Meet Emma

Monday, 17 November

Staff

Hello! I’m Emma, and I’ve recently joined the wonderful team at Live & Local. How lucky am I? I’m the newly appointed Business Support Assistant which means I get to dip my toe in all the different departments.

I studied film Studies, photography and English Literature at King Edward VI college. My favourite of the three had to be film studies as this is where my passion for film really ignited. I began viewing films in a totally new way. It gave me a deeper appreciation of the art and the power of cinema. I even tried my hand at filming my own horror movie which is a lot of fun to revisit every now and then. Eternally in my sister and friend’s debt for making them run around a graveyard all day wearing a creepy mask. My love for film has recently led me to having my own community radio show (‘Film Club’) at HillzFM, where my co-host and I shine a light on female directors as I really believe they don’t get the recognition they deserve! Being a presenter at HillzFM means I also go to film screenings which has been wonderful so far, as each screening is so different from the one before. I’ve also had the privilege to interview some lovely, passionate people as part of that too.

After college, I decided university wasn’t for me. Something I really wanted to do was begin to step out of my comfort zone and build my confidence. In 2023, my sister and I braved the big, wide world and flew over ten thousand miles to New Zealand. We went backpacking around incredible Aotearoa for six months and it was without doubt, the best thing I’ve ever done. On our travels, we both found out that we are quite the adrenaline junkies! We did all sorts of thrilling activities, from mountain hiking and ziplining, to white water rafting and skydiving… and perhaps the scariest of all - Karaoke. Me and my sister (we are twins!) are very close, so being able to have experienced an adventure of a lifetime with her before she packed her bags for university, was so special.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy escapism. Anything that takes me away to an exciting, fantasy, world for a while; reading a gripping book or losing myself in the magical notes of a film score is my preferred mode of transport. Another hobby of mine is singing with my sister, musical theatre is our favourite. I’d love to visit the theatre and see more musicals/plays in the future. A particularly memorable night was when I went to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway in New York. Check that off the bucket list! I enjoy seeing friends, browsing bookshops, going on walks, taking photographs, playing boardgames and exploring new places. Unsurprisingly, I caught the travel bug, and I definitely want to travel and see more of the world in the future.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A cucumber. You know what they say, dream big.

What do you enjoy most about working in the arts?

This is my first job working in the arts, but already, I’ve had the privilege of attending shows, the Big Picture Film Festival and a Rural Hub Towns event. I have witnessed firsthand the joy that Live & Local create. I’ve seen how events like these bring communities together. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by passionate and creative people who genuinely care about keeping the arts alive and thriving and are determined to make high quality performances and other forms of creative art, accessible to everyone.

What are your favourite aspects of rural life?

Fresh air, quietude, friendly communities, woodland walks. The list goes on. My favourite season is Autumn, so I particularly love crisp, Autumn walks in the countryside where there’s lots of crunchy, colourful leaves.

What was the last book you read? (or your favourite?)

One of the last books I read was Burn by Patrick Ness. I absolutely flew through it! Such an original, imaginative book. Think alternate universe. Set in the 1950s. Dragons and humans coexist. There’s also a deadly assassin, FBI agents and a world that’s on the brink of destruction. It’s wild.