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How did you find out about the opportunity?

"Don鈥檛 feel intimidated to ask how things work or what people鈥檚 roles are as people are always keen to share their knowledge with you."

Serena Basra

I was assigned a mentor through Creative Access, and with their help I was offered a Trainee position on Funny Festival Live. Gaining opportunities in the television industry can often feel shrouded in mystery, so it was brilliant to have someone help me secure this role where I could both learn and work on the show.

What makes you want to work in television?

Television has always been a great source of joy to me and the ultimate form of escapism, something I have appreciated even more so during this last year of lockdown. I want to work in television as I’m keen to work in scripted comedy development and work collaboratively to platform underrepresented voices and help bring exciting, funny stories to life.

What was your role on the Funny Festival Live set?

As one of three Gallery Trainees, I observed and supported the gallery team, encouraged crew to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, stood in during camera rehearsals and participated as a live audience member for the 5 recordings.

One thing you learnt from the experience?

I learnt a lot about the collaborative nature of the Gallery team through my role as a trainee. Geri, the Director, and Dominic, the Vision Mixer, spent a session showing us how you move between different camera shots during live broadcasts - explaining which moments need close-ups, which moments need reaction shots from the audience and how they make these decisions. It was really interesting learning how the Gallery team react and respond to live broadcasts to create the best viewer experience. I also learnt that lots of comedians write set notes on the back of their hands!

What one piece of advice would you give to future trainees?

If you’re nervous about networking or asking for advice, then start conversations with the crew by offering them a cup of tea or a biscuit! Being friendly and helpful goes a long way. Don’t feel intimidated to ask how things work or what people’s roles are as people are always keen to share their knowledge with you. Gaining a holistic understanding of a television set will hugely inform your practice and it’s important to keep an open mind. Make the most of it!