Member Spotlight: Ruby Spencer

Ruby once imagined a future in film as a “famous actress”. Years later, studying film introduced her to the other side of the camera  and she discovered it was just as exciting.

But shooting short films at university can only teach you so much. Ruby’s first professional set experience quickly showed her that some things can only be learnt by being there and doing the job.

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What was your very first job on set – and what did you learn from it?

My first job on set was at the start of this year on Season 2 of Secrets at Red Rocks. I got the opportunity through my university to be a camera trainee on the job for four of the eight shooting weeks.
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I learnt EVERYTHING about the basics of being on a working set in these four weeks. From the names of all the different departments and their team members, to radio etiquette and how to read your team’s mind.
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It was the hardest job I’ve been on so far – small, fast paced, stressful and physically demanding. I learned that starting in the industry had no relation to how many short films I shot in uni or how long it took me to learn how to work a camera. It was far more important to be able to carry heavy, awkward and expensive things around all day, be punctual and organised, learn quickly and keep smiling while you do it.
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I also learned that hard work does not go unnoticed and everybody has eyes on you (especially when you’re new). I tried to be better at my job every day no matter how hard I was finding it, and because of this opportunities started to open up. I got the chance to also work in the video and lighting department on this job and met some of the most fun and kind people I have ever worked with.

What/who inspired you to start working in film?

My uncle is a camera operator in the US/Canada and I always thought his job seemed really cool. I remember going to visit him on set when I was younger but at that point all I wanted to be was a famous actress 🤣 Only once I got older and began to study film I started to realise that work behind the camera is just as interesting.

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What advice would you give to those starting out in the industry?

My best piece of advice is that you have got to show everyone you are working with that you really want and deserve to be there.
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Something that shocked me when I started working in this industry was how many people in our generation have landed full time roles on film sets (usually just from who they know) and clearly do not understand how lucky they are to be there. Showing up late is no worry to them and seeing how little work they can do in a day seems to be their main goal. Half the time they were never actually interested in the job but it kills me a little inside when I see it happening.
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I know HUNDREDS of people from university that would die to be in their position and would be 1000x more hard working. I think it’s becoming a standard expectation that film school graduates and young people have this same attitude. You have got to prove that you are not one of those people.
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The best news is that it will only really take a few days for people to understand your personality and work ethic, so if you’re doing your job right your intentions will display themselves quickly.
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Extra tip to avoid being grouped in this demographic: Have a full driver’s licence and know how to drive manual (comes in very handy and saves you from a lot of embarrassment).

How do you define success in your work?

I define a lot of success in my work by meeting new people, making connections and always remember a job by the people I worked with. I also think that discovering different versions of myself in the different personalities I meet is so exciting.
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I have started to make it a goal that when I get on a new job I have to interact with five new people every day and learn their name. I’ve discovered that by the end of the first week you can pretty much walk around the set and say hello to everybody. You get called nicknames, have great conversations and some of the best banter ever.
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Getting along with your department and wider crew is definitely my definition of success because I don’t know how you would keep up such a demanding work life otherwise.

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How do you think the NZ screen industry could better support crew? What changes would you like to see in the next five years?

I’m obviously still very new to the industry, but one thing I’ve become more conscious of this year is health and safety on set. We can spend long days working around things like dust, chemicals, atmos and fumes, and there have been times when I’ve questioned whether I fully understood the conditions I was working in and any potential risks involved.
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I’ve raised concerns when I’ve felt unsure, and I think it’s really important that crew are given clear information about potential hazards, the precautions in place, and what they may be working around before they enter that environment. I definitely still have a lot to learn about this myself, but I’d like to see greater awareness around health and safety, particularly for people who are new to the industry and may not always know what questions to ask.

Favourite filming location in NZ?

Pretty much anywhere in New Zealand would be my favourite filming location because this work makes you realise just how incredible our scenery is. Some of the most memorable include the rockfaces near Piopio, Mākara hills and Awastone, Mangaweka.

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What’s one skill or habit that helps you get through long shoot days?

Having jokes with people and getting to laugh. Nine times out of ten this is the only thing that has pulled me through some of the hardest work days I have had. It makes the job less serious and helps me keep up a positive attitude.
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I can’t think of anything worse than no one laughing and being miserable for 12 hours straight, 5 days a week!

If you weren’t in film, what would you be doing instead?

Working in Early Childhood Care. This was my first job out of high school, I worked in it for three years and loved it. I think if the industry ends up beating the life out of me I will definitely be returning to this career path.