Orchard Crew diary service, provider of top-tier freelance professionals across the UK, has launched its Access 2025: Camera Trainee cohort.
Orchard Crew has announced their cohort of 2025 Camera Trainees: Michael Scanlon, Beth Lamyman, Phoebe David, Alex Sole-Leris, Nic Sian, Thomas Foster and Kim Holmes.
Building on the success of its sister company Digital Orchard Group’s Access 2024: Trainee Scheme, launched last year, Orchard Crew recognised a unique opportunity to champion emerging camera talent. The Camera Trainee Scheme will provide aspiring professionals with the skills, experience, and industry connections needed to excel.
We are thrilled to launch our very own Access: 2025 – Camera Trainee Scheme, providing a dedicated pathway for aspiring professionals looking to advance their careers in the camera department. We saw a fantastic opportunity to expand this support to those passionate about camera work. Nurturing emerging talent is at the heart of what we do, and we are incredibly proud to welcome our talented trainees.
Hannah Drew, Orchard Crew – Diary Service Manager
The Camera Trainee program offers hands-on training in essential camera department skills, including prep, and behind-the-scenes logistics. Offering mentoring and hands-on experience shadowing crew members onset, with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience together with Digital Orchard, MCX and One Stop Films.
Over the next year I aim to continue developing my technical skills within the camera department and prove myself a valuable and reliable asset to any production!
Michael Scanlon, Access 2025 trainee
Trainees will receive ongoing representation throughout the scheme, actively marketed across the brand, while being provided with the necessary resources to connect with creatives. Participants will be considered for available work opportunities, spanning a wide spectrum of production scales.
Orchard Crew’s team are excited to pass on their knowledge through mentorship, and help form the new wave of Camera Department trainees. One of the team’s mentors, Second AC Falco Caldeira is thoroughly looking forward to mentoring.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the people that mentored me, so I am really excited to give back and help future trainees find their feet.
Falco Caldeira
Ahead of the official launch of the scheme, Nic Sian (Orchard Crew – Access 2025 Cohort) gained hands-on experience as a camera trainee on a recent production, ahead of the start of the scheme.
I had the best time working with DOP Chaimaa Ormazebal and Orchard Crew’s 1st AC, Luke De Borde on a recent commercial. Both of them took me under their wing, it was a fantastic experience and I hope to work alongside them again soon.
Nic Sian
From the start [Nic] was on top of everything, always ready to help, super switched on, and just really easy to work with. But more than that, they brought such good energy to set. They were funny, relaxed, and just had this way of making everyone feel comfortable […] I’d definitely work with them again any day.
Chaimaa Ormazebal
