Filmmaking Alumna Caitlyn Parr: Screen Success Story

Caitlyn Parr’s passion for film started in her local cinema, watching Marvel superheroes alongside her dad and brother. Today, the Bedford-born graduate is forging an exciting career behind the scenes on major British TV productions, including hits like Squid Game: The Challenge, Gogglebox, and Antiques Roadshow.

At just 23, Caitlyn is already making her mark as a freelance runner in unscripted television. Armed with a BA in Filmmaking from MetFilm School Brighton and unwavering determination, her journey offers valuable inspiration and insights for aspiring filmmakers considering film school.

Caitlyn’s Creative Spark

Caitlyn’s filmmaking journey began in childhood when she eagerly persuaded family and friends to star in homemade music videos during holidays in Somerset. “We’d get our dads to do comedy shorts,” she recalls fondly. “Looking back, it’s not surprising I’ve ended up where I am.”

Her creative flair evolved further during her teens through involvement with theatre groups and creating promotional videos for school productions. “I loved editing everything together,” she says. “Seeing my work on the school website felt like a real accomplishment.”

GCSE Film Studies deepened her passion, giving her hands-on experience with Adobe Premiere and DSLR cameras. “It wasn’t just theory; we’d go make things in the corridors,” Caitlyn explains. A pivotal moment arrived during her A Levels; unable to perform in a musical due to a scheduling conflict, she took on directing instead. “It was about bringing everything together and capturing it permanently,” she explains. “That’s when I realised I wanted to work behind the scenes.”

From phone cameras to film school

After school, Caitlyn chose Brighton Screen and Film School (now MetFilm School, Brighton), attracted by its practical teaching style and welcoming community. “I’d never visited Brighton before the Open Day,” she admits. “But walking the Lanes and meeting the staff, I just loved it.”

Despite COVID impacting her first year in 2020, she flourished in her final two years, particularly following the launch of new studio facilities in Bevendean.

“That’s when the practical work really began—crewing up, making projects,” Caitlyn recalls. Her graduation project, a musical short, remains a career highlight. “You’re never going to get that level of freedom and support again,” she reflects.

Launching a Career in TV

Since graduating in 2023, Caitlyn’s career has soared. A summer placement at Studio Lambert rapidly turned into a runner role on Gogglebox by August. Since then, she’s worked on Antiques Roadshow, a YouTube quiz show, and Squid Game: The Challenge. “The scale—huge studios, numerous contestants, so many departments—it was incredible,” she enthuses.

The role of a runner

What exactly does a runner do? “You’re the support when things go awry,” Caitlyn explains. “If something’s needed urgently, you fetch it. You keep the crew fed, hydrated, and cheerful.” Reliability is crucial, and Caitlyn’s film degree often gives her an advantage. On one YouTube shoot, her skills setting up tripods and a video village impressed the director of photography. “He said, ‘Not many runners know that.’ Having extra knowledge really helps.”

Overcoming challenges

Freelancing brings its own challenges, however. Last summer saw work slow down, prompting Caitlyn to adapt by working as a videographer for a Camp America-style programme in the US. “It kept me creative,” she says positively.

Now back home in Bedford, Caitlyn is preparing for her next role on the comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, hosted by Jimmy Carr. She enjoys freelancing’s rhythm: “I like the intensity of a three-month project followed by time off to travel. A standard 9-to-5 isn’t appealing. I’m still shaping my plans, planting seeds, building networks.”

In unscripted TV, reputation and networking are vital. “You cast many nets and hope to catch something,” she says, smiling.

Advice to aspiring filmmakers

Her advice to those considering film school? “Maximise every opportunity,” she recommends. “Attend every workshop—gaffers, camera operators, anyone. Even if you aim to direct, knowing how long it takes to set up a tripod helps with planning.”

Resilience matters too. “Sending cold emails can be tough, but if you love film, you’ll get there in your own time. There’s no deadline—some runners I work with are in their 30s.”

Women in film

Caitlyn particularly cherished the extensive practical projects at MetFilm School, although she noted challenges arising from a male-dominated year group. “I felt I had to be more assertive as a woman in film,” she acknowledges. However, progress is evident, with initiatives like the recently-founded Women in Film society already making a positive impact.

Caitlyn Parr is undoubtedly a rising talent. For aspiring filmmakers, her story shows how passion and perseverance outweigh having a fixed plan.

Within industry circles, she’s quickly becoming a recognised name in unscripted TV, bringing valuable experience from productions like Squid Game: The Challenge. With her new role on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown about to begin, Caitlyn’s career is clearly on an impressive upward trajectory.

Interested in following in Caitlyn’s footsteps?

Take your first steps by visiting us at an upcoming Open Day.