Getting into the industry.......

[Jayce Xaveri]

Hi Jack
I'm only a couple of hours away from London...
I am more than willing to travel or travel up the nite before work..
For me travel is not an issue...
Jayce Xaveri

[JackHorny]

I wasn't suggestign you weren't willin to travel - in fact, if i'm not mistaken - you've actually crossed the Atlantic for work!!!! That in itslef is proof positive you're more than willing to travel... I was just pointing out (in genral AND, yes, using your location as an example) that logisitcs are an issue but in this day and age they needn't be. However - I still think a London base is a distinct advantage (not that I've got one)!

[Jayce Xaveri]

No i am not having a go at you jack..
I just feel that Where i live in Exeter in Devon is just as far away from London as is say Manchester, Sheffield or just Birmingham..
Just because i live in the south west doesn't mean i can't get to anyway in Great Britain..
Although i do have to rely on the trains and i think we all know they are not always on time....
Jayce

[JackHorny]

I quite agree with your observation re trains in the South West... many years ago I had the misfortune to be forced to use trains to and from Exeter... Sundays were an absolute nightmare - the journey from Sheffield to Exeter took 8 HOURS! And then the Friday afternoon/evening trains - well.. whether they were running on time (rarely) or not (frequently) you had to stand like sardines until you reached Birmingham New Street.... Had to be the most frustrating train route I have ever had the misfortune to be forced to use.

But anyway - to be fair to Jayce he did say he had no problem travelling the DAY BEFORE a shoot... and given that we're all well versed in the unreliability of trains in genral and the south west in particular, I'm pretty certain Jayce would be professional enough to make allowance for this.

I'll say it again - in my opinion a London base is preferable and ideal - but in a relatively small country like ours (regardless of the failings of public transport and chaos on the roads) - with a little pre-planning and common sense it is NOT essential.

[JackHorny]

As I said in an earlier post - producers I worked for earlier this week have now centred their shoots in London for that very reason - so yes... if you want to benefit from short notice work, like I said, a London base is PREFERABLE and IDEAL.

... And thinking about it some more - the "also rans" l(ike myself) and the "fringe of the big timers" (like Jayce) would prbably benefit most as we're the ones more likely to be used as "second best" as opposed to first choice big timers!!!

(*NOTE* no offence intended by that Jayce!)

[JackHorny]

I give the same advice to everybody who asks me about getting into the industry - first and foremost PROVE you're serious by getting your certificates.

I travel to London every 3 weeks to get my certs and that doesn't come cheap - and it doesn't come easy... I personally don't really get enugh work to justify it, but who knows what's around the corner?

But when it comes to Re-Location - well... that's like the old chicken and the egg - the old vicious circle - the catch 22... You can't afford to relocate if you're not getting the work but if you're not getting the work the obvious answer is to relocate - which isn't possible unless you have guaranteed work.

As for the lack of competent male talent - well, we've all heard that time and time again as well... and it's a subject that's been beaten to death on here... but I'll say it again seeing as it's been mentionedagain - if the main producers (QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, I hasten to add) choose to stick with the elite few, who is it that is perpetuating the lack of male talent????

Like I said - I'm familiar with the producers' reasons and I fully appreciate their position, but yet agian it more chicken and egg, vicious circle, catch-22...