Jessica Melrose Williams

1. What made you decide to apply for your trainee position on the Northern Routes Training Scheme?
After finishing University last summer, I knew that I was very interested in working within the TV and film industry. I felt confident with the skills I had learnt whilst studying for my 'Design and Art Direction' degree but knew that I didn't yet have enough practical experience to be able to apply for professional art department positions. It was whilst looking for more voluntary work experience places on the internet that I found the Northern Routes Scheme advert
and thought that it would provide the perfect training experience and stepping stone into the industry should I be succesful.

2. Please give a brief outline of your previous experience, related to this training position.
Last summer, I made sure that I took every opportunity possible to improve my art department skills and so replied to adverts on websites such as mandy.com, for art department assistants on low budget films. Although this was unpaid and on a voluntary basis, the improvements they made to my CV and confidence were invaluable. I then worked for six months at 'Propaganda', a props hire company that provides furniture and props for television productions and photographic studios across the Northwest. This was a brilliant experience that gave
me a good insight into the whole set design process, from meeting Art Directors and Art Department assistants I became aware that this was something I could see myself doing.

3. There were nearly 500 applications for 22 places across the North of England, how did it feel to be chosen?
I was very surprised to have been offered the place, especially having found out the number of applicants...I'm really excited to be given the opportunity to work on such a high profile programme as Shameless and with such a
talented art department!

4. What have you been up to so far on your placement?
The best thing about this placement is that every day is different, I have been designing graphics for props that will be used once we start filming, designing posters to be put up on set as well as sourcing various props whilst out and about in Manchester. I've learnt so much in the last month and am only a third of the way through the placement so
I'm sure there's lots more to come..

5. What's been the best bit(s)?
My first day was really exciting. I was given a tour around the Shameless sets which was very surreal. We start filming next week so I think the best bits are yet to come...

6. What are your long term career aims and how do you feel this scheme will help you achieve them?
Ideally, I would like to work within the art department of a long running television series as I like having a big project to really get into. The scheme has given me a head start onto a very succesful production when otherwise, I would have continued volunteering for a long time yet. I hope to prove myself as a hard working member of the team and work as an art department assistant until I am able and ready to progress onto art directing.