Christina Lauridsen 

“I never thought that a degree was going to have so much of an impact on my life. On how many courses do people walk out of the classroom after 3 years straight into the ‘real world’ feeling like they could compete with any professional? That is what this course has given me.

Right after my degree, I did a placement at the BBC (set up by my tutors) for a month. I loved it, worked really hard and I ended up with a full researcher credit on a great BBC2 history and archive documentary.

After that I had to get a ‘real’ job… That’s when reality hits and it doesn’t matter how professional you feel. It’s a hard industry to get a good job in when you are inexperienced. Luckily I was asked by an ex-student, who graduated a few years ago to produce a short fiction film for him. It’s so good for morale to keep on making films even if you are not being paid. I guess that’s something I’ve taken with me from the he Documentary Course, always pushing to work harder and do more! It’s such a good habit to keep after leaving.

After a few weeks of applying for everything around, I got an interview for a job as freelance producer and director to make a film for Exeter City Football Club. 30 people applied, 4 got interviewed and I got it. The film was about the history of the club and its fans, celebrating how far they have come.

The feedback from the interview was that I was radically different.  A lot of the people who applied had worked in broadcast for years, but no one had films that could match the variation of films I had made in university. From my first film which included me dressing up as a drunk herring for a karaoke video of ‘What do we do with the drunken sailor?’, to a 30 minute film about travelling from London to Mongolia ( on vegetable oil) in a beat up Peugeot 106.  I was so proud to have produced films while being a student that could match what broadcasters get paid to do.

So on this film I became a film producer with a small budget and I even got to hire and pay people! Ex-students have backed me up and lent me equipment (cameras, sound, a crane and tracks) and I brought 6 ex-Documentary students to work with me, so we all benefited from this commission.

I still receive amazing support from the university, as if I was still a student there.”

This was in 2009. Since the Exeter football film, Christina’s career has continued to grow – but taking an interesting but potentially dangerous path! In early 2009 she was employed by a media company working in Kabul (Afghanistan) - we recently received this email:

On 13 Aug 2010, at 06:24, "It has been a long and warm summer and probably one of the hardest times I have ever experienced in my life working as a young, blond, foreign woman, TV producer in a Muslim, war-torn country!!!…The things I have had to deal with in my job blows my mind. But at the same time, the experience I’m gaining can’t be compared with anything else. When getting here I was put in charge of producing (as sole producer) a 15 part, TV drama for Afghan Television, to be aired nationally.

I’m very happy being here. I have learned more than I ever thought I would in just a few months. And to be honest, where else would I be? Being here now I realise this is what I’m meant to be doing!”

We wish you continued success Christina.