Where are they now?… Emma Hart

Where are they now...Emma Hart

Emma joined KhaoZ Media in 2009 during her second year studying Film and TV Production at York St John University. We had a chinwag with Emma as she completed her course in the build-up to her move from York to pursue her career.

KM] How did you get involved with KhaoZ Media? When was it and what were your first impressions?

EH] I got involved with KhaoZ Media on an off-chance, when I attended a friend’s barbecue, and I spoke to a friend of a friend who knew of Dave Fleming (of Inclusive Arts, our Project Manager) and that he might be able to provide work experience relating to film and TV production.

I e-mailed Dave, and was invited to a KhaoZ session. When I first came to a meeting about two years ago, everyone was very welcoming. On my first day, I was a sound recordist for a short film by Adam Stafford about boccia; I was so excited about the opportunities available through KhaoZ that within the first week I was helping editing footage from the York Theatre Take Over festival – talk about being dropped in the deep end!

KM] When you first joined, how did it appeal and where did you think it was going?

EH] When I first joined KhaoZ, it was very appealing to me as I was keen to improve my film-making skills and saw KhaoZ as an extra-curricular activity to my degree.

KM] What skills did you bring to the group and how do you think they contributed to the mix?

EH] I brought foundational editing ability, camera and sound skills, and I feel these skills where hugely developed at KhaoZ Media. I contributed energy and film-making skills to the group’s dynamic.

KM] What are your highlights and lowlights from your time with us?

EH] Highlights include teasing out stories from the York public at many of our vox pops days at Explore Library, attending a Volunteer Europe TV course building week in Germany as part of the Arts Action York team, and working with so many talented film and web-bloggers at Illuminating York and Live and Love York.

My big lowlight is having to stop volunteering at KhaoZ because I had to focus on my dissertation.

KM] Where did you get to go with the KhaoZ team and what did you do on your trip?

EH] I went to Münster to create training programmes to help media trainers teach production skills in their home countries.

KM] Do you think your involvement with KhaoZ Media helped shape or influence your future at all?

EM] KhaoZ Media has completely influenced my future. Without KhaoZ, I would not have developed confidence to interview members of the public, editing and film-making skills, as in my degree, you focused on one particular role in a group of ten to fifteen people.

At KhaoZ, you get to make films with one or two people so you get to learn and take responsibility for the whole process, which is something that, in these times of cutbacks, happens more and more in the television industry.

KM] Considering you were part of the group for some time and saw a lot of development – what advice would you give to someone wanting to get the most out of KhaoZ Media?

EH] The advice I would give is that, KhaoZ meets once a week but that one meeting is only 5% of what time that you could give because of filming, blogging, editing website updating what happens outside the meeting. Now, that seems a bit daunting, but it means that there is a an enormous amount of activates that can help anyone to learn and develop.

So, my advice to anyone on how would like to have a hobby or learn new skills or be part of something special is that for everything that you put in to KhaoZ, the knowledge and experience and the friendship will shower dividends.

KM] Tell us about yourself. What are you working on at the moment – is it what you expected and how does it compare to KhaoZ Media?

EH] At the moment, I have just finished my degree and in the next few weeks I am moving close to London to find a job.

KM] How would you describe KhaoZ Media in five words?

EH] “A place for the community.”

Everyone in KhaoZ Media would like to say a massive THANK YOU to Emma for the amazing work and strong dedication she has given to us in her time with the group – we’d like to wish you the best of luck for the future, and don’t forget to keep in touch when you move South!

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