Crew Attachment Spotlight: Nikita Calyun

The Screenwest Crew Attachment Program aims to provide on the job experience for Western Australian screen practitioners who are interested in furthering their career and skills, by shadowing an experienced industry professional on a production shooting in Western Australia. Many practitioners have subsequently continued their employment with the production companies after completing their attachments on scripted and documentary productions, including 100% Wolf: The Book of Hath, Aussie Gold Hunters and Our Law.

First Nations screen practitioner Nikita Calyun has gone from strength to strength after completing a Camera Assistant Attachment on Jub Clerc’s WA feature Sweet As. Following her work on Sweet As, Nikita joined the camera team on ABC series Mystery Road: Origin, where she worked alongside AACTA-winning cinematographer Tyson Perkins. Recently, Nikita was one of four WA practitioners supported to work on the Disney+ Australian original series Last Days of the Space Age through Screenwest’s Professional Skills Development Program.

Nikita chatted to us about her experiences on the Sweet As set, upskilling within the camera team and her advice to other attachments.

• Tell us about your screen industry experience prior to being selected for the Sweet As Camera Assistant Attachment?
  In 2020 I studied a Diploma of Screen & Media at North Metro TAFE. As part of the course, we had to undertake some on-set work experience so for mine I worked on an advertisement my sister’s work was producing. They ended up asking me to come back and camera assist/operate on various other projects for them, some unpaid and others paid. I also operated and assisted on a lot of smaller jobs around Perth, the majority of these being unpaid/volunteer gigs. Sweet As was the first larger-scale set I worked on within the industry and was my first feature film.
• What did your role on Sweet As entail, and what was the most valuable learning you received from mentor [Sweet As Director of Photography] Katie Milwright?
  I was put in charge of the video split which meant my main job was to ensure that every day on set there was a monitor set up for both the director and script supervisor. On top of this, I also helped out the camera team with anything they needed. I would help bump in at the start of the day, run batteries, set up car rigs and bump out on wrap. Amongst all this I sometimes had time to observe DOP Katie Milwright, whom I learnt many things from. One thing I will always remember is the respect she had for everybody on set. No matter how under the pump we were, she always remained calm and respectfully communicated exactly what she needed efficiently. At the end of the day she would make sure to thank everybody on their radio channels. This all taught me just how far respect goes and how important it is.
• How did your subsequent work on Mystery Road: Origin and Last Days of the Space Age provide upskilling opportunities and advance your career?
  Mystery Road: Origin gave me the opportunity to step up from video split to 2nd AC [assistant camera] which provided me with the skills and confidence to advance my career and begin seconding. After Mystery Road, I worked on Last Days of the Space Age in Sydney. This was my first interstate job and was the perfect chance to try to make connections outside of WA. I was able to meet people that would recommend me for other projects, which ultimately led to me working consecutively on three Sydney jobs over seven months. This has furthered my career outside of the Perth bubble and has opened up work opportunities for me on the east coast. It has also given me the confidence to challenge myself by working on larger-scale projects such as [upcoming George Miller feature] Furiosa and stepping out of my comfort zone by working in unfamiliar cities with unfamiliar faces.
• What advice would you give to other emerging practitioners who are about to undertake an attachment position?
  Don’t be afraid to ask questions (there is no such thing as a stupid question) and make mistakes. You learn from the mistakes you make and are on set to learn. Everybody has to start somewhere and nobody expects you to know everything, especially if it’s your first time on set. When you have free moments take the time to observe what’s happening around you. I learnt a lot just from watching those that have worked in the industry for years, taking in the way they do things and implementing that into my own work. It’ll be over before you know it so take in every moment you can.

Sweet As is set to hit Australian cinemas on Thursday, 1 June, with a special preview screening event taking place at Luna Outdoor this Saturday 8 April. Tickets available here.

Screenwest’s top tips for Crew Attachment applications

Need help putting together a tailored, competitive application? We’ve compiled a list of points to help WA practitioners looking to apply for our Crew Attachment Program:

1. Have a genuine commitment to a career in the role / department advertised.
   Crew attachment opportunities are paid training opportunities to address specific skills gaps that exist within the WA Screen Industry. Production Companies and Mentors are investing time and money to share their knowledge to help upskill the industry and want to know the person they are investing in genuinely wants to continue in that area.

2. Remember, it’s a job application.
   Crew attachments are paid opportunities for professional productions. As you would with a job application tailor the application to the role, including what you will bring to the role as well as what it will offer your career progression.

3. Read the Guidelines & Terms of Trade
   Reading the Crew Attachment Program Guidelines and the Screenwest Terms of Trade will ensure you understand the eligibility requirements of the role as well as the required application materials. Ensuring you include all relevant materials with your application saves time for everyone involved.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
   If you have read all the materials and still have questions, feel free to call or email the Production Attraction team to discuss the opportunity.

5. Don’t apply for everything
   In the case of attachment opportunities – applying for everything isn’t the best strategy. Think about your career goals and focus on opportunities that align with those. If you’re not sure what career pathway is best for you or just want a foot in the door – call and speak to the Production Attraction team. They always want to know who is out there and can suggest the best next steps to take.

Crew Attachment opportunities will be promoted in the Screenwest newsletter and on social media channels, and posted on the Skills & Business Support page of the Screenwest website as they become available.

For more information about our Crew Attachment Program, please contact:

Gabrielle Cole, Production Attraction & Services Manager
Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2117
E: gabrielle.cole@screenwest.com.au

www.screenwest.com.au

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