VICTORIA BURBRIDGE: Day 8. That's A Wrap

27 . 06 . 13

C H A N N E L 4 / The Star Of The Show

So I had reached my final week, as if the first hadn't gone quick enough, soon, there’ll be a new ‘me’ sat at my desk, doing the job I love. I will begin by getting you up to speed with the weekend. Shortly after wrapping up on Friday afternoon, Melvin Odoom, radio DJ and television presenter whom I had fed and watered all day invited ME to attend a music festival called 'We Are FSTVL' alongside him and the KISS.Fm team, in Upminster Essex at the weekend. We Are FSTVL didn't require an introduction to me, the event brings together the biggest names in electronic dance music with some of the world’s leading club brands and labels. It was safe to say that Saturday was amazing and I couldn't wait to get back into the office to see what further complimentary opportunities awaited me, the festival was the icing on the placement cake for me! With my wellies purchased, complimentary drinks from the bespoke cocktail bar and luxury toilets. (Which is a big deal in festival world) This proved to be a much more relaxing way to network with the group, and the crowd were so much fun to hang out with. I even ended my weekend with two celebrity followers on Twitter.

Monday meant the final day of filming, apart from ensuring that the editors were catered for, I knew it was going to be a tremendously busy day. Having adapted to the train system, I made my venture towards our second location, which was a small quaint park area in Croydon. I refreshed myself with the location risk assessment and description of actions we would be covering today, it was always a key factor to familiarise your itinerary for the day. As well as being stationary, the stars, Rickie Williams and Melvin Odoom would be chasing each other in various scenarios around the park. Upon arrival, the location seem initially quiet compared to Friday's chaotic shoot. My enthusiasm for the channel 4 production served me well as I was soon about to discover I would be literally staring in todays shoot. There I was, a fairly modest student from Northumbria soon to be featured under the spotlight with stardom. The morning started at 8am with the job of distributing fruit and water to the team. By the time that job was finished all producers and crew members arrived to start their day, with time to spare a giggle at the guys complaining about their makeup - the dreaded coffee run commenced.

Balancing nigh on 20 coffees and refreshments inside holders, over the two days I must have carried around 40 coffee orders in total. But despite all this, I absolutely loved it! Another piece of advice for runners would be: Never for a moment convince yourself that you're better than this, sometimes the opportunities at the end of it are great.

Having directed Rickie and Melvin's running routes around the park that morning, urging them to 'GO!' for several takes, shortly after the morning quickly became afternoon and I found myself in front of the camera, nervous, a full team watching my every move. I had normally been the young student completely engrossed with the standardisation of professional equipment they used watching the take-backs, but now Sue Williams the set director was giving me direction and admittedly it was so much fun, my acting role involved chasing Melvin around the park, screaming and hitting him with my hand bag. Once my scene had finished it was officially a wrap where I joined the team with an applause.

Unfortunately I was never able to locate this advert via. Youtube, friends from home informed me they had seen it on TV and for a long time I debated whether to write to the crew to see whether the advert was generally commissioned. After two days of working in the drips and drabs, balancing drinks on my head, running through Croydon for needless items, keeping others sheltered with my umbrella and rushing to make part 3 of the 4 Croydon train journey's, that evening I took the train home with the director and McDonalds brand manager, I was offered optional work as a runner for the foreseeable future after graduation. Whilst production wasn't my preferred choice after university, it was certainly an overwhelming offer and a relieving feeling to know that I had left an impression. A month on from my Channel 4, I received a £60 Topshop voucher in the post for my efforts working with the crew. I had made progress. I still haven't abandoned the proposition of one day working for the Channel 4 production team, I would hope that one day someone would take their chances of me being a researcher. For the time being, however, I am enjoying my time having to grab a coffee for one - although it's a culture shock how much I miss the madness of running around like a headless chicken!