Spotlight on Sophie Bruhn
Sophie Bruhn has been working at Wallis Cinemas since she finished school as a casual. Also a freelance theatre producer, Sophie speaks to MEAA about her love of the industry, the freedom, flexibility and highlights of her role at Wallis, and how being a MEAA member makes her feel connected to the community.
What is your role at Wallis Cinemas?
I'm a staff member, and have been for over 6 years. I'm also a freelance theatre producer and publicist, mostly in Adelaide's independent theatre sector.
Take me through a full day for you at work.
A full day at work can mean anything from service on the candy bar, ushering, or lounge bar, right round to ensuring events run smoothly, designing and implementing displays for upcoming movies, setting up functions, cleaning the popcorn machine - usually a mix of all these things! Every day is different.
A day at Wallis is also often book-ended up any freelance gigs I'm working on. I'll often spend the day in a rehearsal room or production office writing press releases, creating content, overseeing contracts and hosting media before heading to Wallis at night, or spending the day at the cinema before heading to the theatre at night once a show is up. There's certainly some long days in there!
How did you start in the industry?
I started working for Walls right out of school. I feel really fortunate to have had a casual employer who have invested in me long term, while also giving me the support and flexibility to study, work in theatre and travel over the last six-plus years.
I started in theatre at 16, when I put my hand up for work experience with STCSA and Brink Productions. I loved it so much that I knew it was home. It took me much longer to work out exactly what my role would be in this world - I've had stints as a columnist, reviewer, blogger, ambassador, content manager, playwright, even AV technician - producing and publicising seem to have been the roles that have stuck.
What's the best thing about your job?
No day is the same. Even if I'm doing the same thing, the productions and the movies showing change all the time, there's something new every week.
I also love being able to talk about movies and theatre all day long. You'll always find me at my happiest chatting to patrons in the foyer after a movie or after a show. I love hearing other peoples responses.
What are some of your career highlights?
Definitely selling out premiere theatre seasons of new Australian, and South Australian, writers. I think these voices are so important to have on our stage. I always feel the pressure to find them the best and widest audience possible and do them the best service, so I'm always thrilled when I do.
Oh, and my Wallis highlight would be the time I made hotdogs for the Backstreet Boys! That was certainly a memorable shift.
What would be your advice for people wanting to get into the industry?
Both industries are made up of so many tasks, big and little - be prepared to put your head down and do the little tasks with as much effort and care as the larger, more exciting ones. This kind of work ethic is important, and it's what will set you apart from others and keep getting you asked back for more work.
Why is being a MEAA member important to you?
I don't think my working life would be the same without the MEAA. I frequently access resources provided by them for my own use in theatre: contracts, rates, you name it. It's my duty to do the best by the artists I'm working with and the MEAA is pivotal to that. We also recently went through EBA negotiations at Wallis, which I cannot imagine doing without the help of the union to provide framework, advice and resources.
I also love how the MEAA connects so many different people who are ultimately working together for the same goal. Reading MEAA news updates about the latest big budget film shooting interstate might seem far removed from my reality but, really, it'll be me on the front counter answering questions from a patron about it in a years time. The MEAA solidifies that we're all in this together.
