How did you know you wanted to get into Filmmaking?

I’d always watched travel films and creative videos online, and they really inspired me. The creativity and artistry behind them grabbed my attention from the start. I’ve always been a huge fan of movies, so filmmaking felt like a natural fit for me.

Did you choose your course with a specific role in mind?

I knew I wanted to work behind the camera — either as a videographer or a director of photography. I also wanted to continue doing video editing and similar work on the side. I find both areas fascinating, and they complement each other really well. Studying filmmaking helped confirm that this was exactly what I wanted to do.

What are you doing now? How has life after graduation been?

It’s been an interesting journey. I did a lot of freelance work while I was still at university, which helped me build skills quickly. Now, I’m at a point where I can offer a range of services, which is a great position to be in. Businesses and contractors can hire me for different types of work. Recently, I’ve started offering colourist services — colour grading on top of editing and filming — which opens up even more opportunities.

What parts of your course have benefited your work the most?

The cinematography classes definitely played a huge role in getting me to where I am now. My tutor gave great advice and really made me think about the kind of work I wanted to create. I learned so much about lighting, something I didn’t fully understand before, and how dramatically it can change a scene. I use those lighting skills all the time now. I was shooting a music video recently and used a £10 backdrop and a single light to create something that looked completely different from what you’d expect. It turned out amazing and really showed me how far those skills can take you.

How have you benefited from Beckett Careers support?

I used Beckett Careers during my third year. My path from leaving third year was really risky as I didn’t have a place to go back to once leaving but Careers Advice gave me the confidence to make my own path and for it to work out!

Speaking with the Careers Advisor helped me plan my next steps and made the transition from university to working life much smoother. I had one to one appointments to talk about my situation, where I wanted to go, and to get general advice.

By my second or third year, I was already freelancing full time, so I didn’t need much CV support — I already had a website and portfolio. Most of my work comes from word of mouth and networking. I do a huge amount of networking, and building genuine friendships in the industry has helped get my name out there. I also do some cold calling outreach, though it’s not as effective. Being able to offer a wide range of skills definitely helps attract more clients too.

What does the future look like for you?

It’s exciting. I’m at a point where things could go in a lot of different directions, all of them positive. Recently, my automotive filming work has really taken off and is getting a lot of attention on social media.

There’s even a chance I could be filming Formula One at Silverstone in the next couple of years, you never know. I could end up travelling the world doing this kind of work. The sky really is the limit.

Last summer, my mate and I worked on a spec project that reflects how we usually approach our productions. We start by shooting the primary content, the high quality horizontal film that forms the core of the project. Once that’s complete, we repurpose it into social formats. That project ended up getting just under 5 million views in about six weeks!

What top tips would you give someone starting out to improve their employability?

My biggest piece of advice is to choose a career path that lets you work on projects you genuinely enjoy. Use those projects to push yourself and learn new skills. Reach out to local creatives and agencies to shadow or assist them. You’ll learn so much about how they work and how you can apply those lessons to your own projects if you want to go freelance.

At one point, I only wanted to make travel videos, which I still love, but my interests have expanded massively. For example, I never planned to get into automotive filming, but now I absolutely love it.

Is there a project you’re most proud of?

The Manthey’s Fury project from last summer is probably the one I’m most proud of. I’m also proud of my overall progression and the challenges I’ve overcome. Going from studying to freelancing full time is not an easy task, and something I’m really proud of. Over the past month I’ve worked with Monster Energy, Slicks Magazine, Geely, Theakston, JCB and Pringles.

If you’d like to see my work, visit my website at louischarlesworth.com and follow me on Instagram @louis.visual and TikTok @louis.creative for updates and behind the scenes content.