‘I was screamed at for incorrectly spreading Marmite’: life as a runner in the UK film and TV industry
On the other hand, he says, you might spend all day standing in one spot telling members of the public they can’t walk into shot, and being abused for it: “It is important not to think about how you wasted 90 grand on an education to do a job a signpost could do.” It’s an all too common tale, judging by the dozens of Guardian readers who have shared their own stories of working as runners. While some say the job is demanding but rewarding, others have dispiriting tales of long hours, poor or no pay, bullying or sexual harassment.
Mark recalls “getting screamed at by a 50-plus-year-old producer for incorrectly spreading Marmite on his toast”. Josie was told to water a plant on a manager’s desk while they watched, given a colour chart with exact instructions on the acceptable colour of their tea, and sent to buy lunch urgently for 60 people – and carry it back on her own.