24 year old Olivia Phipps is originally from Basingstoke, Hampshire. She graduated from the MAMA Youth training December 2013 and has been busy working in the industry every since.
"Before MYP, I had always wanted to work in television production, especially in comedy. Every year, I would email every comedy production company applying for work experience, whether they were advertising for it or not! I very rarely got any response, and if they did reply, it was always to say no. It was heart breaking. There didn't seem to be any way to get out there and prove myself. Reluctantly, I began to think about other careers.
I saw MAMA Youth advertised on Twitter, from one of the many ‘get into TV’ handles that I followed. After all my other rejections, I didn't think I would get in and so nearly didn't apply, but I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn't.
I was a trainee researcher on the comedy team of series 5 of ‘What’s Up TV’, and I genuinely loved it. It was terrifying, certainly: I moved to London, having never lived in a city before and without any London friends at all. I had no idea what I was in for but I cannot explain how much I loved the team of people I worked with, as well as the work itself! It really gave me a structure for how to behave professionally and ultimately run things while making a show. The responsibility that we were given was huge and daunting, but also really exciting. It gave me an enormous boost of confidence in terms of what I then felt I was able to achieve. It honestly couldn't have been a more productive experience. I was supported the whole way by the MYP team, as well as the Job Centre, without whom, I certainly would not have been able to complete the programme.
After the training, MYP organised a work placement at Hat Trick Productions – one of the companies I had previously emailed all those years ago! I was mentored by the hugely supportive Kate Wilson and Steve Madden, and was able to get my first paid job in television there just a few days after I finished the placement. It was like a dream come true. I never would have made it there without the help of MYP.
I have since gone on to work for the likes of Tiger Aspect, Plum Pictures, BBC, Sky, Electric Ray and Monicker Pictures on all kinds of comedy productions, and am pleased to say that I'm currently back at Hat Trick for the time being. In April, I was part of the team to break the Guinness World Record for the highest stand-up comedy gig in the world, after we trekked for 9 days to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal. So far we have raised over £50,000 for Save the Children as a result.
If you’re starting out at MYP, take my advice: ride the wave of chaos and just enjoy it! It’s mad and really hard work, but it is the best experience you can get, and provides you with all the tools you need to craft an amazing career in television. You have to want it though! Work hard and MYP will work hard for you, you can do it!
My time at MYP opened my eyes like no other experience has, and it’s had a huge impact on the way I see the industry. I learned so much from my colleagues about all different life experiences and attitudes. Diversity is a hugely important issue and I hope to continue to raise awareness of the good work MYP do, and fight the good fight." - May 2016
