Rupert Shanks gave me a shout to head down to Lanarkshire to film a series of events for the Scottish Government’s Future Pathways programme. Across several days, we were based between Hamilton Townhouse and Lanark Memorial Hall, capturing a wide range of creative workshops designed to open young people’s eyes to potential career paths.

The project brought together a strong crew, with myself, Mike Webster, Jordan Summers and Andy Brown on cameras, while Rupert directed remotely. It was a great mix of people, and a genuinely enjoyable few days on the job. I hadn’t worked with Andy before, but he was a solid addition to the team, and it’s always good working alongside Mike and Jordan. I did a bit of drone of the buildings too.

The aim of the events was to introduce school pupils to opportunities within the creative industries. From dance and performance to VR, sound production and design, there was a real variety of sessions running throughout the days. We spent a good amount of time filming Twin City, a pair of twin brothers leading high-energy dance workshops and getting everyone involved. Their sessions had a great atmosphere and really brought the event to life on camera.

Alongside that, there were VR demonstrations, group discussions, and hands-on activities where pupils could try things out for themselves. It felt less like a traditional careers event and more like an immersive experience, giving a proper insight into what working in these industries can actually look like.

It was also good to catch up with Keren, who I’ve worked with on a number of previous projects. Having familiar faces on a job always adds to the experience, especially when everything is moving at a fairly quick pace across multiple locations.

Overall, it was a really positive shoot. The pupils seemed fully engaged and genuinely excited by what they were seeing and trying. It’s the kind of project that reminds you there’s a lot more out there than people might initially think, especially when it comes to creative careers.