Gef’s 30 Under 30 Winners: Q&A with Georgina King

In addition to the #Gef30Under30 winners, our Headline Partner Amber Gaming recognised four additional Gamechangers for their resilience in overcoming obstacles in their lives and careers. These young rising stars are the ones to watch.

What is your name?

Georgina King, 24

Job title or role in the community?

Filmmaker

Current organisation, business or employer?

Crebbinsdale Media

How did you start your career or role in the community?

After studying for my A-Levels, I went on to study Film Production (BA) at the University of Salford, with a love of film and a passion for creativity. My final year of university was interrupted by the pandemic and we graduated during the lockdowns. After which, I moved back to the Isle of Man with my partner, Reece, and my mum had the idea of us starting a videography and graphic design business together.

In one sentence, summarise your journey so far as a young and successful person under 30.

My successes are the successes of those who have supported and encouraged me along the way.

Tell us about your business/industry, is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?

Crebbinsdale Media was created not just to cater to commercial and private clients with videography and graphic design, but also to act as a name for creative projects such as short films. These short films have been community projects, with the goal of tackling difficult topics and giving people insight into something they may have never considered.

Have you experienced any hurdles in your career or community efforts and if so, how did you overcome them?

(Please note the mention of sexual assault, a potential trigger, below.)

When I first arrived at university, only two days into living there, I was sexually assaulted. Though for a long time I ignored the feelings surrounding this, they eventually began to impact my study and I experienced symptoms of PTSD. Eventually, I had therapy for this, which was extremely useful, and I then felt able to create a short film on the topic of sexual assault in which people from the Isle of Man and UK came together to shed light on what it’s really like to go through it.

Tell us about why you think you won the category you did?

I’m honoured to be included in the ‘Game Changers’ category. For me, it’s about changing the way we do things, and I hope that the way we create films and harness creativity will be kind, accepting, and open-minded. I’ll always strive to make things that challenge what’s “normal” and promote compassion.

Who are your role models, either on-island or off, in your sector or outside of it?

I’ve always said that my dad is one of my biggest role models. He is free-spirited, adventurous and open-minded; all of the things that I strive to be. When it comes to people in my sector, I think that Bong Joon-ho is one of the most incredible film directors to exist; he addresses difficult topics within his engaging and beautiful films, something I would love to achieve one day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The people that mind don’t matter, and the people that matter don’t mind.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan on continuing to make films and be creative, but not full-time. The industry can be difficult to sustain employment in, and can have a huge strain on other areas of your life. I’ve realised that for me personally, doing it full-time would drain the creativity and joy out of it, and I want to keep that. For my main employment, I’m hoping to train to be a mental health nurse. Through doing these film projects I’ve realised that helping people, and giving someone an outlet to talk and be themselves unapologetically, is something I want to pursue more closely. But as I’ve learned, things can always change – and that’s half the fun!

What changes do you hope to see in your sector or community in the coming years?

There’s so much creativity on the island and we have the most beautiful backdrop for it, but I’m not sure Manx people always turn to film to express that creativity. It’s definitely one of the less pursued arts on the island, and I’d love to see it make a resurgence. There’s a lot of joy to be had in gathering a group of friends together and creating short films / documentaries / music videos / anything else you can think of.

What, for you, are the benefits of staying on or moving back to the island for young people under 30?

In my opinion, the community on the Isle of Man makes realising your dreams easier than anywhere else. When I’ve done projects here, if I needed help (whether that be in the form of an extra pair of hands, props, or a location), there was always someone who wanted to help however they could. The sense of support you get from this community is unlike anywhere else I’ve been.

What does being a Gef 30 under 30 winner mean to you?

I think these awards showcase the kinds of successes you can have on the Isle of Man, and I’m glad that the creative sector has been included. The Isle of Man has so many opportunities to kickstart your success in the arts, and I’m hopeful that young people will see these awards and know it’s possible.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Thank you to my mum for nominating me, who has always been my biggest supporter, and thank you to Amber Gaming for selecting me for the game changer award.