Starting on Channel 4's Production Training Scheme
Ebony Quashie-Trafford joins Studio Lambert's team in Manchester
A little over a month ago I began my role as a researcher at Studio Lambert’s Manchester office. Everyone was extremely welcoming and I was especially delighted to learn that there are office dogs that visit often. I got stuck right in as a casting researcher for Channel 4’s Four in a Bed. I was shown how to target locations, contact potential contributors, book application chats and prepare for zoom calls. I was given the opportunity to watch and timecode unreleased episodes and attend production meetings in which they meticulously planned each shoot day. It was really fun to see the team ring the bell in celebration as they’d successfully casted the full season of the show and how supportive they are for one another.
After four weeks with the Four in a Bed team I’ve now joined the casting team for the Netflix show, Squid Game: The Challenge, which I've found to be a hugely different experience. The scale of the production is incomparable, with hundreds of potential contributors from around the world being put forward to Netflix executives for each pitch. My specific role is help with outreach, so I take on the responsibility of scouting potential players that have yet to apply. This involves using the internet and social media to search for people with particular character traits or talents and emailing companies or groups. It was so interesting to learn how some of my favourite shows are carefully crafted by such a talented group of people.
I found out about the scheme whilst browsing for graduate jobs and traineeships on Bright Network. I was a few months away from completing my bachelors degree in Filmmaking with no real plans of what to do afterwards. I was interested as soon as I saw what the scheme entailed, and was especially excited to find that Studio Lambert was a company I could potentially work for. I really didn't think I would ever get chosen but I'm SO thankful I applied.
The first week of bootcamp in Warwick was invaluable as I learnt so much from ThinkBIGGER! and those who came to speak with us from Channel 4, especially having had no prior experience in TV. I’ll admit, I was really nervous to meet the other trainees during the first bootcamp week but now I laugh at my nerves as I’ve made a group of friends that I’ll value for life. We share our trials and tribulations with each other and I can't wait to see them again during our next in-person training. I'm so thankful the Production Training Scheme brought us all together and I can't wait to see what the next few months will bring.
