So Close, So Far
It's been a interesting couple of months for me and the dreaded Film & TV industries...
Hello!
Happy June, I hope you’re enjoying the sun wherever you are.
As you may have seen, the past couple of months have been quite the time for me. With growing coverage on the state of film and television industries, I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to speak on my own experience. Initially for Channel 4 News, then The Guardian and BBC R5 Live. The response has been life changing - seriously.
Keep in touch: sam_oddie@yahoo.com
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First thing’s first! I wanted to make clear, however it may seem, no young person should see the current state of things and to feel deterred from pursuing a career in the arts or question their role within it. These conversations are vital, the first step in fulfilling change - I know at least from a grassroots perspective, this is happening.
I would like to take any opportunity to thank Arts Emergency - for continuing to empower me to do better for myself and my community, a true sense of ownership and home in an industry where that’s hard to find. From being a mentee at 17, to now being a young trustee, they have given me and my peers endless support. Aside from filmmaking, my greatest passion is to speak on what makes them so great and to be such a small part in all their work. Likely the greatest thing to have ever happened to me, it’s cliché but who cares, it’s Arts Emergency.
"Wow never seen someone from Ashton represented in mainstream before. Amazing, so inspirational to me as a college student from Ashton!”
-YouTube Comment, Anonymised.
For me, the last couple of months have been eye opening. Having so many people reach out; young people, those experienced within the industry or those with children wanting to break into them, all giving their own crucial witness statements. I’m very proud of being apart of work that’s resonated so strongly, it’s the reason why I wanted to make documentaries. Seeing just a few seconds of my last film on TV felt like such an achievement, so to answer a long asked question; No, I won’t be giving up any time soon. Though, it’s incredibly bittersweet to have exactly what you want, in such a small dose. Let’s keep going in that direction.
In fact, I’m happy to say that my brand new film “Stop” He Said “And Listen” made with the Irish Film Institute and Archives For Education will soon release online. Watch this space for more. I’m very happy with it, now this is done, I will continue my work on “Sincerely Yours”, the film I was working on in the Channel 4 piece.
Always feel free to drop a line, it’s been really wonderful connecting with new people throughout all of this. My email is: sam_oddie@yahoo.com
Stay Safe!
Sam