TFS celebrates International Women’s Day

08.03.2022
International Women's Day 2022

International Women’s Day (IWD) is an annual international holiday celebrated on 8 March to commemorate the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women around the globe. It also brings attention to women’s rights, including issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, violence, and abuse against women.

On this day, we meet with Head of Production Cherri Arpino and Studio Coordinator Ruby Hornsey – view their interview on TFS’s Instagram. They give us their top tips on why they entered the film industry, how they look after themselves in a fast-paced environment and what are their favourite films.

If you wish to know more about jobs in the film industry and read Twickenham Film Studios’ Diversity and Inclusion policy, visit our careers page.

Could you introduce yourself?

Cherri >> My name is Cherri Arpino and I am the Head of Production at TFS.

Ruby >> My name is Ruby Hornsey and I am a Studio Coordinator at TFS. I sort out bookings and Client services at the Studio.

Why did you get into film and how did you enter the industry?

Cherri >> I was very young when I decided I wanted to get into the film industry. I was excited, I loved movies, I started watching movies from a very young – as we all did. I just decided I wanted to be a part of that life, I thought it was exciting, I wanted to be involved in the film making process. I decided I wanted to become the best film Director in the world. Instead, what ended up happening was I found my way into Post Production and I’ve stuck at it ever since and I’ve loved it.

Ruby >> I got into media in year nine, I picked it because it looked like fun and a less serious course than other subjects. Since then, I studied it at college and university which was fun. I like to perform as well, so studying media allowed me to perform as much as I could and again, it was creative and less scholar.

Ruby, how did you join TFS? Was there something that really surprised you about the famous film studios?

Two women are talking, sitting down on a sofa.

Ruby >> After finishing university, I was looking for work and did a few jobs here and there. I joined TFS as a part time Pool Runner, doing other jobs on the side. I started to do more and more at the Studio, I came full time and got my position as Studio Coordinator during lockdown. I have been learning since last summer and I am absolutely loving it.

What really amazed me at TFS is just how everyone gets along. I know it sounds really cringe, but everyone is so close here. And I guess I get to meet so many people in the TV and film industry which is very different from any other jobs that I’ve done. I get to meet everyone from every production. I’m the first and last person people talk to so I get to be – from beginning to end – part of the whole process.

Today is International Women’s Day. So, if you had a top tip to give to other women that wanted to get into the film industry, what would it be?

Ruby >> The industry is actually not as divided ‘men and women’ as I think people make it out to be. So, my top tip as a woman is to not come in scared that you’re going to be the only girl and that you’re going to be overshadowed by men, because that’s not how it is anymore.

I have not personally experienced that myself at the age that I am in this industry. Just go in with confidence – it’s because of my personality that I got the job that I got, so just go in and be you! And always have snacks…

Cherri >> It is something that I say over and over again and that I’ve also learnt on my journey to get into the film industry: be respectful but also make sure you receive respect.

As long as you keep those two things, you must be respectful of all times and that’s going to equip people to understand when people are taking advantage of them. It’s going to put you in a situation that’s going to set you above a lot of people and it’s going to make sure that you have a clear view on what you’re doing, that you can be fair, that you can make sure that people around you are looked after. And that is a big thing – you keep your integrity and you make sure you’re respectful.

Two women are talking, one standing up while the other is sitting down.

Cherri >> So many women are told when we first start out that you have to be a shark to succeed in this industry. I was told that a few times when I first started out. And it was really confusing to me because I didn’t quite understand what they meant – did that mean be horrible to people; did that mean be stand off-ish? It was a lot of pressure on me as they specifically told me that for being a woman.

It took me a few years to realise that it’s actually not the case. Just stay true to yourself, work really hard and people around you will understand that. Nobody needs to be a shark; nobody needs to be a nasty person just to survive in this industry. This is a creative industry; it’s a fun industry; it’s collaborative and it’s full of amazing people.

In terms of the physical side of getting into Production, it’s just about staying on it and building those relationships. That’s my biggest piece of advice.

Whatever job you go into, make those relationships because the film and TV industry is actually a very small world. Who you work with on the first film could very well be who you work with on the fifth and sixth and seventh. So, it’s about being humble, hardworking, and building those relationships.

If you had to pick one female working in the film industry?

Two twins women are sitting in Directors chairs.

Ruby >> I would probably have to pick Julie Walters. I mean, what an amazing person. She’s done everything plus she’s done so many news courses… and she looks great in her boilersuit in Billy Elliot – I love my boilersuits! She just seems like so much fun to work with and I would love to work with her. Julie Walters, I love you!

Cherri >> I’m a big fan of the Soska twins – Jen and Sylvia. They are sisters from Canada and horror Directors. There’s a film called American Mary which is amazing. It’s a great story, very stylised, different, and quirky but also quite respectful. It’s about the body modification world but it’s also got a bit of a philosophical take on it. They just have a lot of fun with it! They do what their passion is; they do what drives them and that really shows through. I love it.

Cherri, so what’s your favourite film then?

Cherri >> I’m a big horror film fan… I do remember a defining moment (it was the 80s, don’t forget this now) watching Hell Raiser – a classic horror film. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a part of that. In the 80s, we used to sneak off into the horror section at the video shop and read all the backs of all the films and dream of watching those one day.

Ever since then, I’ve watched horror films and I love them! They are exciting – some of them are rubbish but I even love the rubbish ones. It’s just the story, the mystery, some of them are ridiculous – I’m a big fan of fake horror like The Wicker Man, Hostel, Sharknado… I love anything that throws back to a B movie.

The idea of going into a cinema, having a laugh or being a bit scared, that’s part of the magic of film and TV for me. It’s escapism, you get lost in the world and some of it means more than others but to be honest it’s the experience of watching a film.

How do you manage your mental health while working in such a demanding and fast-paced environment?

Ruby >> I worry about and I rush into a lot of things. So, the best piece of advice I ever had from my own TFS manager is to just take a moment to breathe and think. And as simple as that advice sounds, just having a moment to breathe was the best advice anyone has ever given me. I also like to move location a lot – I am not a sit-at-your-desk person, I like to move a lot. And I mean, we’ve got The Terrace at TFS…

If you had to name your biggest female inspiration, who would that person be?

Ruby >> Sounding very cliché, I would pick my mum. Like I said, I got to where I was because of my personality and I owe this to my mum. She’s taught me to be nice to everyone. She’s liked by everyone and it seems like everyone compares me to her, which is really flattering to me.

Cherri >> This is probably going to seem a bit obvious, but I’m going to pick my mum. She grew up with severe hearing impairments, so she’s been deaf her whole life. She’s raised three kids; she’s worked really hard all through her life. She’s brought me up with a view to respect people and I think this is where it comes from – to care about the people around you, to really listen.

That’s the quirks of it: listen to what people are saying and to try and read their body language and understand what is going on with them. Often there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes and that continues to this day. She really is an inspiration to all of us.

Billy and Mrs Wilkinson are dancing, arms lifted up in the air.

Happy International Women’s Day!
#BreakTheBias

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