Mentee Profile: Cressida Bryant

Cressida Bryant tells us about her journey from Learning the Ropes graduate to a coveted slot on the Prime Video Craft Academy traineeship - a collaboration between Amazon Prime Video and the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

From Learning the Ropes to a Prime Video funded traineeship with the National Film and Television school, this past year for me has been quite the journey trying to break into the TV and Film industry - a notoriously tough nut to crack. 

Having pivoted from a career in event marketing, I had no idea where to start, let alone which role would even suit me. That’s when I heard about Learning the Ropes, a 6 month mentorship programme that offered a training bootcamp, 1:1 mentorship and a credited running job. It was the perfect foundational experience that guided me through the various routes-in to take. My mentor Thomas Williams (Creative Director of TalkbackThames TV) was so helpful throughout all my application processes, and was always on hand to remind me to inject more personality in!

As a result, last November, I was selected as 1 of the 25 individuals to join the Prime Video Craft Academy, Class of 2025. It is a highly competitive, year-long programme that offers 15 trainees and 10 apprentices intensive training under industry experts, coupled with work placements on UK-produced series and films. It equips you with essential skills, insights, and networking opportunities for a successful career in the screen industries.

Having first been invited to attend a three-day selection process - where I was up against 49 other hopefuls - I was put through my paces with multiple workshops, Q&As, talks, and an interview for a coveted spot on the programme. To say it was daunting would be an understatement. Having spent all of last year applying for jobs under the helpful guidance of my mentor, Tom, this was the first opportunity I had heard back from and my first in-person interview. So naturally, when I found out I had been accepted, I was absolutely ecstatic.

Since then, every day has been filled with pinch-me moments. From exclusive film screenings and Q&As with directors such as Jesse Eisenberg to a day creating our own talk show in the Sky Studio at the NFTS, our initial two-month training period was packed with incredible, bespoke teachings and experiences.

We kicked things off in January with a tour of Pinewood Studios and introductory talks on Production Management, Unscripted Development, Film and TV sets, Confidence, Camera, and more. We also had a fantastic day at the Sky TV Studios at the NFTS, learning the different roles in live broadcast TV from industry professionals such as Director Toby Baker, Floor Manager Siobhan O’Donnell, and Script Supervisor Lisa Anderson to name a few. Additionally, we got involved in the NFTS’ Springboard Week - which is essentially their version of freshers' - and heard from some superb speakers, including Nia DaCosta, Alice Lowe, Simon Beaufoy, and Molly Manning Walker. Seriously spoiled!

We also had the opportunity to visit Amazon HQ and meet the people championing this programme, including Managing Director Chris Bird and commissioner Fozia Khan. As part of this, we had to prepare an ‘elevator pitch’ to pitch to them all. While a little intimidating, it was an amazing afternoon connecting with those at the top of the chain and receiving some invaluable advice.

In February, we learned about Documentary making, the Business of TV/Film, Pitching, AI, Art, Stunts, Costume, and Editing, to name a few. Among all of the many incredible sessions, a few that stood out for me personally were:

• Introduction to the AD Department with Richard Lingard: Since assistant directing is an interest of mine, this session provided really helpful insights into how ADs keep a set running smoothly, from scheduling to managing cast and crew.

• Entertainment/Reality Masterclass with Neale Simpson: This was a deep dive into reality formats—an area I’ve worked in before—and hearing Neale’s process in creating these shows was super engaging. Creating new entertainment shows just sounds like so much fun! 

• Introduction to Storytelling with Clive Frayne: Story is the backbone of every production, and Clive broke down the fundamentals of strong storytelling—how to structure ideas, engage an audience, and craft compelling narratives.

  
  

Beyond the training, one of the biggest takeaways from this programme - and something we also experienced with Learning the Ropes - has been the camaraderie and supportive network fostered among the trainees, apprentices, and NFTS students. This complements a piece of advice that keeps cropping up: your best network is your peers. Keep them close because, before you know it, you’ll be employing one another!

I am now starting my first placement on a feature film for Amazon MGM Studios as an Assistant Director, which has been so much fun. Putting all that theory into practice has been the best learning experience, but nothing truly prepares you for the madness on set. So far, my biggest challenge has been getting used to radio speak and learning everyone’s names!

I feel extremely grateful to be part of such a well-structured and inspiring programme, and I can't wait to see where it leads next. Whether you know exactly what you want to do or, like me, have been undecided about which route to take, the Prime Video Craft Academy is one of the best ways to enter TV and Film production as a new starter. If you want to find out more about the Traineeship, head to NFTS Traineeship, or to learn more about the Apprenticeship (which focuses on Production Management for unscripted TV), visit NFTS. 

Words by Cressida Bryant