I came to the UK in 2015 with a determination to do my masters in documentary directing at NFTS and pave my way into the British film industry. Easier said than done. I was 43, married and a parent to two beautiful children.
I was at the brink of quitting my studies just before my final project
The Film and Television Charity Family Support Fund arrived at a crucial time. At the very beginning of 2016 I was struggling to make two ends meet. The film school tuition devoured most of our family savings and I was at the brink of quitting my studies just before my final project – my graduation movie.
It afforded me the necessary time, a bit of comfort and the ability to concentrate
Securing three months of my youngest child’s nursery fees enabled me to carry on with my graduation film. It afforded me the necessary time, a bit of comfort and the ability to concentrate on my project. As a result, I successfully shot it and gained great feedback. The Why will be screened in London at the end of Feb and I hope this will be the beginning it’s festival run.
Words cannot describe how grateful I am to the Film and Television Charity Raising Films Family Support Fund: they showed empathy, minimised the paper work and used their resources to almost immediately help me out.
Thank you so much. You are great and doing a wonderful job!
If you have found yourself in a caring position and in need of financial assistance to bridge a pay gap. The Film and Television Charity Family Support Fund could help you. It is open to parent/carer professionals working in Film/TV/Exhibition and will contribute up to £75 a day towards the cost of caring arrangements, up to a maximum amount of £1,500 per beneficiary/per annum.
For more information and how to apply click here.
Learn more about how FTC support can transform your work/life by reading our testimonials from screenwriter and carer Pete Jordi Wood, mum and production coordinator Kerri Burbidge artist and filmmaker Rosie Toner and director/screenwriter Joe McStravick
