In conversation with Claudia Cimmino
1. Introduce yourself
My name is Claudia Cimmino and I am a freelance working mum of 2 girls.
2. What is your job title?
Production Manager
3. Who looks after the kids when you are working?
I am lucky as my husband has been working mainly from home in the past few years. Nevertheless, each time I have a call for a job it is a new challenge to find an instant childcare solution.
When the girls where younger, it was a combination of nursery and baby sitters. Our families don’t live in this country, so sometimes we had to fly the grandparents here to help us for a few weeks, or send the girls abroad to them for the summer (my work rarely allows the luxury of taking summer holidays!). It’s been at times very stressful!
In the past few years we have resorted to au pairs. Having a young foreigner at home has pros and cons: for the girls it is like having an older sister to play with and they can practice another language, but is not easy to find the right person and sometimes you could end up having another daughter!
4. How long did you take off work after having your baby?
After my first child I didn't work at all for about 6-7 months, then started with a couple of very short contracts. When she was about 1 year I was offered to work part time and remotely as a Travel Coordinator on a Studio Picture. At the time I was already working as Production Coordinator - and had promised to myself not to do travel ever again! But I could not refuse the opportunity to work part time AND from home. Even if the nature of that job is filled with emergencies and crazy hours I could organize my work around the baby. In the morning I was with her (handling emergency calls from the playground), in the afternoon I would drop her off to nursery for a solid 5 hrs of work, and at night when she was finally asleep I would go back to my computer to deal with all the communication from the US, sometimes till very late at night… it was hard, but it taught me how to juggle and work flexibly.
So when my second child was 4 months old and I was offered to work from home on a film shooting entirely abroad, I didn’t hesitate. I quickly had to learn to type emails while breastfeeding. I wasn’t planning to go back so early, but I was very grateful to the opportunity to keep my career moving while being at home with the baby.
5. Would you say that you have a good work/life balance?
Does such a thing really exist? I think different things work for different people.
I know that when I am working I don't have a personal life and sometimes only see my kids at weekends. But I always try to have a gap between jobs to catch up with my family, friends... and everything else. Not sure it can be called balance, but so far I cannot imagine my life any differently!
6. Are you job sharing or working flexibly?
Not at the moment, but would love to!
7. What do you think is the hardest part of being a working in media/film/tv industry and being a parent?
Sleep deprivation - no doubt! Especially in the first years, when those few precious hours of sleep are disrupted, and there are no more week-ends to recharge. My second child was not a good sleeper. The times she was awake from 2 to 4am, when my alarm was at 5:30… I think it is something I will never recover from!
Any working parent (in any industry) has to handle two jobs, and no matter how late your working day will finish and how tired you are, you always come home for another shift - and forget about catching up on sleep on your days off.
8. What are your tips for any other women out there wanting to have kids and keep a career in film?
Stay connected with people and organizations in the industry that can support you when you will be ready to go back to work.
Don't be afraid of losing opportunities just because you are becoming a mother. Your priorities will inexorably change, but don’t make your self-esteem and your sense of guilt refrain you from taking new challenges in your career.
9. Any advice for anyone about to return to work after maternity?
Take your time to treasure the first period of your baby’s life - there will always be another job, but those years are so precious and you will never have them back.
Be prepared to compromise - especially with yourself. You will never be able to be in two places at the same time, so try to make the most of each situation, being with your kids or at work.
Make sure you have support and try to think ahead and get organized – having a solid structure will help you to delegate childcare and focus on your work when the time will come.
10. What advice did you wish someone had given you?
Look after yourself. No matter how overwhelming it is to keep up with work and a child, do not neglect your basic needs and try to find some time for yourself during the day.