Script Supervisor course article

Throughout 2021, Screen Alliance Wales spotted several skills gaps and demand for certain roles in the Film and TV Industry so we decided to hold multiple, free, courses and sessions designed to help and educate people in these areas.  In May of last year, we invited Sue Jeffries from Sgil Cymru to host a virtual Script Supervisor Course, aimed at those already working in the industry who were interested in branching out into another area of media work.

The script supervisor’s role is vital within TV and Film and comes with a wide range of responsibilities. Not only must they pay attention to the smallest of details to ensure continuity on set is maintained, but they must also log any changes throughout filming. To read more about what happened on the course, you can read our article published last year here.

We caught up with some participants, Rebs and Edward, who took part in the three sessions, to see how the course went and where they are now.  

Rebs Fisher-Jackson

“I’d wanted to train as a script supervisor for almost two years whilst working in production, but I wasn’t sure how to (and books only helped so much in learning how to do script supervisor paperwork!). I was thrilled to see the SAW/Sgil Cymru course advertised, and really enjoyed its balance between guided learning and hands-on activities, and I learned so much from Sue! By the end of the course, I felt confident doing master breakdowns and timing scripts on my own, and the networking opportunities that came from Sue have hugely impacted my career for the better. Six months on, and I’ve been in near constant work as a script supervisor and learning more new skills every day! The fundamentals that the course provided me were exactly what I needed to step-up in the role, and I’ve since found myself supervising TV stunts, Welsh language shorts, and even fantasy languages!  I couldn’t be more thankful to SAW and Sgil Cymru for providing this course and helping me to finally kick-start my script supervision career!”

Edward Russell

“I really enjoyed the course – it was friendly and fun, but I learned an enormous amount with minimal homework. I came away ready to step on to a set and carry out some work experience as a Script Supervisor – fully aware of the role and the requirements. It was a good grounding in what the role requires and what would be expected for me to learn when I had a chance to carry out some work experience. I feel it was best for someone who already has floor experience. Sue, our tutor, really made sure everyone was engaged and had such a strong insight into the role – as well as some great anecdotes! After a placement with a production, I have been able to take on some Script Supervisor roles. Given my long experience in drama, it hasn’t taken long for me to get up and running and I’m already working on some big, international dramas.”

We are thrilled to see that the course helped both Edward and Rebs find work as Script Supervisors within the industry.  We wish them both the best of luck with their careers and are so pleased we could play a part in helping them on their way.  A huge thank you to Sue from Sgil Cymru for hosting the course and imparting her wisdom, knowledge and experience to our participants. We hope to hold similar courses in the near future, so make sure to check out our website and our social media channels for all our latest news and updates.

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