In conversation with Emma Mallett
Emma and her two children
Introduce yourself
My name is Emma Mallett and I have a five-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy – I’m a UPM /Production Manager in Film / HETV
Who looks after the kids when you are working?
Currently, it is a mix of school(with after-school club), nursery (3 days), and my husband who works part-time as a freelancer in motion graphics when I’m working. When I’m not working, we swap. With my first child, I used a local childminder from the time she was two until four available from 7 am to 7 pm, my husband worked more regular hours in town. I found her on one of the childcare websites searching for who could do long hours. She had rave reviews and was Ofstead Outstanding. I hated leaving my daughter there on long days but it was a home from home environment with a dog, long walks and only two other children, she didn’t know any different. When she hit four it was time to widen her social circle and she went to nursery at which point my husband was freelance and her days weren’t as long.
How long did you take off work after having your baby?
My daughter was premature as I developed severe preeclampsia at 6 months. She was 8 weeks early and three pounds so it was quite a rollercoaster. I only started to really relax with her at six months so I needed a soft return to work. I did my own little start-up working as a coordinator by the hour. There was no one else doing this 5 years ago. I called it“Prods andSods” and it was actually very successful. I worked from home in naps, evenings, and weekends doing cast and crew contracts, accommodation, clearance coordinating, and various. The crew used to contact me to ask to be on my books but I didn’t really have the energy to expand it. However, if I got any little jobs that I couldn’t do, I tried passing them on to other mums to spread the love. When she was 18 months, I stepped up to Production Manager on the UK shoot of “Colette”. I then worked part-time for six months (3 days, 9 am-5 pm) at Screenskillsas their Film Production Liaison Manager before doing my first bigger job as UPM on “TheOne and Only Ivan” for Disney. With my son, other than a few kit days I planned to go back at 9 months for a short job–but COVID hit. So, I went back when he had just turned one and I worked full time until this March. It was much longer than I had planned but I was the main breadwinner as my husband's industry really suffered and there was no financial support as he was a Limited company. Since March, I have been back in Mum-world doing a few ad hoc bits and plan to return for a year-long project in September.
Would you say that you have a good work/life balance?
In Production?! It depends on the job and who you are working for I find. Funnily enough, given COVID, I was predominantly working from home in prep and this was helpful with the kids. My Line Producer is also a mum/ legend and one of my favourite humans, so she understands, we both support each other, which is as it should it be. On my last job the LP, PM and Covid PM were all mums running the show, during such a horrendously scary time and we basically kicked ass!
Are you job sharing or working flexibly?
Before COVID I really wanted to explore job-sharing and it is something I would definitely be up for.
.What do you think is the hardest part of being working in the film/tv industry and being a parent?
The hours. I live quite far away from most bases so I travel 2-3 hours per day to get in and out on top of the various crazy life of a full day as a UPM... Then you come home to LA world and it’s totally full-on. Each job is different I just need to make sure the choice of job I take is the one best suited to my circumstances. I often feel master of none. There is often zero time for myself...I just saved it up until now to have a chunk of time, to exercise, eat healthily, do the school runs and spend extra time with the kids - it’s a juggle and sometimes I’m on “struggle street” to quote a friend!
What are your tips for any other women out there wanting to have kids and keep a career in film?
It is totally possible. There is so much work at the moment, the demand is nuts. Production crew especially are low on the ground. I’m trying to help a mum get back in the industry at the moment. Since COVID there seems to be a lot more flexibility for WFH and just doing contracts or travel etc from home–a bit like Prods and Sods. Childcare is key; knowing your babies are looked after and not chastising yourself for not being there all of the time. You are a role model too.
Any advice for anyone about to return to work after maternity?
Be easy on yourself. Make sure you take the right first job back. We are crazy resourceful and strong. It’s emotional going back but try to take baby steps. I took a little job with my 10 ‘kit’ days with my last child. I had a fridge on my desk and was pumping milk in the shower in the ladies toilets at Twickenham Studios. If I can do it–so can you... You got this!
What advice did you wish someone had given you?
I guess not to be too hard on yourself. It sometimes feels like a superhuman task–“doing it all”. Ask for help when you need it. Take help when you need it