Post-production is an exciting and essential part of the TV and film industry, offering a wide range of roles from producers and sound editors to visual effect artists. Whether you’re fresh out of university or looking to develop your skills, there are lots of opportunities in Wales to gain experience and make your mark on the industry.
To get some expert advice, we spoke to Paul Hawke Williams, head of training and development at Gorilla Academy Part of the Gorilla Group – a leading post-production facility in Wales – the Academy offers hands-on, industry-relevant training using cutting-edge equipment. At the Academy in Cardiff, courses are built by industry leaders with years of practical experience behind them and always kept up to date with the latest industry standards.
With support from our Creative Skills Fund Gorilla Academy launched the Stepping Stones project in 2024 to help creatives advance from entry-level roles like runners to more senior positions like editors.
For example, their runner course not only covered the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, but also career expectations, networking, and financial management. In 2025, the Academy launched a media composer course, which is the first course where the content is delivered in Welsh.
Paul says, ‘We hope we can give creatives a more realistic view of a job and what they need to do to progress in their career in a professional and industry-related manner.’
Read on to discover Paul’s top tips on getting into post-production in Wales.
1. Find the right training for post-production
The right training can make all the difference. So, as well as the post-production training courses at Gorilla Academy, explore other programmes in Wales to help build your skills and experience, like those from NFTS Cymru Wales, Screen Alliance Wales, ScreenSkills, and Sgil Cymru.
When you’re starting out, Paul says, ‘Be open about what you’ve done, what you’ve tried to do, and how you’ve shown your passion. Apply for courses and explore funding bodies that can help with support.’
2. Gain experience
Building a solid skillset and getting some experience on your CV is essential. Whether you have a degree or not, you’ll need to start as a runner and work your way up. Once you land those roles, make the most of the opportunity to learn and build connections.
‘There are professional steps to follow,’ says Paul. ‘If you haven’t taken the baby steps at the beginning, you’re not going to understand certain things. Whether on post-production or on set, a runner is doing the same kind of jobs – they get the teas and coffees and organise transport. But within that, they will get access to the editor, producer or director where they can ask questions and get tips.’
3. Nurture your network
Networking doesn’t stop at making connections – you’ve also got to maintain them. Keep in touch with contacts within the industry, subscribe to newsletters like the Stepping Stones project to hear about upcoming networking events, and follow-up on CVs with progress updates.
Paul says, ‘If you’re emailing your CV every month, there’s a bigger chance of that luck falling on you because it shows you’re keen. A lot of people don't recognise that networking is important to not just meet people who could employ you but meet people who can recommend you.’
Even if you don’t take a course at Gorilla Academy, Paul says he’s happy to offer tours of the studios and a chat to help you map your career path.
Future of post-production training at Gorilla Academy
Looking ahead, Gorilla Academy is committed to continuing training and supporting post-production professionals and the next generation of talent.
‘The support from Creative Wales means we’re in the perfect position where we can upskill people,’ says Paul. ‘It allows us to give people valuable skills and engage with new entrants to make sure they have a realistic idea of what’s expected of them within the industry.’
On a personal level, Paul is passionate about shining a light on the different roles within the post-production industry. He wants to inspire people to see career possibilities within the TV and film industry that they may not have considered and provide realistic career pathways for people from all socio-economic backgrounds.
‘I’ve come from a council estate and worked my work up,’ he says. ‘People will aspire to be what they can see, so we want to show what’s possible’.
Ready to launch your career in post-production? Visit Gorilla Academy for expert-led, hands-on training opportunities. Or to find out more about getting into the film and TV sector in Wales, visit our skills page
