David Leach

1. What made you decide to apply for your trainee position on the Northern Routes Training Scheme?
I heard about the scheme though a colleague on a shoot. In TV its best to put your name up for any job you think you'd enjoy and that you are capable of doing.

2. Please give a brief outline of your previous experience, related to this training position.
I have familiarity with avid though previous projects I have worked on with BBC current Affairs in Manchester. I think in the future it is likely that people working in TV will require to have a broader range of skills, this position gave me the opportunity to broaden my skills-base and experience work at an independent production company.

3. There were nearly 500 applications for 22 places across the North of England, how did it feel to be chosen?
It's exiting, but jobs are competitive, especially at entry level. You have to just get your head down, research the position and sell yourself.

4. What have you been up to so far on your placement?
Because Lion Eyes is a small independent company, I have been working on a lot more than post production. I have operated cameras, researched, answered phones, done location running, I've even been a foot model in a foot cream commercial. Oh and of course I have edited sequences, managed bins, played out, transferred footage, conformed, digitized, and so on.

5. What's been the best bit(s)?
I enjoy every minute. I'm just glad not to be working in a call centre!

6. What are your long term career aims and how do you feel this scheme will help you achieve them?
I want to be a well rounded production person, I can research, self-shoot and now I have a good grounding with editing software and hardware. I just have to keep putting my skills into practice and hope that I am employable (the Northwest Vision and Media crew database should hopefully help on that ront!)