Graduate Voices: Laura de Pablo

At London College of Communication (LCC), our future-facing MA Television course supports students to develop the skills they need to design and produce great factual programmes within an ever-evolving media landscape.

Taught by experienced practitioners, they work across both production and development, exploring the intensive research and critical analysis offered by industry intelligence to understand the impact of a contemporary digital revolution on production, distribution and consumption.

As streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and TikTok rise to sit alongside traditional broadcasters and pay networks, students are encouraged to develop portfolios that consider what television means, who it’s for, and what it might become.

Laura de Pablo

Laura de Pablo graduated from MA Television with Distinction in 2021 after studying for a BA Business Management degree in Madrid.

Multilingual in English, Spanish and French, Laura’s work focuses on the expression of feelings, thoughts and ideas in ways that spark curiosity through a range of engaging content.

Having worked as both a Post-Production Assistant and Peer Mentor throughout her time at LCC, Laura is now a Scheduler for Union Visual Effects – an independent VFX facility that produces imaginative solutions and creative services for productions ranging from The Banshees of Inisherin and Empire of Light to Moon Knight and Outlander.

We caught up with Laura to discuss navigating a professional journey using both business and creative insights, the importance of building collaborative networks, and her advice for prospective students who may be interested in exploring the world of TV.

Tell us about your creative practice.

At the moment, I’m a Scheduler for Union Visual Effects, which is a VFX company for film and television. My current job focuses more on the practical side of production - I knew my personal and organisational skills were the right ones for this kind of role, which has opened a door into the film and television industry for me.

On more personal and creative projects, I focus on telling stories related to the themes that interest me the most: history, travel, and psychology. I’m interested in our stories and history as humans, and I use the medium of film to portray them visually.

I’ve always been particularly drawn to shadows and light/dark contrasts when looking for visuals, and also have a passion for music, which I try to integrate in the projects I make - weaving sound with images rather than just providing background noise.

Have you always been interested in the television industry, or was this an area you gravitated towards?

I definitely moved towards TV over time. I’ve always felt drawn towards the creative, but struggled to find the right practice for me. In high school, I joined a video production class, where I found a new form of expression: a new way in which to utilise my skills and channel my creativity.

I still struggled to write original content, but this drove me towards factual television. The world already holds the most amazing stories, as art imitates life - and focusing on factual TV meant that I could use my creativity to tell great stories beautifully.

Making a film requires so many different skills that I believe everyone can find something they’re good at and add their little 'grain of sand' - without which, the bigger project would not be completed.

Why did you decide to apply to MA Television at LCC?

After studying for a BA in Business Administration, I then looked to channel my studies back into creative practice, but was unsure of what to specialise in. LCC's MA Television course offered me the opportunity to continue exploring different production roles in a more realistic way than I had in school - and because television is both an industry and a creative practice, I knew that in the future, I would also put my business skills to the test.

Another reason why I applied was because I didn’t know anyone who shared my interests in film or who worked in the industry. Creating films is a collaborative process, and I was eager to find a like-minded group of people to work with.

What were the major highlights from your time on the course?

I think my major highlights were having access to the Television Studio and working on my Major Project.

Thanks to LCC, I had the opportunity to recreate multiple types of studio-based TV programmes, and also to try every role within the process. This was a new way of filming that I hadn’t tried before, and although nerve-wracking, I found it incredibly exciting.

My other major highlight would be the final projects we filmed, which were far greater in length and complexity than anything we’d tried to make before. It was the greatest challenge, but also the most rewarding, and the one through which I learned the most.

How did MA Television support you on your creative journey?

The course allowed me to build a portfolio, gain clarity on the filmmaking roles I enjoyed the most (and was best at), and to understand both the legal and practical challenges one can face when making a film.

It gave me an opportunity to film something more ambitious, and connected me with people who have similar interests but different skill-sets who I can now continue building friendships and working relationships with.

What have you been up to since graduation?

As a Scheduler at Union Visual Effects, I’ve been discovering the challenges of resourcing and learning a lot about the visual effects industry, which has expanded my film and television knowledge.

Although part of a creative industry, my role isn’t the most creative, so I continue creating personal films in my spare time and improving my editing skills. I’ve always known I enjoyed editing, but since studying at LCC, I have a clearer idea on how I can improve and what aspects I should learn more about.

How did MA TV prepare you for the next step in your career?

The course team painted a realistic picture of what finding a job would be like after the course. It's not an easy industry to get into, although there are different ways of doing so. LCC provided the help I needed to build a portfolio, curate my CV for the kind of job I was looking for, and also provide references when I needed them.

As someone who didn’t have much of a portfolio or prior studies/experience in the area, I think the course also helped me to gain confidence and clarity in what I was good at and what I wanted, which was important when it came to interviews that asked me what I was looking for too - both now and in the future.

What are your future plans?

For the time being, I’ll continue to explore possibilities in the Resource Department because I know I have the right skills for it, which also enables me to utilise all my previous studies and experience as well; however, I’ll also continue cultivating my creative inclinations in my spare time.

In the future, I’m hoping to progress to roles that enable me to be more involved in creative processes – I’m particularly interested in development and research, and further down the line, perhaps teaching.

What advice would you give to prospective students who are interested in exploring the field of television?

I would say that the world of television is as wide as the topics on earth, so find the ones you’re passionate about and dive in.

I’d advise you to step out of your comfort zone because you’ll surprise yourself and gain confidence – this will show in your films because you’ll get shots, have conversations, and reach conclusions that hadn’t even crossed your mind.

I’d also advise to surround yourself with good, hardworking people who are as invested in a project as you are. Listen to your colleagues and teachers, their suggestions and critiques, and be prepared to make a plan (and change it a thousand times!)

Related links:

• Explore Laura's work on her website.
• Learn more about MA Television at London College of Communication.
• Find out more about the work of our Screen School.