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Getting
the hidden jobs in TV
The
TV's rubbish these days - there's never anything good on!
It's all ads dull game shows, storylines you've seen before….
boring!
I could do better than that!
Well,
could you? Get excited by the small screen and wet yourself
at the prospect at the next nail-biting instalment of Popstars?
Think a life behind the camera is for you? After all, you've
watched enough of it, so why not work in it?
TV
looks like a cool career: creative, exciting, energetic. If
you already know TV everything you want out of like then what
are you waiting for?
If
you're not sure where you're going just yet, then check out
the TV world - 'IT COULD BE YOU'.
But
where do you start? There are loads of careers behind the
camera in TV from Cameraperson
to Producer,
Make-up
Artist to TV
Researcher. But it all boils down to programmes - from
Flat Eric's 30 second fame-fest to a Charity all-nighter -
this is the currency TV deals in.
Help
from your remote
Start
watching TV! Plough through the schedule, wear out your eyeballs,
burn out your remote.
But
don't just wander randomly through TV land, start studying
the programmes in detail.
What
do you like? Why? How would you change your favourite programme?
What would you do better or differently? What makes your stomach
churn and why?
Other
things to think of are: How do documentaries differ from the
nightly news? How is Hollyoaks different from, say, Family
Affairs? How would Panorama and Cutting Edge treat, say, drug
use in football - is the style, emphasis, research, back-up
info the same or different?
Why is Channel 4 News always on at 7.00pm every evening?
The
more TV you analyse the more you'll get to know how schedules
work, which programmes are popular, the variety of genres
available, some of the problems…
Ideas,
ideas, ideas…
Ideas
are the lifeblood of TV. Everyone is looking for the next
Big Brother, the next Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. You don't
have to come up with a ratings blockbuster, but the more ideas
you can come up with, the better.
And
now your mind's gone blank! Don't panic!
- Start
thinking about the kind of programmes that are missing from
your TV diet. Start jotting down any ideas that come to
you - however crazy they may seem.
- Carry
a notepad around with you so that you can capture any idea
that may cross your path before it's lost to eternity.
- What
things outside of TV interest you?
- What
makes you laugh? What makes you cry? What makes your blood
boil and what inspires you?
And
maybe it would make a great TV programme?…
Taking
an existing idea for inspiration but doing it better or differently
is fine - many TV programmes follow this formula. How many
Big Brother-type programmes are now worming their way out
of the woodwork.You may come up with something that's SO different,
SO out-of-this-world that you amaze yourself!
What's
going on elsewhere - in radio, on the Internet, in magazines?
What's hot and what's yesterday's news? Could they translate
into a TV programme?
Testing...
OK,
you've come up with some blinding TV ideas, but are they any
good? Run your ideas past your friends and family. If your
fast-paced, hard-hitting expose of looking after your pet
rabbit doesn't light your friends' fire, will anybody else
be interested?
Be
ruthless. If your idea needs more work, then do more research.
Maybe shelve it for a while or explore it further. A crap
idea is a crap idea - if it won't make the grade, be prepared
to bite the bullet and chuck it out however precious it may
be to you.
Research
A little bit of research could really help you out. Who are
the key players in TV? How are programmes funded? What kind
of programmes do they show? Are there any that they must show
and how much? How is TV changing? What challenges does it
face?
What's
in and what's out? Who supplies the staff? What TV careers
are on the up and which will sink without trace? What qualifications
will help? What new skills and experience will be needed in
the future?
Try
reading magazines like Broadcast and Monday supplements in
the Guardian newspaper both of which you can get from the
local newsagent.
Gopher
it!
You've
done your background research. You're chomping at the bit
to get started on your TV career. So where are the opportunities?
Many
of the big TV channels, some specialist training providers
like FT2 and Skillset and some large independent production
houses run special schemes for new entrants that can include
training and work placements. They often want to see your
programme ideas to work out if you've got what it takes.
Go
for it - but these are seriously over-subscribed and competition
is fierce, so don't be too disappointed if you don't make
it. Find out why they didn't want you this time and work out
how you could improve.
You
might want to consider getting some training in TV skills
(camera, production, sound, etc) - the more you have, the
greater your chances. Check out the trade organisations like
PACT and the New Producers Alliance to see what they're doing.
There are a few organisations like YCTV (http://www.yctv.org)
that specialise in training young people in TV. Also your
local college and training provider, as well as a growing
number of universities, run a variety of TV and media courses
from the very theoretical to the highly practical. Check them
out but make sure you choose the right one for you!
If
you thought Gordon the Gopher was an 80s has-been puppet you
were wrong! For the majority of people their first start in
TV is as a Runner with a production company - expected to
do everything and anything. But it's is a great way to get
your foot in the door without committing yourself. This may,
if you're really lucky, be paid but expect to turn up for
nothing. See it as a learning curve - you can check out all
the careers available and try your hand out to find what suits
you. Make sure you are punctual, enthusiastic and flexible
- you want to be on hand when the Researcher is off sick so
that you can fill in. Before you know it you'll be seen as
reliable and capable of doing the job. This may become paid
and soon be on your way to becoming a top TV Producer. But
watch out for the exploiters out there - if you're still only
making the tea in, say, 6 months time then maybe it's time
to move on.
How
do you find a production company? Occasionally, they do advertise
in the press, but competition will be tough, and you are much
more likely to get your first job as a Runner by contacting
the company direct. PACT produce a yearly Handbook of their
production company members which is a good starting point,
you should be able to get this from the local library.
Also
do searches on the Net for contact details and vacancies,
you could start with the PACT website (http://www.pact.co.uk).
Note down the name of the companies that make the programmes
you watch and send them your CV. But be persistent and don't
take no for an answer - they will be impressed by your determination.
Review all your skills and knowledge and target those production
companies that specialise in making programmes that you have
particular knowledge in - you will have more to offer them.
Dead
end?
If
production companies prove to be a dead end, then what else
is there? Some charities like Greenpeace, the Media Trust
and the Big Issue have production arms - offer to work for
free as a volunteer. Schools, colleges, universities and community
groups often run video projects - volunteer to work on them.
You'll gain valuable experience and skills which make it easier
to get that Runner post. You'll also have something to show
other potential employers. You could even approach them with
your own idea and see if they will back you?
Maybe
an indirect route may work. If you can't get directly into,
say, production, then think about starting as a Secretary,
Marketing Officer, Assistant, etc for a big TV channel or
production company - you get to hear of all the vacancies
that way. Or maybe radio or the Internet is a good starting
point. Some charities and community groups that specialise
in the media but also be worth checking out like Children's
Express and YouthNet. You may then be able to move sideways
into that production post that you always wanted. You'll also
build up valuable contacts within the industry as well as
valuable knowledge and skills. But watch out - you could be
a Secretary for a long time so don't lose sight of where you
want to be.
Finally,
be prepared to network. Join groups and clubs, check out Internet
discussion groups and mailing lists like Shooting People (http://www.shootingpeople.org/)
and Exposure (http://www.exposure.co.uk/)
… or start one yourself. The more skills and contacts you
can develop, the better.
And
finally….
You
are not alone. Unfortunately, there are hundreds, if not thousands,
of young people itching to get into TV. If you're not mega-lucky
and walk into a career in TV - and some do - then be prepared
to graft. Work on your skills and knowledge - everything from
the obvious IT skills like Word and Excel, to camera and sound
skills, to directing and producing skills. Get experience
anyway you can. And cultivate contacts and network, network,
network.
Be
ready for disappointments and rejection. But don't get disillusioned,
loads of young people across the country are in exactly the
same boat as you. If want a career in TV bad enough and are
prepared to work for it, then you can get it!
by
Kiminder Bedi
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