Where I am now
I am currently a second-year university student studying Digital Media Production. Throughout my journey so far, I have actively sought out opportunities to gain experience in the film and television industry, and I plan to continue doing so in the future.
Since starting my professional journey, I have worked with several organizations, including the RNLI, The Woodland Trust, Red Warrior, The Outdoor Partnership, The International Media Festival of Wales, and S4C Yr Egin. These experiences have given me valuable insights into the industry as a creative individual. I have even been offered additional work experiences by Yr Egin, which is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with a professional company in the creative sector.
Logo
Having a logo is essential for promoting yourself, your business, and your brand. I designed these logos using Canva, and I personally really like them as I believe they represent me and my work well. I chose to create two logos: the one at the top features an old-style camera and is intended for use on social media and websites, while the bottom logo, which displays just my name, is meant to be included at the beginning of my films or at the end of the credits. Additionally, I have PDF versions of the logos with the design in black to ensure they fit well on white backgrounds.
Website
As a creative individual, I firmly believe that having a professional website is essential for effectively conveying my brand to potential clients. A well-designed website not only allows me to showcase my portfolio, highlighting the diverse range of projects I've completed and worked on, but also provides insights into the various organizations I have collaborated with. This visibility demonstrates my professionalism and reflects my unique style of work, making a strong impression on potential employers. Also, the website serves as a vital platform for marketing my skills and services, especially as I transition into freelance work.
I believe having a website is essential for me at this time. However, I am not currently connecting with industry professionals through this platform. I need to continue showcasing my work on other platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where I am successfully connecting with industry professionals and gaining a following. My work is being viewed on these platforms. In the meantime, I will continue to develop my website, as I hope it will eventually showcase everything I have to offer and help me secure future employment.
Building a personal brand
My passion enables me to actively engage in every aspect of the filmmaking process, which is shown in all of my projects, including short films, documentaries, and promotional videos. I have skills in various areas such as sound, lighting, camera operation, video editing, and directing. Recently, I rebranded my business from Creative Media Productions to Kimberley Skeels Productions. This name change was a deliberate choice to make it more personal. By using my own name, I aimed to add a personal touch and convey to viewers and potential employers who I am and what I have to offer. My online presence spans several platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and my website. These platforms serve as a dynamic showcase for my work, featuring my portfolio, projects I have worked on, and clients I have collaborated with.
Building my brand
BTS
Crossroads project
RNLI project
S4C Yr Egin project
Behind the scenes (BTS) content is essential for promoting my brand and my identity as a filmmaker. In this section, you can see me taking on various roles on a film set, which demonstrates my active engagement in the field. I've added a BTS section to my website because I believe it effectively showcases my work as a filmmaker. This section allows potential clients and employers to view the projects I've worked on, the diverse roles I've undertaken, and my skills across different areas and departments within the creative industries.
Social media
Instagram has become an essential tool for me to showcase my work and connect with a broader audience. It has not only allowed me to display my portfolio to many people but has also helped me network with industry professionals and organizations and also allows me promote myself as a filmmaker. This exposure is crucial for me as I enter such a competitive field. When I send my CV, I often include a link to my Instagram page. This allows potential employers to visually explore my work, understand my brand, and see my connections, which I believe really helps going into the creative industry.
“Marketing often means connecting with your target audience where they’re already active and Instagram is a great place to do just that. The platform has more than 2 billion monthly users worldwide, offering businesses a vast audience with which to share engaging photos and videos. It also offers selling tools that enable customers to buy directly on the platform, providing businesses with an extra digital point of sale” (Why your business should be on Instagram 2025).
Reading this article has been very insightful for me, as it has helped me understand more about promoting my brand through social media. I learned that regularly posting is crucial for growing your brand's following. Additionally, utilising reels attracts more views, which, in turn, brings more people to your page. One final takeaway from this article is the ability to schedule posts and reels. This feature allows you to maintain a consistent posting schedule without having to devote extra time to engage with the platform actively. This is something going forward I will try to engage with
LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for engaging with industry professionals. I've had an account for quite a while, but I only started actively using the platform over the past year. By engaging with placement opportunities and attending guest talks, I was able to connect with various industry professionals, these experiences have allowed me to meet some amazing people and gain advice from them.
Networking is crucial in the creative industries as it gives you the chance to showcase your skills, attitude, and work ethic. These factors can often determine whether you secure a job or not.
One of the connections i have is Sam Higgins, who is a professional Director of Photography (DOP). I attended a guest talk he gave, and during the event, I asked him if I could connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. Through this interaction, I was able to arrange a meeting with him on Teams, where we discussed his experiences in the industry and he provided me with advice on how I can break into the field.
YouTube
I don't post on YouTube very often, but I want to start doing so more regularly, as it will help me showcase my projects to a wider audience. Currently, I primarily upload my films for submission purposes. My YouTube channel features two public films: a documentary about the RNLI and a short film titled "Crossroads." Most of my other films are unlisted because they either can't be shared yet or I don’t think they are good enough. However, moving forward, I plan to continue growing my YouTube channel to enhance and support my brand.
PDP - 2023
Personally, I’m still unclear on the specifics of my future goal because the creative media industry is such a broad industry with an extensive range of job roles across the industry as a whole. Although a very broad goal of mine is for when I finish my degree is for me to be working on film sets. Working on film sets has been a dream and goal of mine for a very long time and still is. Although I don’t know the exact roll yet the thought of it fills me with excitement.
Where am I now?
I am currently a first-year Undergraduate Degree student, studying Digital Media Production.
What am I good at?
I believe currently I have basic video camera skills, although I believe that I have good photography camera skills. Got A-level qualifications in Art and Design and Media Studies which has allowed me to become more knowledgeable in film, television and gaming theory, and also photoshop and digital design. I have good direct communication skills. I also have basic understanding of lighting and how that portrays a different emotion.
How do I get there?
These are the steps I am going to take to eventually achieve my goal. While I’m studying, I want to take up as many opportunities as I possibly can, I believe this will be a great way for me to gain experience and get my name out there. I already have a professional Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn account where I display my creative work, which is something I will continue to develop to promote my work. Instagram and Facebook I have found to already be very useful as it allows me to promote my work and get my name out there. LinkedIn is also extremely useful because you can interact with other like minded people which would be a great opportunity to gain work placement and experience. Although LinkedIn learning is a great opportunity and is something I'm currently doing to help me understand different terminology to not just help me with my assignments in the second semester but also to help me communicate with industry professionals as well. I want to pass my degree with a good grade that I will be proud of, for when I pass my degree and also while studying, I want to gain work placement and internships to help me get my foot in the door. Also ask my lectures for advice, suggestions and support. Finally I will convey my work, thoughts and ideas to colleagues and other industry professionals.
What do I need to work on?
I’m quite a nervous and shy person which makes speaking in front of people a bit challenging which is something I need to work on. Building confidence. Improving my Photoshop, Lightroom and Premier pro skills. Also improving my camera knowledge and skills. Also I believe that I need to continue practicing my presentation skills as I don’t think I will ever really like presenting but as I keep practicing I believe I will become less nervous which will help me for not just in university but after university as well. Also a way of getting over those fears and building up my confidence is by throwing myself into as many opportunities as a can in various job roles. I believe that this will help me gain confidence in myself and my skills but also help me gain connections with industry professionals.
What could stop me?
I’m quite a nervous and shy person which makes speaking in front of people a bit challenging. I lack confidence in myself and my skills. I’m not a natural leader which means taking charge I find quite scary. Finally, money, money to get to locations, equipment and other expenses.
PDP - 2025
I have found a passion for scripted films and studio-based productions with a hope and dream to work on productions like Casualty and Dr Who, etc someday. I found I enjoy a whole range of roles on set but my favourite role and the one I want to go into the most is working behind the camera, whether it be as the cinematographer or camera operator.
Where am I now?
I am currently a Second-year undergraduate degree student, studying Digital Media Production.
What am I good at?
I have a strong work ethic, a keen willingness to learn about all areas of the industry, and a desire to explore different roles within it. Throughout my degree, I have gained skills in all aspects of the filmmaking process. This includes everything from developing the initial idea, health and safety and ethical considerations, to storyboarding, location scouting, collaborating as part of a crew, working as a self-shooter on some of my projects, and contributing to the editing process.
How do I get there?
Here are the steps I plan to take to achieve my goal. While studying, I want to take up as many opportunities as possible, as I believe this will be a great way to gain experience and establish my presence in the industry. I currently have professional accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where I showcase my creative work, and I will continue to develop these platforms to promote my projects.
I have found Instagram and Facebook to be particularly useful for promoting my work and raising my profile. LinkedIn is also extremely beneficial, as it allows me to connect with like-minded professionals, which presents a valuable opportunity for securing work placements and gaining experience.
My goal is to graduate with a degree mark that I can be proud of. In addition to my studies, I aim to gain work placements and internships to help me get my foot in the door. Finally, I plan to share my work, thoughts, and ideas with colleagues and other industry professionals.
What do I need to work on?
I am focused on improving my skills in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro, as well as enhancing my camera knowledge and abilities. I also recognise the importance of practicing my presentation skills. Even though I don’t particularly enjoy presenting, I believe that with continued practice, I will become less nervous. This will not only benefit me during my time at university, but also in my future career.
What could stop me?
I am much more confident than I used to be, however, this is a skill I need to continue developing in the future. There are many resources available to support me, such as placement opportunities and financial aid. Organisations like Screen Alliance Wales and Screen Skills can help me overcome financial barriers.
CV
I have had a CV for a while now but through doing this project I have been able to enhance my CV that is appropriate for the industry I’m going into. I split my CV into sections from experiences, qualifications and skills I believe that it is really important that your CV is clear and easy to understand especially as the creative industry is a very competitive industry and employers receive many CVs. Within my experiences and skills, I have chosen to leave my previous and current job being a waitress and working within the hospitality sector. I have chosen to leave this in because it shows future employers that I have good people skills, organisational skills, communication skills, etc as these soft skills are vital within all job sectors.
2025 To do list
Create a professional showreel that showcases my best work along with behind-the-scenes footage of me in the field.
Regularly posting to promote my website and social media will enhance my online presence.
Continue networking with industry professionals on LinkedIn and organizations like Yr Egin and Media to Motion.
Attend more film festivals and submit my work to them to share it with a larger audience.
Plans for the future
My plans for the future involve continuing to build my brand and promote myself as a filmmaker. I aim to develop my social media presence, expand my network, and enhance my technical skills. I will seek out as many opportunities as possible to improve my abilities and connect with industry professionals.
In the next ten years, I envision having a business that allows me to promote myself as a freelance filmmaker. Additionally, I want to work on professional film and TV sets, while also pursuing photography on the side.
Bibliography
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Cinematography Showreel Samuel Higgins Director of Photography 2024 (2025) YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/o6w_UZUdq1o?si=CZB6K4DHSN8IA_Lp (Accessed: 16 March 2025).
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Samuel Higgins - director of Photography (2025) Samuel Higgins - Director of Photography. Available at: https://samhiggins.uk/ (Accessed: 16 March 2025).
Samuel Higgins Videography Showreel 2024 (2025) YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/d4-o8CYhXyU?si=4w90CuOqzbnwqH91 (Accessed: 16 March 2025).
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( Skeels, K. Private Collection.)
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