in my opinion your work is more suited to the games industry. A lot of modeling in commercials is being outsourced abroad, so being able to model "anything" is not exactly what employers are looking for. The film industry still need modellers but its more competitive and your work really needs to stand out.
The Mill are a commercials and broadcast company, so they are probably looking for more of a generalist in their junior positions as are most commercial houses. I agree that they probably had someone in mind for the position. It happens a lot in the industry... at all levels.

What happened to escape, did you decide against it?
I would try not to get disheartened. I only got work as a runner on a 2 week contract initially. I also got turned down from a runner position because they said i would probably get a job in 3D soon and wouldn't be around for long.
Its just the motion of the ocean.

btw...
ND- i thought you were about 21?