Season 3 Episode 3, James Oakley, Associate Director of Charcoalblue

What are the pros and cons of working in this industry?

There are many more pros and cons.

The first thing, the pros are the people.

And I defy anyone that does work within theatre, entertainment, immersive, themed entertainment, anything like that.

I defy anyone to say that the people don't make the place.

that I've met some of, in my humble opinion, some of the most talented, extraordinary, world-class individuals in the fields that they're in, technically, creatively, architecturally, extraordinary humans.

And it's been a great privilege and a pleasure to have worked with those.

And I've seen some things and been some places, so the art has taken me to some wonderful things.

I go back to my Watford days a little bit because that was my first time of seeing anything brand new that no one had ever seen anything before, and I loved it.

And that stayed with me, that there's been a need and an urge in me to want to repeat some of that.

Let's do something new.

Let's do something once in a lifetime, I think is kind of how I viewed that.

And then some of the cons, sometimes it takes much more than it gives.

I'm sure there are people in this room who've worked in live events and live media of any description that will work 15, 16 hours a day or more for a number of days with no day off, probably for very little money, and will love it because it's incredible and because the people are incredible, but it sometimes takes more than it gives.

But of all the cons to have, it still develops some people with, you know, loving their heart and a joy for what they do.

I don't think there are any industries out there that that creates that kind of vibe, to be honest.

No, I agree.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.