Catching up with Elizabeth Khan-Greig, Primetime Member
F: What is your background and current role?
E: I started my career in photography shooting fashion around the world for magazines. I’d always loved film but it didn’t seem hugely approachable at the time but after nine years in photography, I realised I could move into the camera department and start a new journey. I am currently a camera trainee.
F: Did you go to film school?
E: I didn’t go to film school I went to art school. Alghouth lately I have been considering some courses.
F: Did you find any obstacles throughout your career, if so, what were they?
E: I’m fairly new to the film industry and thus far, had a very welcoming experience. It’s hard work to get noticed or get offered work but I am slowly building my network which should improve matters. In my career as a whole? Yes, absolutely, obstacles everywhere. I think the hardest part is to get in front of decision makers and when you do get the chance for them to actually understand why you’re there. The industries are sort of geared against you if you’re a woman, BAME and don’t have a network of key people already there. Therefore, all those obstacles are great fun to navigate.
F: Was there a moment in time, where you thought you wanted to quit, but then you didn’t. What made you continue to stay?
E: No, I don’t think I’ve felt like quitting. What I did do is change the direction slightly. Again, this might be slightly different to most but when I felt that photography wasn’t quite hitting the right spots, that is when I decided I should move my attention elsewhere whilst still remaining in images, lighting and narrative.
F: Have you seen changes on set, in the film and tv industry, regarding inclusivity/diversity?
E: I don’t think I could comment on this as I really haven’t been in the industry long enough to see any progression on this.
F: Do you think determination and passion for your work is enough for a woman in this industry?
E: This is hard because I want to say yes but really I think it takes a whole lot more than that. I think you need to be savvy and unapologetic. If the system has to change to include us, we should help shape it and to do that we need to interrogate everything and bring our voices to the table.
F: Your favourite ice-cream flavour is?
E: Oh, I found this amazing place which has opened for take away during lockdown. I don’t usually go for ice cream, but I had a scoop of tiramisu and a scoop of ricotta and caramelised fig. Amazing! Who knew? They do sound like incredibly middled classed flavours, but it was great.
F: What piece of advice, would you give to yourself, say...two years ago?
E: Oh I feel like I should come up with something really profound. I think one of the things I’ve learnt has been if it seems nerve-racking and exciting and a ‘what am I doing!?’ scenario, it’s probably worth doing just to see. Having a story to tell makes everything more interesting. It’s also the best place to make mistakes
