for those of view who work in tv film production! please read.
Ok so here's the situation. Im in my final year of high school and would like to pursue a career in tv fil production.
so i talk to my careers adviser and he suggests to pursue a career in marketing because it will somehow down the track may assist in getting me a job.
Now before any of youse go an about the pitfalls of the industry.
1) ive been told about these on numerous occasions.
2) that promotions come within the industry.
3) prepare to start from the bottom
i just wanna pursue my career withit these disturbances.
so i talk to my careers adviser and he suggests to pursue a career in marketing because it will somehow down the track may assist in getting me a job.
Now before any of youse go an about the pitfalls of the industry.
1) ive been told about these on numerous occasions.
2) that promotions come within the industry.
3) prepare to start from the bottom
i just wanna pursue my career withit these disturbances.
Comments
No matter what degree you go for, you'll want to get plenty of hands-on experience in TV/film production, whether that's through working at the TV station on campus, taking a bunch of internships, working as a production assistant at your local TV station during the summer, or whatever.
Yes, you will have to start at the bottom. The question is WHEN do you start at the bottom? If you get a bunch of experience before you even graduate college, that will give you a leg up on that person that had AN internship the summer before their senior year. That said, still don't expect to make tons of money when you graduate.
The only other suggestion I'd have is to decide in your first year of school or so if you're going to lean toward TV OR film. It's not really feasible to think that you're going to do really well at both. Get a little experience with both, then decide which "road" you'd like to head down.
If you have any other questions, comments, etc. I'd love to hear them. Good luck in whatever you choose.
Smiles,
CosmoNut, B.S. Broadcasting and Film
Video Production Specialist
City of Independence, Missouri
hang out with them.
buy them drinks.
its about who you know, not what you know for the most part.
Where do you live now?
well im torn between directing and producing.
The ones who actually DO become producers hardly ever walk out of school and get those gigs, they usually work in the industry and move into the job. They come from all walks, but in the US a preponderance of producers get their start by joining the Directors' Guild of America. Working their way up from PA to DGA Trainee to 2nd 2nd to 2nd AD to 1st AD drags them spirit and soul through all the twists and turns of the industry. A lot of DGA trainees are great folks, a lot are control/power freaks.
The nice folks and control freaks move higher in rank and find that by simply making it to the status of 1st AD that the jump to Director isn't necessarily a logical (or easy) next step....so often they move up and sideways to become Unit Production Managers, a special kind of "producer" who is in charge of managing the film's budget...a job I'd hate. After doing that for awhile they move on up to oversee other UPM's, having attained the title of Producer.
Most Directors have been making films since they were young, being driven to work in film. They shoot their own stuff, produce their own stuff and try to get their own stuff seen. They build their reels like an artist builds a portfolio.
And along the way they make friends with other people in the same business. The best directors and producers worked long enough in film production to know how every department does its job, understanding the difficulties associated with the job. I've worked with too many assholes who seriously seemed to have no idea what half of the crew were doing. On the other hand, I've worked with some directors who've shot enough low-budget movies that, even though they don't comprehend ALL of the intricacies of your job, respect what you do and collaborate with you on how to accomplish the things they need.
Start out small and work hard. Do your own stuff. Make friends, never enemies...even if you don't get along with some people don't alienate them, you never know when they'll be in a position to do you a favor. Don't be smoozy about it, just be honest and straightforward.
It's a long hard road, best not to look so far down the lane that you get scared.
Be prepared to apprentice for at least 10-15 years after college if you want to work at a decent level when you are raising a family.
Know that jobs are very hard to get right now, though that might change (but probably not).
The best thing to do is to work hard, work long hours, and be a good person that people like to work with.
Also, do not expect that you will be making anything high-profile ever. It will only limit you. If you are willing to make everything from training videos to museum installations, you will do well. If you try to be a big shot you will likely screw yourself.
Last, you will have to be pretty independent and bring in your own clients. For the first few years you will likely work at a company made up of a few senior editors each with someone working for them (that means you), an accountant and a secretary. Even as an appentice you will be expected to bring in clients once you get in your mid twenties, which can be daunting for someone in the beginning.
But if you work hard, like what you do and don't pretend you are 'above' any job, the sky is the limit.
in technical production. this includes theater. and all aspects of production.
only place with 12 weeks on the job experience.