Liam Converts to Career in Editing

Liam Bevan started his Level 3 Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media back in 2013. Liam, 23 from Abercynon, work as a Post Production Apprentice at BBC Cymru Wales in Roath Lock, Cardiff Bay.

After finishing his A-levels Liam was looking for his next career step. Like everyone else Liam’s age he had three options: university, apprenticeship or work a normal job.

Liam said:

After a lot of research into studying Media in different Universities, the apprenticeship seemed to ring out to me as the right choice. Hands-on experience with industry-grade software and established workflows. You simply can’t teach that at the same level elsewhere instead of actually doing it. No brainer, as far as I was concerned!

Liam was given a number of opportunities within the Post Production department throughout his apprenticeship. He started off in the Loading Room, ingesting whatever came through the door. Be it crime-documentary rushes, elements for ‘The One Show’ or re-ingesting archive for sport, Liam was trained by his colleagues to be able to handle whatever came in.

Liam said:

After that, I was moved to Pobol Y Cwm to see how a stabilised series performed, and that’s where I really excelled. Routinely training with consistent workflows, such as play-out of programmes on to tape for review, logging music from edited timelines, ingesting rushes from location and prepping them for assembly. I was also given several opportunities to try my hand at assembling some scenes of my own and then get notes from the Assembly Editor!

The apprenticeship wasn’t without its struggles for Liam. Without any experience in a Loading Room, Liam had a lot to learn including the different Avid formats and the terminology. With his perseverance and help of his colleagues, Liam was quick to learn about the different software and Post Production processes.

Liam said:

At the end of the apprenticeship, I spent a few months looking for work in the industry with not much luck. After 7 months of looking, I was considering finding a new career path, but the Sgil Cymru team got in touch with me and let me know of someone who was looking for an Assistant Producer for their rugby coverage on S4C. At first, I was a little nervous about the role, coming purely from a Post-Production background and not knowing that much about sport in the first place, but I went for a coffee with them that week and secured a three-month trial with them at Sunset+Vine Cymru.

It’s nearly been three years now and my CV has dramatically expanded, with me editing openers and features for most of our rugby games from the Principality Premiership and the National Cup, and even full highlights of programmes such as the Tour de France, the 2017 Lions Tour, the Top 14, and the European Rugby Champions Cup on S4C. I’ve even had the opportunity to travel with the team to all the Wales matches from the Rugby World Cup back in 2015, and even to Lyon for the European Cup Final. On top of this, I’m also working with Tinopolis as a Freelance Editor.

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