Oscar-winning producer Gareth Ellis-Unwin, centre, with Anurah Farrell, Simone Dawkins and Rochelle Laurencin, from Creative Skillset, right, and, left, CONEL students Simon Hall, Costantino Zachariou, Ryan Thompson, Maria Jose Carvajal Gomez, Camerie Houston and Fatou Sarr Ndao.
An Oscar-winning film producer inspired students at a Film and TV Careers Day at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).
Gareth Ellis-Unwin is best known as the producer of The King’s Speech, which won four Oscars including best picture at the 2011 Academy Awards.
He visited the College in his role as Head of Film at Creative Skillset, which supports the development of skills and talent in the creative industries.
Mr Ellis-Unwin told of his passion for film and how he studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Media and then an HND in Programme Operations.
He then landed a job as an office runner for a film company, which set him on the path to become an assistant director and eventually a producer.
“There is a job within the screen industries for anyone who is willing to put in the time and commitment. Like anything, it comes with hard work," he said.
Left, Gareth Ellis-Unwin talks to CONEL students at the Film and TV Careers Day. Right, Rebecca Wordingham, Studio Manager at the London School of Media Make-up, third from left, with CONEL students Paula Dillion, Dzhanan Nazif and Ana Debelakova.
The day focused on the wide range of career opportunities within the film and TV business, including hair and make-up, set design and special effects.
It featured presentations from organisations including the BBC, London Film School, Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS), London School of Media Make-up and visual effects company The Third Floor.
Simone Dawkins and former CONEL student Anurah Farrell told how they had taken part in a film making boot camp with Creative Skillset, which led to them getting work as runners in the industry.
Simone’s first job was working as a wardrobe assistant on a TV movie called It’s a Lot, which was partly shot at CONEL, before becoming a runner for TV programmes such as Saturday Kitchen and The Russell Howard Hour.
Anurah, 29, who recently worked on a film called Rellik, said: “I studied music here and how to put music to film, which made it easier for me to edit clips.
“It doesn’t matter what course you are doing – hairdressing, construction, accounting – you can transfer those skills into the creative industries.”
The BBC Academy is to run a three-day summer film school at CONEL with the London Film School and the Royal Television Society in July.
Students will learn to shoot and edit films on their mobile phones and have the chance to showcase their work.