From office clerk to filmmaker: How a move to London changed one man's life

Ten years after arriving in the capital with a room booked in Luton and dreams of a new beginning, an Italian-Swiss filmmaker reflects on finding his feet, changing careers and making London his home.

Moving to a new country and starting again can be daunting enough. But leaving behind an established career to pursue a dream in one of the world's most competitive creative industries requires an extra level of determination.

For one Italian-Swiss actor and filmmaker, London became the place where he could finally explore ambitions that had been quietly growing since childhood.

Now, as he marks ten years since beginning his journey to the UK, he reflects on how a decision to leave Switzerland in December 2016 transformed his life, taking him from a career as an office clerk to acting, filmmaking and running his own production company.

His story began not with a glamorous introduction to London's film industry, but with an affordable Airbnb room in Luton.

"I arrived in London on 23 December 2016, initially having booked a room with a host family in Luton through Airbnb," he recalled.

"This was the most affordable option at the time and allowed me to manage my initial expenses while getting a better understanding of the cost of living in and around London."

Born and raised in Switzerland, he had already spent time travelling through Australia and Asia before deciding it was time for a more permanent change.

Having obtained Swiss citizenship alongside his existing Italian citizenship, he felt ready to explore a different future.

"I knew I wanted a new environment, new experiences and the opportunity to pursue a different direction in life. For me, London became the natural next step."

Although London offered opportunities, the first few months were about getting to know an unfamiliar city, understanding the transport system and making connections.

Rather than rushing into the industry, he began attending networking events, workshops and meet-ups, gradually finding his place in London's creative community.

He was immediately struck by the capital's international atmosphere.

"I have often thought of it as something like Europe's New York – a melting pot of different nationalities, cultures, professions and ambitions," he explained.

"There is room for people from many different backgrounds and professional fields, and I found that diversity and the idea of respecting individual paths particularly appealing."

Unlike some people arriving in a new country, he found the transition relatively straightforward, helped by his command of English and the friendliness of those he encountered.

"Overall, my experiences with British people have been very positive. I encountered a great deal of helpfulness and was welcomed warmly in many situations, particularly when I began making my first connections within the film industry."

However, feeling completely at home did not happen overnight.

It was only after spending more than a year exploring London, staying with different host families and understanding the practicalities of British life that the capital began to feel like somewhere he belonged.

A breakthrough came towards the end of 2017 when he successfully auditioned for the Identity School of Acting, with training due to begin the following autumn.

By summer 2018, he finally felt settled.

"It was the first time I really felt that I had arrived and was becoming settled in London," he said.

"Looking back, that period marked an important transition: I was no longer simply getting to know a new city; I was beginning to build a life there."

From office work to the film industry

His route into acting was far from conventional.

Growing up in Switzerland, he loved comic books, cartoons and films, spending hours drawing characters including Batman, Spider-Man and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

He once imagined becoming a cartoonist or graphic designer, but those ambitions remained hobbies rather than serious career plans.

Instead, after exploring several options, he trained as an office clerk.

Although the job provided stability and work experience, it wasn't something he felt passionate about.

"I have always had a creative side," he explained.

"The real turning point came later, when I stepped away from my previous profession and had time to reflect on what I wanted from life. I realised that something was missing, and I began thinking about the things that had made me happy as a child."

An unexpected suggestion from a careers adviser would eventually change everything.

During a period of career reorientation, he was encouraged to explore acting or camera-related work.

Initially unsure whether Switzerland could provide the opportunities he wanted, he began considering the possibility of moving abroad.

His adviser suggested London.

"He had personal experience of living and working in the United Kingdom and explained that London could offer an international environment, opportunities to improve my English and a different creative culture from what I was familiar with in Switzerland and Germany," he recalled.

"His recommendation really inspired me."

Although he had previously imagined living in America, London gradually emerged as the more realistic option.

Before leaving Switzerland, he had already experimented with background acting, amateur productions and some commercial work in Switzerland and Germany.

But it was in London that he began pursuing acting more seriously.

He trained professionally, registered with Spotlight and eventually secured representation with a British talent agency.

The transition wasn't instant, and like many people attempting to break into the industry, he had to start with smaller productions.

In 2017, he worked on independent short films, including a project connected to students at the London Film School.

These early experiences helped him understand the collaborative nature of filmmaking and build relationships with other aspiring creatives.

"At that stage, I did not have unrealistic expectations. I knew I was starting from the beginning and needed to build a foundation step by step," he said.

A new direction during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic became another turning point.

With uncertainty surrounding acting opportunities, he began thinking seriously about developing additional skills behind the camera.

He also wanted to obtain an academic qualification, having previously considered pursuing a university degree.

In 2021, he began studying through Deutsche POP, later known as United POP, in partnership with a university in Stuttgart.

After temporarily returning to Switzerland during the pandemic, he travelled between Switzerland and Germany for the first part of his studies.

He eventually returned to London to complete the final stage of his degree at the University of West London, graduating in 2024 with a BA (Hons) in Film & Media Production.

The qualification helped him establish a new professional direction, combining his interest in acting with a broader understanding of filmmaking.

He went on to establish his own company, Trevin Film & Media Production, while continuing to develop his industry contacts and attend international film festivals.

In 2026, he began an MA in Producing for Film & TV at Teesside University.

For someone who once trained in office administration, the journey has been a considerable transformation.

"Looking back, the United Kingdom has given me opportunities that I might not have been able to pursue in quite the same way in Switzerland or Germany," he said.

"I often feel that the country welcomed me with open arms and gave me a second chance to build a different future."

Building a career in a competitive city

Of course, establishing a career in London's entertainment industry has not been without its challenges.

One of the biggest obstacles was understanding how the British film and theatre industries operate, particularly given London's position as both a national and international creative hub.

Building contacts required persistence, with networking events, workshops and social media playing important roles.

As his career progressed, he began to understand the value of maintaining professional connections and creating his own opportunities.

He also learned to accept that a career in film and television rarely follows a straightforward path.

The early years involved smaller projects, gradual progress and plenty of patience.

But despite the difficulties, he never lost sight of why he had moved to London in the first place.

"What kept me going was ultimately the feeling that I was in the right place," he explained.

"Even when there were obstacles, I increasingly felt that London was where I wanted to build the next chapter of my life."

And while his professional achievements have been important, he believes building a personal life in the capital has been just as significant.

Meeting people, exploring new places and establishing a sense of belonging helped turn London from a city of opportunities into somewhere he could genuinely call home.

"At some point, London became more than simply a place where I was pursuing professional opportunities; it became a place I considered my new home and the centre of my life."

Ten years after first arriving in the UK, he can look back on a journey that has taken him from affordable accommodation in Luton and early industry networking events to professional acting training, university qualifications and founding a production company.

And while he remains ambitious about the future, he believes the most valuable lesson has been understanding that success takes time.

"It has been a gradual process, but one that has shown me the importance of patience, consistency and being willing to create opportunities for yourself."

Follow Vince @vinjtren