Hi, 

The *Lines 2 Life* project was born from my personal experiences navigating the UK film and television industry as an underrepresented creative. This initiative is my way of giving back, by creating a safe, empowering space for others who, like me, have faced systemic barriers trying to break into this industry.

My journey began in my late teens when I completed an ESF course in Drama and Video Production at YCTV, a respected youth-led media platform in London that worked alongside the BBC. YCTV gave me my first taste of hands-on production work—offering real training, progression routes, and industry exposure. It sparked a passion that carried me into my early twenties, where I trained for three years at Identity Drama School, known for nurturing and exposing Black talent in the arts. When I stepped into the industry as a working actress, the road was anything but easy. Due to the lack of agency representation and an industry culture dominated by middle-class insiders who hoard opportunities and benefit from connections, I faced rejection, stereotyping and discrimination. Without representation, I found myself on low- or no-budget productions, where treatment was inconsistent and often exploitative. Being a single parent with little family support, I had to self-fund travel, childcare and everything inbetween. In contrast I noticed that those with agents were treated more professionally—not just because of their talent, but because someone was watching over their contracts and conditions.

Despite the odds, through sheer hard work and persistence, I managed to gain IMDB credits and valuable experience on diverse independent features. I realised that once underrepresented creatives are given access to the right tools, training, and networks, they can begin building solid foundations to sustain a freelance career—or even attract professional representation one day. Eventually, I shifted into production assisting with lead to production management and marketing—roles that gave me a new perspective on how the industry operates behind the scenes. 

These lived experiences inspired me to create a structured pathway for others: a bridge between training and paid employment, especially for those from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and working-class backgrounds. A project that not only develops and showcases creatives, but interacts with the audience to help provide a desired production.