Nick Farrimond, runs his own video production company

Tell us what you do for a living?

Video Production

Can you describe what that involves?

Can you describe what that involves? Everything involving the creation of a video/film – from scriptwriting to camerawork, lighting, directing and high end post production

What do you enjoy about your job?

Everything! It’s not just a job, but something I love

Is there anything you do not enjoy?

Wedding Videos (We do it for the money!)

Can you describe what a day in your job might be?

It usually involves editing on one of our suites back at the office – whatever that might be, trying to meet deadlines! Then at night, we usually go out filming on various projects. If not at night then our weekends are almost always taken up by camerawork too.

What hours do you work?

Crazy hours. Saying that, we are now trying to settle into a routine of starting at 10am and finishing at 6pm to give us some degree of normality in our lives!

How much do you earn or what is your salary?

£12,000 per year – with most of the money the business earns going back on buying the latest equipment!

How long have you been working in this area?

3 years

Can you tell us how you got to where you are?

Myself and business partner Dave Barrow met at Blackburn College in 1996 where we studied BTEC Media Production, then went on to Lincoln University to do a Ba (Hons) Media Production Degree – with absolutely no idea we would be setting up our own company within a couple of years! After leaving University and becoming disillusioned with the whole idea of working as a runner in London (which is ‘the done thing’ for graduates wanting to break into the film/video industry), we enlisted the help of The Princes Trust with a small loan and two separate graduate loans each to fund our start-up.

Can you tell us about your education to date?

I went to Southlands H.S in Chorley, then on to Blackburn College to study a BTEC in Media Production, and finally to Lincoln University where I graduated with a 2:1 Ba (Hons) Media Production Degree

Can you tell us about any training you have sought/received?

We have had both business training as well as advanced production skills in both post production and camerawork since leaving University. An example of which was a Steadicam course run by the BBC ‘Ground Force’ cameraman

Have you learnt any new skills whilst doing this job? If yes, please tell us what they are.

I am still learning skills every single day. It has taught me so much and I am so glad I decided to go down the route of setting up on our own as I feel like there would be no way I could have learnt what I have in any other job.

Did you come across any problems getting this job?

We had trouble obtaining the loans initially to set up as it is hard to convince people of your ideas and plans when you are young and we felt like people didn’t take us seriously at first.

Looking back, would you choose the same job again? If no, what would you choose if you could start again?

yes!

Thinking about your personal experience, what advice would you give to someone hoping to follow a similar career path?

Do whatever makes you the happiest – that is surely the ideal job.

Do you have an aspiration/goal for your future career?

Yes, to make a feature film and take it to the Cannes Film Festival…and win!