About the role

​

Can you tell us a bit about your role as Film & Media Officer at BASE and what a typical week looks like for you?

 

I’ve greatly enjoyed my role as Film & Media Officer so far. For a typical week, I’d work most mornings on various assigned editing tasks, such as promotional videos for BASE or compiling together and working with the filmed footage for BASE’s upcoming documentary, or if no tasks are given, I would practice my editing through training modules for DaVinci Resolve or through creating my own edits.

 

What were your expectations coming into this role, and how has the experience compared so far?

 

I didn’t have expectations for the role at first, as I had initially joined BASE as a participant, unaware of any potential job prospects, and it was a few months after joining BASE that I was offered an employee role. However, upon becoming Film & Media Officer, I can say that the role has exceeded any expectations I would have had, as it is a creative role that allows me to use my strengths.

 

Development & skills

 

What new skills have you developed since starting with BASE, particularly in film, editing, or media production?

 

Since starting with BASE, I’ve been further developing my editing skills, particularly my understanding of the editing software DaVinci Resolve, and how to apply it more effectively to my editing projects. I’ve also been improving my filming skills, especially regarding operating a camera, setting up lighting equipment, and on location shooting. Furthermore, I’ve also been developing my art skills, with a growing portfolio of digital drawings for BASE to advertise and eventually sell.

 

How has working with tools like cameras and editing software (e.g. DaVinci Resolve) helped build your confidence?

 

Through working with these tools over the course of my work, especially with DaVinci Resolve and camerawork, I’ve become increasingly proficient with them, which has directly correlated with me becoming more accustomed to how they work, and by extension, my confidence in knowing how to operate them.

 

What has been your favourite project or piece of work you've been involved in so far?

 

Probably my favourite project I’ve made so far while working for BASE would be the music video I created, titled The Chosen One, to practice with my editing skills in DaVinci Resolve, in which I took the music video One by Metallica, but inserted footage from the Star Wars films so that the lyrics of the song would apply to Darth Vader.

 

Working environment & support

 

How have you found working at BASE as an autistic professional – has the environment helped you feel supported and included?

 

As an autistic professional, the environment, which has been built with people with autism in mind, has definitely helped me to feel supported and included. Working at BASE, I’m treated the same as the other participants, and there is a supportive, positive atmosphere amongst the group, as well as a strong sense of being part of a community.

 

What has David been like as a mentor or manager, and how has his support helped your development?

 

David has been an incredibly supportive and flexible mentor and manager. I get along very well with him, his feedback with my work and my ideas has been encouraging, he’s been accommodating with my work hours, and his support overall has greatly helped my development in the area of film and media, by giving me the opportunity to improve my skills in that area.

 

Impact & reflection

 

Do you feel this role has helped you grow personally as well as professionally?

 

In what ways? I feel that this role has very much helped me to grow both personally and professionally, in terms of improving my social skills by making friends with the other participants at BASE, many of whom I have a lot in common, and in terms of giving me a structured, yet flexible work routine to help me better plan out my days in the week.

 

How does it feel knowing your work is helping tell the stories of other autistic and neurodivergent individuals?

 

I would say that the knowledge that my work is helping a worthwhile cause feels good, as it in turn makes the work itself feel worthwhile, which then serves as an effective motivator for me to carry on with the work to the best of my ability.

 

Looking ahead What are your goals moving forward, and how has this role helped you get closer to them?

 

Going forward, I would like to eventually get into the filmmaking industry, either through NI Screens or through making my own films. The way in which this role has helped me to get closer to that goal is by giving me hands-on filmmaking experience in the directorial role of helping to create a documentary for BASE. The pipeline of creating this documentary will help me to improve in the skills necessary for film production, such as the use of film equipment, directing actors during the filming process, and compiling together the raw footage to transform it into a cohesive documentary.