Wise Shoot at Clapham Road Studios – 17th October

I was getting frustrated with sending emails and Instagram messages without getting anywhere so I ended up walking to Clapham Road Studios, knocking on the door and introducing myself to the studio manager, Laura. A few days later, after I’d sent a follow-up email, she invited me to join a shoot as a runner. The shoot was for Wise, and involved filming snails and social media influencers on a model set.

I really enjoyed this day and the time just flew by. I started out quite nervous, and was frantically looking for things to do so that I didn’t look like I was just standing around being lazy. But things got going when Laura introduced me to the art director, Ben, and his model makers, who got me helping with final touches to the set.

During the shoot, Ben put me on standby with a brush, and explained that between shots I needed to go in and brush the set down to keep it clear of dust and debris that tends to land on the surfaces. I was also assisting one of the social media influencers with her shoot. There was a moment when someone pointed out that one of the snails had pooped on the set, and I remembered I had a packet of tissues in my pocket so I jumped in to clean it up. I ended up doing lots of cleaning up after the snails, which I was happy to do as much as the rest of it because I just loved being involved and being useful. It was a good lesson in being prepared and having tools on hand so that you can jump in when needed – making a good impression as someone who’s on the ball.

I also did general runner duties like filling the dishwasher and making cups of tea. As the day went on, it got easier to spot things that needed doing. I found myself always scanning the rooms for things that were out of place or on the floor and needed moving.

This experience made me realise how much stamina and motivation I can have when I’m in a busy and creative environment like that. I really liked being part of the team. I also think I’d like to look more into the art department side of things, as model maker or scenic artist or something like that.