Wednesday 14 October 2009

Work Experience

My name is Jill Wright and I'm currently a student at Thorpe St Andrew High School. I'm in my final year of high school, which is a scary thought considering I'm still pretty undecided about what I actually want to do as a career within this field, (and am only now able to make an alright cup of tea according to my mum!) I took English, Maths, Double Science, P.E, Media, History, German, French, I.C.T, Statistics (an absolute waste of two hours every week, of my life..) and Ethics (another waste of many hours of life..) all at GCSE level. I definitely want to go on to Sixth Form, in order to do Photography at A-Level and hope to work in the media in some form, whether it's in magazine, television etc.

On my first day I was pretty gutted after not actually getting a lay-in, and my mum over estimating the journey from Thorpe to here by about half an hour, and therefore the nerves hadn't really set in, I was just looking forward to the week. All changed when I opened the door to find a very different reception than the one I remembered from my interview- to find I had actually opened the door to Cable and Wireless next door. Once actually inside the right building I met most of the team in their Monday morning meeting. Afterwards I shadowed Michelle for the morning whilst she left me with originals of photos she had edited in order for me to try myself, rather than the endless tea making and cleaning I'd prepared myself for! After lunch I spent the afternoon downstairs in the office copying out a list of every previous client of GGS and other tasks that needed doing in the office.

On Tuesday I continued to crowd the designers upstairs, hassling Dan for the day whilst he talked me through the process of making a flyer for GGS, in order to try and promote the business and increase sales. I then spent time downstairs in the mounting room with Andrew where I was absolutely no use to him whatsoever but continued to follow him around regardless:L After him being away on holiday I had not yet met the other director Peter, so when Chris went to pick up a sleep deprived Peter from the railway station, along with his wife, I also went, and met him for the first time. This was when he reminded me that I would be seeing him at half seven the next morning in order to go out on a shoot, bright and early!

So half seven this morning I found myself in Peter's car on the way to Watton. The shoot was at an industrial factory, where the 'largest electrical heater in the world' had been built. After several hours waiting while they moved the machine, which again I was no help with considering it was about a hundred times the size of me, we began actually shooting. It was really insightful seeing how many aspects were involved in an actual shoot, light, space, dealing with a client etc and also seeing how much work went in, in order to get a good amount of shots. FIVE hours later the job was complete! And now I'm back at GGS helping out in the office for the afternoon, making labels, sorting the post which was actually the highlight of my afternoon:L and writing this, while we listen to my ipod and discuss the new series of gossip girl..

Thursday was a day in the office, researching local competitors websites and exhibitors at upcoming exhibitions.

Thankyou to everyone here, you've all been so welcoming and really helped me in all the different areas of art and design, even if I've only taken in a fraction of everything you've taught me!