October 2024. BA (Hons) Film Production graduate James Rigby – a specialist in cinematography – is working on a feature film, Black Noise, as a spark trainee. Two months later, he’s drawn back to his home in Switzerland, to take on work as a videographer.
“After spending four years completing my Foundation and Bachelor’s degree at AUB, it felt like the right moment to return home and plan the next steps in my career,” he says. “While I had built a strong network in the UK and continued applying for opportunities there, I also wanted to explore new possibilities in Switzerland.”
James’ videography work covered events and creating commercial content, and from this, a business was born. With James Movies, he creates a wide range of content from wedding films to music videos, acting showreels and much more.
“One recent highlight was working with GrainGlow, a gluten-free dessert company. It was a great experience because it challenged me to think on my feet – from the fast turnaround to presenting the food in the best light, to learning how to anticipate and respond to client needs. I also gained insight into their creative process from production to delivery, which made the project especially rewarding.
Never one to shy away from cultural opportunities, James also enjoyed a three-month stint in Málaga, where, while studying Spanish at a language school, he finished his latest film, a horror short called Versipellis.
“I first began writing this in my second year at AUB and pitched it to my peers, but it wasn’t selected at the time,” he explains. “I decided to set it aside for a while and returned to it at the start of my third year. Over the following months, I continued developing the script, refining it through multiple rewrites."
Versipellis follows a young woman, Sophia, whose brother shares a disturbing message with her upon her arrival home.
“The family dynamic is different and feels strange as she begins to notice something odd about her mother’s behaviour,” says James.
“In this story, we’re dealing with a family characterised by healthy relationships, set in a home symbolising security, stability and the freedom to be oneself without the need to wear a mask for others. However, everything in the narrative is upended by the sudden presence of a shapeshifting impostor.”
The film is an AUB collaborative effort, with the crew comprised of students from James’ year and the year below, all studying different disciplines including photography, make-up and costume, as well as James’ own BA (Hons) Film Production peers.
“About half the crew were people I’d already worked with, like the camera team, who I knew from my previous film project, Deep Dive – an AUB-sponsored short film,” James explains. “Many of them were friends, but what mattered most was their clear communication and reliability. Getting along was a bonus, but professionalism always came first.
“It was a demanding process since most of my crew were in England, not just around the corner. On top of that, we ran into challenges in post-production, particularly with a key scene, which pushed me to learn colour grading so I could fix it myself.”
As a specialist in cinematography, James says one of the key lessons he took away from his studies at AUB was understanding that lighting and camera work are about “directing the eye”.
“It’s about deciding what to reveal,” he says, “what to hide, and how to use blocking and movement within a scene to guide the audience’s attention.
“I also learned the importance of collaboration with costume – the texture, colour and reflectiveness of fabric can completely transform the final image and provoke different emotional responses.”
Released at the end of June, Versipellis is currently in competition at several film festivals, having already won Best Short Film at the Thriller/Suspense Film and Writing Festival in Toronto.
As if that weren’t incredible enough, around all this, James has just concluded his compulsory military service in Switzerland, where he’s served as a Security Soldier (Soldat de Sûreté) in the Swiss Army.
“The military taught me to stay calm under pressure, to endure long hours, and to keep a clear mind when things go wrong or turn into total chaos,” he says. “I learned that not every little problem deserves my full attention and energy. What once felt like big problems on set or civil life now seem minor compared to challenges I’ve faced in service. It’s made me more grateful and more patient with others.
“It has also shaped my writing, giving me unique stories and experiences to share that only come from serving alongside comrades.”
Beyond that, James was also appointed Chief of Media of his military company, responsible for filming, editing, and delivering weekly videos for the Swiss Armed Forces.
“Though military service is compulsory for men, I decided to make the most of it and that’s why I jumped at the opportunity to make content there. It’s been a life lesson.”
As our interview draws to a close, James offers his one piece of advice for future BA (Hons) Film Production students.
“Whatever you do, keep doing. What I mean by that is if no one is going to give you an opportunity, then create that opportunity to yourself.
“For example, Versipellis is the tenth film I've officially written and directed, and one I'm especially proud of. Why? Because it shows to you and to others perseverance and passion.
“During my time at AUB, I was never selected to direct a film despite consistently pitching my ideas. That led to moments of doubt about myself and my work. But I chose to believe in my own vision and took action anyway. The result is a film that I independently pushed through, and it has since won Best Short at a film festival. For me, it's proof that taking action, no matter what, pays off.”
Looking ahead, James plans to return to the UK to build his network, before travelling to Dubai and Australia to connect with other filmmakers and collaborators worldwide.
