The film industry has always been known for how hard it is to access and get a job. Arain Pascoe, an up-and-coming young actor and filmmaker from South Wales spoke to me about barriers that she has faced in trying to get into the film industry.
In recent years, there has been opportunities come available for young people. However, there are barriers that still exist. At 24 years old and still relatively new to the industry Arian has a broad and talented portfolio. She has worked on multiple films and television shows some produced by herself and companies as notable as the BBC. However, she has consistently struggled to get paid, being offered the value of experience instead of a job.
Arian is a truly hard-working person which shines through her positivity despite difficulties she has faced. She is proudly Welsh and working class. Telling me of some of her personal troubles and adding that she was in a homeless shelter by herself from the age of 16. Describing that she ‘worked my ass off in college so I can get into uni.’ Her story is inspirational. Despite any difficulties she remained determined to succeed taking on every opportunity she can. However, the barrier to progressing from experience to paid work remains for her and others in the industry. Arian was open with her experiences welcoming me into a conversation with a smile despite the frustration underneath.
She also embraces her ADHD, autism and dyslexia. It is inspiring how confident she is to be unapologetically herself while still facing difficulty in other people’s ignorance. She adds that “I wouldn't say they're much of a challenge because it's who I am, and I embrace who I am, but they definitely have a lot of play when it comes to the industry.”
She graduated for University of South Wales in 2023 where she studied performance and media. Learning the skills to work in front of and behind the camera. During University she worked with ‘It’s My Shout’ as an extra and a runner. They specialise in giving opportunities to young people trying to get into the industry.
Arian openly supports ‘It’s My Shout’ and their work in making the industry more accessible as she continues to work for them now. She explained how “they let people from different backgrounds have an opportunity to do work experience, which is fantastic.” In 2023, during Arians last year at university she received an award for best runner with them and this year she has been nominated again for assistant/runner. She also has been collaborating with them on a disability unit talking about how to support and offer correct representation for people who are neurodivergent. She shared that she wishes there was more accessibility and opportunities for young people in the industry.
Since then, she has continued to work in the industry as an extra, runner and as an assistant director. From this she continued to make connections with people including the BBC working on television programmes and local documentaries. However, she is still yet to find the job offering to pay her for her time.
She shared her frustration that she felt some people take advantage of young people’s need for experiencing. Explaining; “They know that young people like me or you, will work for free, because it is the only way we can get our foot through the door.”
Arian shares added annoyance that despite her degree training her in the industry and her experience she is still struggling. ‘I got a degree for a reason, because I worked really hard. And I won awards for what I did for a reason because I work really hard, and I'm passionate. So, it's just that point now where it is time to get paid. It's been almost a year since I've left uni and I still haven't had one paying job from my experience.’
It is clear she is frustrated and disappointed that a year after university she is still working for experience. It is confusing that she has the training, experience, and qualifications but like many young people in the industry, she remains unpaid. Arian has a wide and talented portfolio for someone so young and new to the industry. Many students, especially creatives, have faced the same problem of feeling taken advantage of working for free just so they can add the experience to their portfolios.
Arain adds how when people are progressing and trying to make a career for themselves age becomes a barrier in the transition into paid work. “I think a lot of the reason why I get work experience is to do with my age. I think maybe if I was a little bit older, I might have been taken seriously a little bit more.” She also adds that she has been working for experience for three years, ever since she was in university. Sharing that: ‘I don't know how much more experience I can get without doing the same job over and over again.’
However, leaving jobs unpaid is not the only barrier Arian has faced. She has felt there has been ignorance around her disabilities and what it means to work with someone who is neurodivergent. Sharing that there are misunderstandings that she is incapable of doing certain things.
“Sometimes get afraid to mention that I have disabilities in my interviews, because I don't know if they actually understand what that means.” She confided in me how these interactions can make her feel ‘thick’ but sometimes she feels it is hard for her to hide. Explaining when people receive her emails it can become clear that she is dyslexic. She is becoming conscious how people will respond or treat her when they find out she is neurodivergent, especially after negative interactions in the past.
She even expressed companies labelled as accepting can sometimes not meet the needs of the people they are employing. Adding some companies and people just want the “credit” of working with someone with disabilities. However, they do not put the effort in to understand how to make their environments more accessible and accepting. “So, you know, they say in the old disability positive, but they don't meet to your needs, or understand that you work and function in a different way.”
She was able to share her own experiences of being neurodivergent through film in her short film she directed, co-wrote, and starred. ‘There’s No Dis About’ focuses on Seren, played by Arian, navigating life, and maintaining relationships while being neurodivergent. Allowing her to work on a project representing her own experiences. The audience to begin to see what life it like for people with autism or ADHD, just like Arian.
Arian has made numerous pieces during her time at university, including acting in other student films, theatre shows, audio dramas and producing her own films. She explains university gave her the opportunity to learn using the equipment to develop as a filmmaker. She shared how lecturers would give guidance that would develop her creative mindset. Although now she recognises there are aspects of her film she would change she shared it “gives you a space to grow.” Allowing Arian to begin making her film dreams a reality.
However, she explained annoyance that during university she was not able to make as many films as she would have wanted. Most of her time was taken up by university work which would take her longer to do with her disabilities.
After university, access to equipment and opportunities completely stopped. She explained that the film industry needs to be more accessible to those from different backgrounds and trying to find jobs. She continued to work on film and TV meanwhile working on her own projects and writing scripts. However, due to the lack of success finding a career, Arian adds how her motivation for creativity has ‘taken a little bit of a dip.’ Making it harder for her to focus on scriptwriting when she fears it will not result in anything.
She also adds her irritation of wanting to create but being unable to afford camera equipment and technology that would have been accessible to her in university. Leaving her unable to produce more films. However, she wants to try and continue writing and sharing with me that she has loads of ideas. She also plans to produce some adverts for local companies in hopes to earn some extra money and allow her to gain more experience and practice her filmmaking skills.
Arian has faced multiple difficulties and barriers in her life. How she remains to positive and determined to succeed is inspirational. She is kind and positive and it was a pleasure talking to her. Arian’s love for acting and filmmaking is persistent despite the barriers that her and other young people like her face. She holds a portfolio filled with experiences, talent and passion. She hopes that she will be able to progress soon to making her love a career and that the industry can become more accessible for herself and others.
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