Baby Steps UK: Katie Crook
My name is Katie Crook, I went to college at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke, University at Southampton Solent University, graduating 2001 and now I live and work in Edinburgh.
Where I’m at
I’m 10 years in, with own production company, Blue Iris Films based in Scotland, making short films, music videos, corporates and hopefully soon features. Also production managing and coordinating on features and tv for a bit of extra money and experience.
Where I want to be in the future?
I want to have a much larger production company solely working on features and documentaries. I used to want to do camera but the work progression is too long and hard, creative producing is where I’ve ended up as I enjoy working closely with writers and talent and suggesting on the edit.
My first Baby Step
I got a runners job at a post-production house in London, it wasn’t for me and I left for Scotland where I stumbled upon the local film office and got my first position there as marketing assistant and met loads of important people and got production jobs through that.
How, if at all, did that first step lead to the next… and the next?
It all stemmed from Edinburgh Film Focus (the local film office), I met important crew, producers, tv channels working there plus it offered free crew listings where I would get approached for other work which EFF was flexible towards me doing.
What lessons did you learn from your ‘baby steps’?
It’s a struggle. You have to work hard for a long time for no money and even then you end up for the most part striking out on your own and becoming your own company or a freelancer. But do every job you can and do it well and with some charm!
Link to Blue Iris‘ short film Night School at BBC Film Network.
How do you keep your foot in the door?
Work on as many student projects as you can in any capacity, then your showreel at the end of your course is varied and will help you more then your bit of paper! Be persistent and make stuff your passionate about on the side even though you may not seem to have the time or the money to do it.
Blue Iris is currently in post-production on the ambitious short film Boat.
The world is covered with water, Charlie is restricted to his boat searching for a home he may never find. Plagued by memories, nightmares and hallucinations will Charlie ever find what he’s after? The film is a 16 minute short CGI-meets-live-action film about a very personal apocalypse. In the vein of a low budget ‘The Road’, ‘Inception’, ‘Pincher Martin’ and with hints of Magritte this is an eclectic and ambitious project shot and currently in post production in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Article from Reel Scotland on crowd-funding Boat.
