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Louise Sedgewick is an Into Film Education Ambassador, teaching 11-18-year-olds English and media at St Margaret's Academy in Livingston, Scotland. Below, she reveals why encouraging young people into screen careers is so important and tells us about the film career she always wanted.
St Margaret's is a state school in West Lothian and welcomes students from every background. When Sedgewick discovered that there were screen careers literally on their doorstep, which the school's young people could access, it made her realise that they could get into those industries.
Sedgewick's motto is: "If you can see it, you can be it", so she became determined to help young people open those doors. Now, she runs careers lessons and events for students to get a better understanding of the value and availability of screen careers.
There's definitely still a perception that it's not for them, that you need private school connections or family wealth to get into the industry. There's also a myth that you need to move to London or America to follow a screen career, but there are now so many different opportunities out there.
Louise Sedgewick, Into Film Education Ambassador, and English and media teacher at St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston
Sedgewick explains that she recently had award-winning director John McPhail in her classroom. "He's from Glasgow, and was talking about how he got into the industry - he's also dyslexic - so it was great for young people to hear you don't need to be a perfect writer or have a huge range of qualifications to work in film. It really helps for them to hear that from someone who's actually walking the walk too, not just from their teachers."
"There's also a misconception that the only jobs you can have in screen industries is an actor or director", Sedgewick continued. "But there's a role for everyone, as the industry needs electricians on a film set, drivers, caterers, lawyers, set designers, concept artists, carpenters, and more. That always surprises young people; it's great to see the lights go on behind their eyes when they realise these roles are all something they could do."
Introducing young people to all these friendly, engaging and inspiring people who genuinely want to help them get into film is now the best part of my job.
Louise Sedgewick, Into Film Education Ambassador, and English and media teacher at St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston
Into Film and Screen Careers
One of our main goals at Into Film is to help educators support young people to explore careers in the screen industries. We offer comprehensive information, guidance and support on careers in the screen industries for 11-18 year-olds. This includes our Careers and Progression programme - supported by the British Film Institute (BFI) awarding National Lottery good cause funding - which provides Continuing Professional Development (CPD), classroom resources and online content for careers professionals, educators and young people.
However, navigating this wide-ranging and constantly evolving field can be daunting - both for educators and young people. That's why we've created a Go-to Guide for Screen Industry Careers.
In our Supporting Screen Careers Conversations video, Into Film's Careers Lead, Cerys Evans, shares up-to-date information that educators and careers advisers can use in school to support young people as they explore roles in the screen industries.
In addition, in our Supporting Screen Careers Conversations online course you can discover the essential facts and latest trends to help young people aged 11-18 make informed decisions about pursuing a role in the screen industries.
"Film is so equitable; it's a great leveller and so multidisciplinary", Sedgewick explains. "And all the skills you need to work in the screen industries are transferable - for example, good communication, being punctual, working in a team, or using your own initiative. If they can do all those things, they can use them to follow a screen career. You don't have to have a film qualification or have studied it at university to get started."
And as for Louise's dream career in film? She would have been a Foley artist [the person who creates background noises for a film, such as footsteps, raindrops, or a letter opening]. Why? "It looks like so much fun!" she says, and adds: "But I didn't get the chance to study film or media at school. If I had the opportunities my students do now, it might have taken me down a very different path."
As an educator or careers lead, now is your chance to open the pathways for young people to explore screen industry careers and realise their potential.
Where to start?
- Careers Hub - a one-stop-shop for careers professionals and educators to inform and support young people interested in the screen industries including lessons and assembly resources, handouts and maps, activity sheets and virtual broadcasts.
- CPD - our comprehensive training offers careers professionals and educators help with supporting young people to get into the screen industries, support screen industry career conversations, finding young people the right fit in screen industry jobs, and more.
- Media Careers Podcast - where young people and careers professionals can hear from industry professionals about their careers in the screen industries.
- ScreenWorks - funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, ScreenWorks supports young people in Northern Ireland aged 14-19 to learn about screen industry careers through hands-on work experience opportunities.
We're proud to play our part in supporting young people to get into film and building strong relationships between screen industry professionals and careers leads.
If you want to support and empower the young people you work with to explore screen industry careers for themselves, point them towards our Get Into Film channels on TikTok and Instagram. Our Get Into Film Linktree page also includes a whole host of information on opportunities, events, courses, competitions and more.
