully they'll be hitting shelves at some point in the future. As a special treat for my readers, Fruit Broo are offering a online discount so you can grab yourself some now!

Simply enter ICEDHALFPRICE at the checkout which will give you 50% off the Iced Range.

It gets a big thumbs up from me! I'd definitely recommend following them on their various social channels to keep up to date with the latest flavours, competitions and updates. Plus they're really friendly to chat to!

Cheers!

Like FruitBroo on Facebook / Follow FruitBroo on Twitter / Follow FruitBroo on Pinterest

Brow Power - Benefit's Gimme Brow

I'm a bit fan of Benefit's brow range - they were the first brand I came across that did a range of products other than just brow pencils.

I've been using their wax and power kit for years but when browsing their website, I spotted a new product that I was dying to test out. First I needed to get my brows in a semi decent state! I'm terrible at shaping them at home so when I need a tidy up, I head to The Blink Brow Bar for a tint and shape.

There are two of these handily located in Manchester in the basement of Selfridges - one at the Trafford Centre & one in Exchange Square. It's ridiculously easy to get an appointment pretty much any day of the week and the one in the Trafford Centre is even open until 10pm.

Having got my brows threaded into shape (and a complimentary head massage which comes as standard), it was time to nip to Boots and grab myself Benefit's Gimme Brow.

Benefit describes this as "brow-volumising fibre gel". My brows aren't that bad apart from right near the nose where the hair suddenly thins out and decides to grow straight up instead of outwards like the rest of the bloody brow hair! So these are my brows after threading but before I've started using Gimme Brow and the rest of my make up.

Apologies for how terrifying my eyes look close up!

I use short motions upwards along the length of the brow, then stroke the brush tip along brow to define shape. Let it dry and then build coverage in any gaps or in my case, near the inner brow.

This is the difference between a brow that had been done and a brow that hasn't

I'm a really big fan of this as it allows you build coverage but still leaves a natural finish rather than the solid look powder and wax gave. I use the Gimme Brow in medium/dark shade which was perfect: light enough to give a natural look, but dark enough to make an impact and stand out.

Here's the finished look with the rest of my make up - as you can see they really stand out when hair is tied back. 

You can grab it either directly from the Benefit Website or at a counter. It currently retails for £17.50 which I think is a little expensive for the size of the tube you get - 3g but I'm definitely sold on it as a daytime brow definer. It does come with a little tips and tricks booklet if you're not very confident about how to do your brows.

 

Raspberry Ripple In a Bottle - Frijj Supreme Milkshake

Whilst pottering around Sainsburys today, an attractive looking bottle caught my eye in the milk section. I've always quite like the Frijji range but this new flavour looked right up my street!

Presenting..... The Frijji Supreme White Choc & Raspberry Swirl Milkshake.

I am utterly obsessed with raspberry ripple ice cream so when I find other products that resemble those flavours, I'm all over it. The drinks company Barrs do a version of Cream Soda with a Raspberry Twist which is just delicious - it can sometimes be available in Morrisons but usually has to be purchased online via Waitrose or Ocado.

The packaging on the Frijj bottle itself is beautiful - cream and raspberry marble effect on a black background with ivory and gold text. I'm a sucker for attractive packaging so I popped a couple in my basket and rushed home to try it.

It certainly didn't disappoint - creamy, not ridiculously thick and filling. It satisfied my craving for something sweet and I'll certainly be going back to stock up on more! It's essentially drinkable raspberry ripple in a bottle! What's not to like?

 I think I'm a little bit in love......hands off!

There are several other flavours in the Supreme range including Honeycomb Choc Swirl & Sticky Toffee Pudding. Unfortunately these weren't in stock at the store I visited so will be hunting them down. I've not been asked to review this product, I just had to write about it after drinking it!

They've also just brought out an Incredible range as well with other fantastic flavour combinations that I can't wait to get my hands on and you can find out more on their website or social media pages.

Follow Frijji on Twitter or Like Frijj on Facebook.

Elegant Touch Express Nails vs Broadway Impress Nails

For several years I was a devotee of the BioScuplture Gel Manicures but as daily life got more hectic and hands on, I found less time for my nails. My natural nails are always very weak, flaking and generally in crappy condition. Despite my best efforts in filing them, nail creams and strengthening polish, they refuse to behave and my varnish would never last more than 24 hours without chipping.

I decided to treat myself to some press on nails after Sali Hughes in her excellent beauty column recommended them as a top spring nail buy

"I wore these throughout fashion week and people mistook them for a very expensive hipster manicure. They stick on in seconds and stay there (they can be used over and over), looking cute but not twee." - The Guardian Weekend.

The last time I'd used press on nails, I was a kid but the latest range of press on manicures promised salon quality finish in a matter of minutes so I decided to put them to the test.

Elegant Touch Express Nails

These are the Empty Heart design and were purchased from Boots for £8.99. I though the design of these were fantastic - they received lots of compliments from people on Instagram to cashiers in shops and were indeed often mistaken for an expensive manicure. You simply peel off the backing and press on - the glue is quite similar to the stuff used to stick gift cards to their backing.

However I found the glue to be too thick and not very efficient. Twice nails became loose and came off within the first day of wearing them and I ended up having to buy nail glue just to get them to stay on. The thickness of the glue also means the nails don't sit entirely flush with the rest of the nail and are raised slightly at the cuticle. A few days later, I was picking off the glue with tweezers and sticking them on with normal nail glue for a better fit and longevity.

Broadway Impress Nails

The Impress Nails were much better designed - they use small squares of a thin sticky film as adhesive giving them a much more streamline and convincing appearance when applied to the nails. They didn't need any additional glue to hold them and lasted for several days before needing replacing. These also retail at £8.99 and can be purchased from Boots or Superdrug.

The Verdict

Whilst I certainly preferred how well the Impress Nail looked & how sticky they were, their range of designs are limited. There is a wide range of interesting designs on their website but I've yet to see most of these materialise in-store in the UK.

Although Express Nails also has limited instore choice, their range of designs is far more interesting and creative - there is also the option to search for and purchase further designs from their range, directly from their website http://www.eleganttouch.com/all-nails.html.

Both sets were a Short Nail design though Impress offer a Medium Length version in some designs on their website.

Embracing my mixed race curls - Kérastase Styling Boucles d'art

In typical girl fashion, I didn't grow to love my curly hair until I was older. As a child, it was a nuisance, unmanageable, tangled and went out rather than down.

Throughout my early twenties, I battered it with hair dry, straighteners, extensions and chemical treatments causing it no end of suffering. I would have continued down this route if it weren't for my hairdresser  - the fantastic Simon at James Roberts Hair & Beauty in Manchester - introducing me to the new luxury K styling range designed by Kate Moss for Kérastase. In particular, this nifty little product for curly girls - Kérastase Boucles d'art.

I was skeptical at first - many mousses claim to leave you with beautiful bouncing curls and leave them crispy and looking like limp turkey twizzlers! I also have the Brazilian Blowdry applied to my hair every 6 months to make it easier to blow dry straight so was certainly not expecting any miracles - I thought it might give it a nice loose curl effect or something similar.

The prouct is a very lightweight foam the boffins at Kérastase like to call aqua mousse - the bottle transforms the water and product within it to foam with a single pump (whatever you do, don't shake the bottle - it makes it foam inside and then it won't come out of the pump! I learnt the hard way)

Simply run a wide-toothed comb through your hair when wet, then grab your mousse and go nuts. They recommend using it liberally and I certainly went to town - it doesn't give you any of the crunchiness you get from other mousses and whilst its slightly sticky when your hair is damp, it completely blends away when dry leaving them soft, shiny and bouncy.

If you've got naturally straight hair or even wavy hair, it's not going to do amazing things for you but if you've got naturally curly hair, it's bloody fantastic. I find it gives a slightly tighter curl with a diffuser than when air dried but this is purely down to personal preference.

With a diffuser

Air Dried

The Kérastase Couture styling range can only be purchased directly from salons in the UK at around £21 - you can find your nearest stockists using The Salon Locator (though online on the US Kérastase website).