Film alumnus Sean Hind has worked on many Hollywood film and TV productions since he graduated in 2016, including Dumbo, Jurassic World 3 and Slow Horses.
His newest project? Fur Sadie – an adaptation of his grandfather’s unfinished manuscript which was recently selected for script development through Screen Scotland!
Read more about Sean’s journey below.
Have you always been interested in film?
Yes, I have. I was brought up with a mother and father who were really into cinema. My dad got me into sci-fi and action movies from about the age of 5, and my mum always had more arthouse stuff kicking about the house. It’s safe to say that I developed the broad taste I have now from my childhood years.
Tell us about your experience at Edinburgh Napier.
I graduated in 2016 with a MA Film in collaboration with Screen Academy Scotland. My experience at ENU was brilliant and represented the catalyst for my current career in the film industry.
My favourite memory is probably graduation – completing my degree felt like a massive accomplishment to me.
Tell us more about your career. What have you been up to since graduating?
In summer 2016 I got my first gig on Trainspotting 2 which was shooting in Edinburgh at the time. The Assistant Directing tutor from my MA programme got me in for a couple of days as a “daily” and that’s what kicked off my career!
Subsequent roles have come from word of mouth and colleagues I’ve met on different jobs and include many different projects ranging from low budget feature films to Hollywood movies. Notable productions I worked on include Dumbo, Jurassic World 3, Black Widow and Pinocchio.
I first started in the film industry as a Floor Runner, and I am now a 3rd Assistant Director!
Currently, I’m also working on developing my career as an Indie Producer.
What does the role of a Producer involve?
I would say that a producer shepherds a film from inception all the way to cinematic release. The role could be best described as a film’s “Senior Project Manager”.
It involves both a business and creative mind and requires a lot of management of different resources and people.
What has been your biggest career highlight? Have you dealt with any challenges?
The high point of my career thus far is probably the day I got the job on Dumbo – working on a feature film of that scale had always been an ambition of mine. Also, the day when “Fur Sadie” was selected for script development through Screen Scotland.
The film industry can be tough, however. I have faced many challenges, but if you know what you want and conjure the strength to persevere, you can get through anything!
Can you tell us more about your current project – Fur Sadie?
"Fur Sadie" is set in the early 1970s east-end Glasgow and follows a musically gifted working-class housewife who tries to break free from the shackles of her domestic life by pursuing her childhood dream of playing piano.
The film is adapted from my grandfather’s unfinished manuscript. My grandfather – Archie Hind – first published it in 2008 as part of the newest edition of his novel, "The Dear Green Place".
What advice would you give to someone wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Be proactive, enthusiastic, curious and professional. You need to have a strong work ethic and a lot of self-discipline and self-belief.
It's a tough industry but if you have passion, make sensible decisions and put the energy into meeting new people and building a network, you can create great opportunities for yourself.