Week 7 - 2022
Intro
This week included some great reflection moments about how much I have achieved, and what is still to come. Meeting with more of the venue partners for Sheffield DocFest. Expanding my network with some brilliant new connections and further conversations about mental health in the industry.
✅ Career planning: the 7-year life cycle
At lunch with friends this week, someone mentioned the concept of the 7-year life cycle. This is the idea that your life is broken up into ‘chapters’ that change every 7 years (in line with the fact that all of the cells in your body are renewed every 7 years). It was quite a profound reflection.
When I think back to 21 year old me, vs the 27-year-old, vs today, I can see those definitive chapters. It’s motivating to look back on the last 7 years and see what I have accomplished
2015 - My first feature as Producer premiered at the SXSW Film Festival exactly 7 years ago (They Will Have To Kill Us First, Directed by Johanna Schwarts). The London Film Festival Premiere was on my 28th Birthday.
2016 - 1 year NFTS diploma “Creative Business for Entrepreneurs and Executives”
2017 - Moving from a consultancy to a business, with the hiring of staff at Together Films, and signing the rights to Unrest (Dir. Jennifer Brea). Married my husband ❤️
2018 - Sign Patagonia as our first major brand client and start running the marketing for the DOC NYC Film Festival
2019 - Accepted as part of the Mayor of London’s Business Growth Programme, with trade missions to NYC & LA.
2020 - Launching the Digital Perspectives webinar series to help 3500+ film industry professionals pivot to digital streaming options during the lockdown.
2021 - Expanded our team (with amazing people from BAFTA & Picturehouse joining the crew). Opened our NYC office & non-profit foundation.
When I turned 35 in October 2021, I had just started a coaching program to think about the next phase of my work and my business. I’ve entered 2022 with a sense of energy and purpose that had been missing previously. I’ve also let go of some of the mistakes and errors that I made in my last chapter. No one is perfect, and you can’t continue to hold guilt over things that didn’t work out.
This next ‘chapter’ for me involves the launch of our new sales agency, and at some point, a film fund (or 2) to support diverse new talent in the industry.
“[7] years ago, Arlan Hamilton didn’t have a bank account. Today she has funded nearly 200 companies. A lot can happen in a short period of time.” - Bakroomdinnerclub
— Arlan 👊🏾 (@ArlanWasHere) February 14, 2022
Your next 7 years start today. Let’s go!
What can you reflect on from your last ‘chapter’? How are you focussing your energy on the next phase?
I am forever inspired by this tweet from Arlan Hamilton at Backstage Capital. 7 Years ago she was homeless, without a bank account. Now she runs a multi-million dollar VC firm. You can literally change your life in 7 years.
✅ Insightful networking calls with new partners
People always say that “your network is your net worth”. As someone with anxiety, I sometimes find it daunting reaching out cold to new potential partners even if I think they could be a perfect match for our business. I’m probably not alone in that thinking - I know many people who have this fear. Therefore I’m always thankful when someone makes an impromptu introduction based on mutual interests.
This week I was introduced to a wonderful high-profile connector who is passionate about storytelling for social change. In a quick 30 min intro call we realised how many mutual connections, projects, and people we had in common, and a range of ways that we might be able to support each other’s work. The conversation was insightful and empowering in terms of the potential future possibilities.
I’m determined this year to increase my professional network and build up closer connections with partners and investors in the social impact ecosystem. Therefore, I’m making a commitment to increase my cold outreach to funders, investors, and partners in the hope that we can increase our delivery and support their work too.
Who have you been waiting to meet with? Have you reached out to them yet? Make a list of your top 5 prospects today and challenge yourself to say hi before the end of the month.
✅ Deadline article about Mental Health from our European Film Market interview
On Monday 14th February I took part in a conversation with Deadline’s Diana Lodderhose about mental health alongside Rebecca Day (Film In Mind). During the panel, we discussed the ways in which Together Films supports our employee’s mental health including:
Free access to therapy for all staff members - Whether full-time or part-time all staff has access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which covers therapy for any work-related issue and any personal issues which may affect performance.
Mental Health Days - Treated just like sick days, if you need a day off to support your mental health, no questions asked. It’s unlimited, and most people only use it 1 or 2 times per year. Building transparency and trust with your team is crucial so that policies like this are respected at all times.
Mental Health check-in during 1:1 - It’s the first question in our line managers briefing, check on the mental health of your staff before discussing project tasks. We need to know that you are feeling good before we can discuss the performance of your work.
Flexible working hours - Our regular working hours are 10am - 6pm, however, you have the autonomy to plan your days and work earlier or later to fit around your best ‘operating hours’ as long as you complete your duties. If you get an email from me at midnight sometimes that might be why. I may have needed to head out for a swim in the morning, and then do my work in the evening as that is when my brain was most active. Find the rhythm that suits you (as long as your team is aware).
Remote Working - During the lockdown, we got rid of our permanent fixed office and moved to a flexible co-working arrangement. However, we also allow our team to work from anywhere in the world, as long as they can operate in either GMT or EST timezones. 1 team member is currently in New Orleans, and someone else is heading to Lisbon next month… Depending on the needs of your business, this could be life-changing for team morale and hiring. It means we can also hire people from anywhere if they are the best person for the role.
This week also saw the launch of a shocking new report from the Film & TV Charity that half of the UK’s Film & TV industry have experience bullying or harassment in the last year. This has to stop.
✅ Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London) Tickets on sale
Following the lineup announcement last week, tickets are now on sale for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in London. Taking place from March 17th - 25th both online and in-person at the Barbican Cinema.
Feedback this week
“I’m so inspired by how you have really placed mental health at the centre of your business objectives” - Feedback from our Mendal Health panel at the European Film Market