Final day of work experience

Day 5

 

Today was my last day. I started an hour earlier then usual and finished an hour early to make it a full day. I had to finish off the final touches in the office from which I started. Randomly, as I was working Andrew appeared informing us we were heading to Ardmore studios. This was very unexpected as it was not near where we were but spiked my curiosity. Ardmore studios is only up the road from where I live and yet I had never been. It was great to finally go inside the place I drive past at least twice a day! The studios were smaller then Ashford but still very impressive to say the least.

When we got there Andrew had a meeting and I got to look around at the set.

We got back to Ashford in time for lunch, seeing as it was Friday I treated myself to curry chips and a free coffee.

Over all I'm ecstatic with how the week has gone I've learnt so much and I am very interested in the type of work I tried.

I liked the fact that there’s no uniform and people can wear what they want. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed although the women really like gossiping and talking. I’d never heard so much gossiping at one time!

Over all, it was a great week. I would like to go back and be an extra. I’ve done that before for Love/Hate and that’s brilliant because I got paid. I’d definitely go back if I was allowed. Thanks to all the crew at The Ashford Studio for making me feel welcome.

Day4 of work experience

Day 4

 

Due to the treacherous weather conditions all scenes were cancelled and I was given the day off. Storm Desmond caused a lot of hassle! I was a bit disappointed because I was supposed to go to the night filming where they were going to do a battle scene with horses. They had loads of fake blood ordered and it was meant to take place in Spain. Due to the wind and rain, it wouldn’t have looked authentic so they had to cancel. I can go back in the new year, which I would love to do.

Day 3 or work experience

Day 3

 

Today I left the office and spent the day on set on location at the Ashford studios. I got to meet loads of actors such as Alexander Ludwig, Travis Fimmel and Kathryn Winnick. I felt really privileged to be in a position to witness live filming.

They only did one take of each scene. There were two people involved in direction and two actors on set. There was no director’s chair there – the main director stood up all the time. It was just the actor sitting on a boat shouting to another actor. It’ll be interesting to see where they place this scene when it goes to film. Maybe they’ll be out on the ocean.

I enjoyed being able to see first hand how the special effects and lighting was done and it was a remarkable experience to say the least. But there’s a lot more standing around than I’d realized.

Day 2 of work experience

Day 2

 

Today I worked from noon until four once again. I wish school was on for those hours too. It’s amazing- I get a lie in and get home early.

I was given a guided tour of the whole set. It’s huge. I was surprised to see that it was real. I imagined it would be made of cardboard and wouldn’t look like a real Viking village. But it’s incredible. There’s streets, houses and bridges and they all look completely real – probably because they were. The roofs on the houses were real and they were proper houses that people could actually live in if they put in heating and lights.

There were specific streets for certain scenes. I saw a Paris street and street made to look like Madrid. It’s mad to think that around the corner are offices and loads of cars parked and this isn’t a real place.

Next I saw how the makeup and hair is done. This wasn’t special effects make up, just the normal stuff that most girls would own.

Then I was shown the lighting and how it all works. The lights technician was really busy so I couldn’t really ask him too many questions. Next I was allowed to see the special effects and facial and hair sculptures area. I took a photo, which I’ll post below.

They make actual heads for the scenes where someone is beheaded. These heads are so real looking and they add real hair and lashes for extra affect. It’s impossible to tell that these fabricated heads aren’t real.

Day 1 of work experience

I did my week of work experience on the set of the show called ‘The Vikings.’ The set is based in Ashford studios in Wicklow.

 

Day 1

 

On the first day I arrived at noon where I was greeted by a man named Andrew. I was working for Andrew in the office. Andrew works full time in the production offices as a manager. I assisted him for the morning by helping him with paper work and sorting out files. I was one of the lucky ones because I had my own office.

At one o’clock I was given a lunch break where I met up with one of my friends from school who was also taking part in work experience. We went to the canteen where I saw the Vikings trying to get free coffee! They gave us tips on how to get coffee for free instead of paying €2. It was so strange to see a bunch of Vikings in a huge modern canteen eating and drinking.

There was a lot of stuff on offer for lunch, everything from wraps, vegetarian options and soup. I had chips – none of the Vikings did though.

After lunch I went back to my office where I continued with the filing I’d been doing that morning.

This was my first day so I didn't get to go on set