On Friday, the annual Women in TV and Film Awards celebrated the best and brightest in the industry, from costume design and script writing to location management and editing. We grabbed a few minutes with some of this year’s winners to hear about the lessons they’ve learnt, and their thoughts on combating gender inequality and creating a more diverse industry.
Consolata Boyle, costume designer and winner of the Panalux craft award
The best advice I ever received in my career was that a love of film as a means of telling a story, and the power of costume within that must always be your guiding star. The more I work in the industry, the more I know this to be true.
Although the national statistics may not reflect this, during the last five years I have worked on more films that have been written, directed or produced by women than ever before. This trend needs to be nurtured and encouraged by opening up more opportunities to women and ensuring that education and training are always top of the agenda.
Sue Quinn, supervising location manager and winner of the Film Finances project management award
The most amazing moment in my career was in York Minster, where everything modern was removed for Elizabeth and it was just lit with candles. It was a magical atmosphere, transported back to medieval times.
Getting more women into the industry has got to start with the youngsters. Good quality schemes to help talented young people gain hands on experience and support with mentoring are essential. It is imperative for the future of the TV & film industry that it reflects the country’s diversity.
Kate Hopkins, sound / dubbing editor and winner of the Technicolour creative technology award.
I don’t remember ever being given a specific piece of advice. Opportunities were put my way at crucial times and luckily I took them. Other peoples trust in me to do the job has always been a way of furthering my career. Winning a BAFTA and Primetime Emmy for Frozen Planet were the highlights of my career so far, a cliché I know but there is nothing like picking up a gong!
When I first started there was more diversity. In my field I blame the demise of the assistant film editor, a role that was never gender specific and could lead to a career in picture editing or sound editing. With the digitization of the industry this role has all but disappeared. For years after now being able to work in post production demanded firstly that you could work various pieces of software, not necessarily whether you had a talent for the actual craft of the job. I think this put off many women from staying in the “cutting room”.
Joanna Hogg is a writer and director and the winner of the Deluxe Digital Cinema director award.
The best piece of career advice I’ve ever received came from my husband. He told me, “don’t wait around for a big budget so you can shoot in 35mm, pick up a camcorder and just make it.”
The worst moment in my career came on a shoot on the Isle of Wight. The male camera operator made my life a misery and turned the entire crew against me. I nearly gave up directing and still haven’t forgiven him. I fantasise about my revenge. However, I’ve now realised once and for all that women can do the ‘tough’ jobs. When I get on a plane and see the pilot is a woman, I am reassured. I know she will have the necessary stamina, her judgement won’t be affected by machismo, and she’ll be good at making decisions under pressure.
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