Having already won a pitch competition in Cannes and worked as a runner on the McQueen documentary, it’s hard to believe that 21-year-old Kateryna Kononenko is still studying for her undergraduate degree in film, TV and digital media production at Regent’s University London. She’s part of a new, rising generation of women in media who are determined to push the boundaries and challenge themselves.
“When I came to the university, I thought I absolutely had to know where I would be in five years’ time,” says Kononenko, who is in her third year of study. “I don’t think like this about life any more. Over these three years, I have learned that we often limit ourselves by creating assumptions of what we are capable of. So I try not to limit myself any more. I want to grow and expand to become a better citizen of the world, a better storyteller and a creator. This is just the beginning and I’m excited to see what is coming.”
She relishes the chance to move out of her comfort zone and take on new projects, from working with big names to coming up with entirely new formats. Recently, she was one of a team of four who won the MIPTV student challenge in Cannes in April with their pitch for a new reality game show, Seven Keys. One of the judges, Matt Graff, production manager at Zig Zag Productions, said the students had done a better job of selling their concept than most professionals.
Kononenko devised the winning reality game show with classmates Delisa Hernandez, Catherine Marcy and Olga Kobzar as their project for the module developing TV formats for international markets. “London is such a culturally diverse place, and so is our team. We come from four different countries and we wanted to create something that all four of us would be passionate about. We realised that all of us loved escape rooms and that became our foundation for the show,” she says.
Seven Keys is a mixed genre show where seven contestants have to go through a series of seven escape rooms in a mansion that belongs to a mysterious fictional character named Frank. Although they all compete against each other, they must work together to complete the challenges and uncover the story of Frank, whose life is a story arc of the show.
“The competition was tough, so we were genuinely surprised when they announced our project as a winner. We had been working on it for seven months, so it was a very special moment. I got very emotional. For me, as a Ukrainian creator in London, it was especially humbling for our format to be recognised at the international market. It means a lot,” she says. The idea could yet become reality, too, as the students have been approached by companies who want to take their idea forward.
Kononenko knows that getting real-life experience on set or in the studio is key to building a skillset and a career in this fast-paced industry. She has worked as a runner on several films – including McQueen, about the fashion legend – and interned for a commercial director as an assistant for six months. “It was such a great opportunity to work with the briefs from the major brands,” she says. “I had to learn on the fly and it was very intense, because the turnaround time was just crazy, but it was the best experience. When you get thrown in the middle of something you don’t necessarily know, it pushes you to your absolute extremes and that’s when you start growing.”
Despite her achievements so far, Kononenko isn’t resting on her laurels: latest projects include making a film she describes as “a gothic love story set in modern times”, and creating a tech startup. “Though it is a film- and TV-oriented course, we also have the opportunity to get into other areas as well,” she says. “Through the commercial class, for example, I discovered a great interest in advertising and new technology. It really broadened my horizons and shifted my perspective.”
Having that creative space to experiment at Regent’s has been vital, she says. “You are encouraged to take risks and see what happens. Your tutors – who are all industry professionals – are willing to take you under their wings. It’s a very safe environment, where sharing ideas is inspiring, and you feel this immense sense of creative freedom. And it’s great to study in central London, because there is so much to see and so many people to meet. As a film student, you want to immerse yourself in the culture and experience as much as possible to become a better storyteller. Suddenly, London becomes a part of your education.”
