Meet the Team at Sparks Film School
This month, we sat down for a chat with Erin, one of our fabulous filmmaking instructors from Sparks Film School Balham.
Find out all about Erin’s lifelong passion for filmmaking, her experience in the industry and why she loves inspiring young filmmakers at Sparks Film School.
Erin, tell us about your background in film and TV…
I’ve worked primarily as a script coordinator and writer in American film and television projects, I’ve worked a lot in L.A. I’ve written all sort of projects: web series, TV pilots, features, social media reels, film shorts… I’ve just finished a Masters in screenwriting here in London too.
What was your journey into the world of filmmaking?
I’m from the Midwest of the United States – far from any media centres like London or L.A.! It was a wonderful place to grow up, but I knew that if wanted to pursue the arts, I’d have to head for the coasts. I attended the University of Southern California initially for acting, but was quickly drawn in by the film school.
Erin working as part of the writers’ room for the Tonight Show
I ended up having a kind of liberal arts approach to film: theory, editing, directing, producing, writing. When I graduated, I began assisting writers’ rooms – first for Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show, then for scripted sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother, and later for drama series like The Man in the High Castle. I primarily worked as a script coordinator – a kind of combo script and story editor – covering everything from story logic and continuity, to pitching ideas, conducting research, and formatting/proofing scripts for production.
I co-wrote my first script for The Walking Dead: World Beyond and have written many original TV pilots and features. I continued to build out those skillsets by coming to Goldsmiths here in London to get my MA in Script Writing. I previously lived in London and was thrilled to come back, especially when the industry was shut down by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, it seemed like a great time to develop my own writing.
You work with our film students at Sparks Film School in Balham. What do you find inspirational about youth filmmaking?
I work mostly with Studio 2 and Studio 3, who are ages 7-11. Kids, and especially young kids, are less inclined to second guess their ideas. They’re immediately excited and eager to get started. It’s wonderful to be around that energy.
What skills do you think will be important for young people coming in who may be interested in a career in TV and Film?
I think being well versed in stories, literature, and filmmaking will become a great resource as we progress more towards AI and the like. I support short-form content and think social media has its useful place.
But it’s also essential to have the critical thinking and analytical skills that come from watching and reading longer texts. Rather than have AI source those for you, you can do it for yourself to create new and inspired ideas.
Why do you think young people should learn how to make films?
Media literacy is an incredible tool. The more you understand how things are made, the better armed you are to navigate the world.
What advice might you have for young filmmakers interested in pursuing a career in filmmaking?
Watch as many films as you can from as many countries as possible. Understand who “the greats” are, but be open to new and inventive filmmakers. Find and appreciate your own “greats.”
