Sarah Waldron was part of the panel at Watersprite‘s stimulating and well-attended “So you want to make documentaries?” workshop. Armed with a masters degree in communications and determined to work in the media, Sarah’s first job was as a runner for TOMORROW NEVER DIES. Now the Series Producer for the BBC Two strand This World, she spoke to us in Cambridge about her career path.
“Be pushy, but with charm,”
“Be pushy, but with charm,” is Waldron’s advice to anyone trying to break into the industry. Like many media graduates, she sent out countless CVs to as many companies as she could think of, but also took a more personal approach. Whenever she viewed an interesting documentary, she would contact the director with an analytical review of their work. What filmmaker can resist an enthusiastic critic?
The lure of the big movie set ended in disappointment – she wanted more autonomy and creative input.”I didn’t want to work as a small cog in a big wheel,” says Waldron. “There were three hundred people in the crew every day, and each one played a tiny but important part. I wanted more control.” She wanted to tell real stories, “getting inside people’s heads and looking at their motivation – how life changes people.” She was asked to be a researcher at an independent production company on a documentary for Channel Four, which she instantly loved – and stayed on for four years. “ I knew from then on documentary was what I wanted to do.” Working in the independent sector, she also worked on projects including Panorama at the BBC, where she found her niche in Current Affairs.
“You have to sacrifice a lot. It’s not a job, it’s a vocation – but a very rewarding one.”
Now that she had a foothold in the inspiring and challenging world of documentary, Waldron spent 5 years working her way up to be a Director. “The first project I directed was one that no-one else wanted,” says Waldron. At other times, she’d be sent in to a story blind – for instance, on the documentary The Man With 20 Kids. Naturally it turned out to be so much more than a jolly story about fatherhood – Mike Hoplin had a complex and turbulent lifestyle, and the documentary revealed far more about poverty in the Welsh valleys than it did about the joys of a large family. “Interrogate what someone asks you to do,” warns Waldron – “Question before you commit”.
Although goalposts are bound to move in the early stages of any media career, Waldron’s momentum propelled her up the ladder from runner to Researcher, Assistant Producer, Producer, Director, and finally Series Producer. There are few glass ceilings for women in the television industry – many of the BBC channels have had female controllers. Working on a project, there is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the subject, you meet incredible people, broaden your horizons and learn a great deal about the world. “But you have to sacrifice a lot,” warns Waldron. “I’ve missed friends’ weddings and more social events than I care to remember. You have to sacrifice a lot. It’s not a job, it’s a vocation, but a very rewarding one.”
If this has whet your appetite for a career in documentary filmmaking, have a look at these USEFUL LINKS:
The Channel 4 commissioning website
The Pact Directory – detailed information about UK independent producers and distributors