SAMI KHAN - Designer/Art Director
Credits include: "This is Real - Asher D" (Designer, Promo), "Exhibit A" (Designer, Feature), "Mischief Night" (Feature, Art Director), "Faith" (TV Drama, Art Director)
Sami completed training at FT2 in 2001 as an Art Department Assistant.
He explains what he had done before applying to FT2:
"Since my teens I had been keen to work in the media – never really sure on the field I should enter or what would suit me – all I knew was that the idea of making television programmes was something that appealed to me – even though at that age I had no real idea on what it entailed! During my GCSEs and A-Levels I applied for work experience at lots of different media outlets – newspapers, magazines, television and film companies – from maybe fifty letters I was offered a couple of weeks on a paper in North Manchester. However I still struggled to get support from my family regarding a media career – to this end I then followed my next love at University – Psychology. The degree completed I still yearned for my media career and thought about my next step. I returned to Manchester and started helping out at a local radio station, shortly after this I successfully applied to complete a MA in Media Production – and through this course gained more experience working on television and radio productions. Towards the end of my masters the standard of my work began to tail off – my heart wasn’t in it – I was still trying to fight the desire to go and make feature films – go and work on films that were destined for the big screen – to work in the industry of make believe and entertainment. Around that time I was also required to complete a final long 6 week placement - I started to phone around. Much to my amazement I was asked to attend an interview for a trainee position. In the interview all my experience across various businesses and fields, my educational background – even my personal skills seemed to count for nothing – there was one interviewer there who was most interested in the last item on my CV – my experience in painting and decorating! It later transpired he was the Production designer – and he took me on to work with the construction department. I had the hardest 12 weeks of my life – solid 16 – 18 hour days – but they trusted me and I had never felt so excited by going to work – I knew that I had found my field – a career to feed my passion.
I was lucky in that I saw the entire process from the day when we first took keys to the main location to the last day when I locked up. I had been involved in the whole process – the build, the decoration, the buying, standby and the reinstatement and strike. After that I completed a few other projects when I was told about FT2. I applied not thinking I would need the course – and wasn’t really interested in relocating to London – I was becoming established in Birmingham – surely this would be a backwards move. I was offered an interview – much to my surprise and much to the pleasure of the media professionals around me at the time. I think it was only then that I realized what an opportunity I had. It was then that I really really fully understood what FT2 is all about."
Sami comments on the FT2 training:
"Here is a chance for trainees to go out and work on productions, with qualified professionals, and build up an unparalleled base of contacts. They train you in various things – core skills you might say – interpersonal skills, networking, health and safety and technical drawing(for art department) for example. And when you are working there is a structured system of learning in that you try and learn something new on every job – you actively expand your knowledge base – you aim with their help to learn as much as you can as quickly as you can. In addition to this you also will do placements across all other training grades – you will do edit, camera, sound and production in addition to anything else – the insight and understanding that this gives you into the whole process –how different departments must work together efficiently is invaluable. You are supported and cared for by a team that genuinely cares and understand the pressures and strains that you are working under. Quite simply I realized that there is nothing in this country that even remotely approaches the scheme – film school for example will never ever give you this huge range of experience. I honestly believe that FT2 is unparalleled to any other scheme offered in the United Kingdom."
He warns new trainees:
"The scheme will prove to be the toughest thing you have ever done in your life! If you find it easy – leave now and join the special forces – your country needs you! It really is like nothing else you will ever experience. You will work alongside some of the most skilled technicians in the world – on small television soaps to maybe huge budget feature films. And yes there is a small training allowance – help with travel expenses – and potentially childcare support – but it is only that, a training allowance – it doesn’t go anywhere near leaving you enough money to buy fancy trainers or the latest designer gear. It’s a test of your commitment as much as anything else. You will have to live on barely minimum wage for nearly 2 years, working with over inflated egos sometimes, long long hours, won’t see your loved ones sometimes for long periods and all the time you’re on the bottom rung. Oh, and all in one of the most expensive cities in the world!!
The industry is also predominatly white, male and middle class – it can be a very lonely place at times if you don’t fit in to the expectation of this by the people around you. And this is much tougher to face when you don’t have that support structure around you – the team at FT2 are there to support and advise you every step of the way.
There is no nine to five here – its pure drive, commitment and desire – if you want it you can get it – but be under no illusions – its super tough. The pressure in this industry can be immense – there are always deadlines to be met, sets to prepare, edits to finalise – it can be unrelenting – but from a personal perspective there is no more satisfying job. You could even say its more a way of life than a job."
Sami explains what happened once he had completed training at FT2:
"Since completing FT2 in early 2001 I have completed a variety of projects – projects of different budgets, themes and historical periods – from medieval to contemorary and everything in between! I worked primarily as a stand by Art Director when leaving FT2, and then progressed to supervising Art Director before most recently progressing to Production Design. In addition to several promos this year I have also recently completed my first feature film as Production Designer – the most challenging role I have ever had – but the most satisfying! And my learning is still continuing – there are many things that I have experienced as a Designer that I never had to deal with as an art director – but my training has stood me in good stead.
The longer I am in the industry the more grateful I am for the blessing I have had being able to complete the FT2 training scheme. While I still have absolute confidence that I would have made a mark in the industry without their help they helped me progress very very quickly maybe 5-7 years in advance of the normal route. This impact and help cannot be underestimated."
