Camera Operator

A camera operator can easily be one of the most adventurous and interesting jobs in the industry. A camera operator can work on many different kinds of production such as films, dramas, documentaries, sitcoms and much more. A camera operator has a job that varies to great extend depending on the different projects that you work on. A camera operator can perfect their skills by working on simple projects like sitcoms in comfortable surroundings; whereas they can also work on larger high end projects such as films and documentaries which can involve a lot of travelling.

For example if you work on a film set in foreign countries you and your crew can have to fly there to get the scenes shot. If you are working on the project of filming a documentary you will have to go doing all the same things as the presenter, so it can really be a great chance to get out and explore whilst learning a lot about a range of jobs without having to be in front of the camera.

A camera operator will have a large hand in the instructing others in the production team in cases such as lighting, sound and other similar people. A camera operator is a job that can be done better by certain people because of the skill required to set up the shot angles and also how physically demanding manning the camera is and carrying a heavy camera and focusing on filming in extreme heat and foreign conditions can be tough work.

Camera operators have to be good at working in a team because of the people they are responsible for as well as the people that they work under and co-operate with. The camera operator right in the middle of the production stage so it is important that it is very easy for them to get along and work with all of the other members of staff involved in the production stage. Operating the camera can be very rewarding work because when the project is finished there is a very visual outcome to see and examine the quality of the work done.

When it comes to achieving the job role, experience is again the key. No specific qualifications are necessary for the job however a good starting point is to join the industry as a runner and progress through the ranks as a camera trainee and such things until eventually the break comes through and the role of a camera operator is obtained.

Radio Presenter

Radio Presenter

As popular as TV and film are in today’s culture, one form of media that we just can’t stay away from is the radio. Whether it’s that early morning get up or that drive to work we spend quite a lot of time listening to the radio without even thinking about it. Being a radio presenter is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself without having to worry about the hassle of working in an ever changing high budget camera set where it is crucial to look your best every day.

The typical day to day jobs of a radio presenter can differ widely usually depending on the type of radio station that the presenter works on; for example the job of a presenter working on a station like bbc1 could be anything including dealing with callers and running on air game shows as well as interviewing music artists and talking about music.  However working on a talk radio for example talk sport the jobs would vary to a high degree.

Radio presenters may have massively varying working hours usually involving early starts and late nights, the job is best for someone who works well with people and is confident to talk and interview important people. Again this job role requires a lot of subject knowledge, not so much of radio in general but of the topic of the radio station, for example working on galaxy would require an up to date understanding of the music charts and current trends.

Skills required to be a successful presenter are highly related to keeping calm and collected in a crazy, busy environment. It is important to be able to make decisions about what should be on the show and remain comfortable in difficult situations. Performance skills are probably the most key skill because after all, the audience being entertained is the purpose of any radio show. As radio and TV can be live and important to get right the first time, it is important for the presenter to have knowledge of what can and can’t be done/said.

It is also important for the presenter to have a high level of IT skills in order to upload material onto websites, carry out research for the show that they need and to find audio files, videos and manipulate images all for the purpose of creating each show. It is important to be able to word process and use data handling software, one thing that most people don’t know about radio presenters is how much work they have to go through that the public doesn’t see including dealing with all the viewings and issues regarding licensing and research. Another obvious important skill to have would be for the use of all the specified equipment and making sure that the use of it would be done properly and used to create a professional outcome.

Nearly all radio presenters work self-employed with a fixed term contract with a specific radio station, this can be good for some people, but for others it can prove difficult to find work and too much to handle constant change. Depending on the type of presenter or lack of work a great deal of traveling can be necessary and varies through the different levels of radio. The different levels of radio involve high end radio stations such as BBC1 or Galaxy ranging to local radio stations such as Salford city radio. This can be a great way to get into the presenting business however. A good start can be simply assisting the workers on a local radio station by just making tea or answering calls and slowly learning about the day to day life of a presenter by just being around the business for so long. If someone has already established a name for themselves in another form of media for example TV or journalism they can easily make the career change to radio because it can be a big help to get the job if already known for some form of celebrity status. However it can be just as easy to get in if the right qualifications are gained by doing specific radio or presenting specialist courses; a lot of what goes into getting the job is the personality of the candidate.

Overall when it comes to getting the job, the key is to have as much experience as possible in the best places possible. It is definitely possible to get the job without having spent years training in courses or university. So giving yourself a lot of experience and over time developing a strong personality for yourself could easily be the best bet. With each job is obtained it is important to remember to continue developing skills and knowledge is crucial otherwise it can be too easy to end up too settled in a low end radio job that isn’t going anywhere.

Film Director

Film Director

one of the most well-known jobs in the media industry is the director, the director basically runs the production from the creativity of their own mind. There are directors in lots of different kinds of media even though the most commonly heard of is the film director. Choosing to be the director of a film is just because the specific person has more ideas for film than TV for example; however some directors do tend try some of both. The director can be seen as an easy job to some people, as they simply think that they sit back in a chair and dictate who does what during the production stages of a project. Realistically however the director is much more than that as it is him that takes the film in whatever direction he wants to take it. It would be up to the director if he wanted to make a love film into a shady gangster love story or an epic action packed love film.

A good example of this talent in a director is When Joel Schumacher directed batman in 1997 he managed to create a very popular superhero film full of traditional conventions such as colourful costumes, big impressive cars and over the top villains with ridiculous plots to take over the city. The trailer for this film is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK7wRdzg0MM

The batman films were then re-made starting in 2005 to 2012 by Christopher Nolan who gave them a distinct serious, dark crime thriller feel. The new films are packed with action and a serious storyline brushed off with a very dark, creepy feel. The trailer for this film is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5U8suTUw0

This is an example of how a director’s take on a film can completely change the whole meaning of the film and how much money it will make as a production.

Directors are often the script writers for the film or if not they can start work on the project once a draft script has been written. The director then looks through it to see if it is the kind of thing he would like to work on. Once a director has an established name in the industry a large part of the job is about choosing and perfecting the right film to become even bigger in the directing world.

The most important skill required by a director is creativity, having a unique vision and understanding what the audience want is by far the best combination to a winning director. Obviously the director must be passionate about films themselves and it really helps to have a good understanding of the subject area and know the relevant codes and conventions that make a director seem of professional standard. Another incredibly important skill is to just have the right attitude. This may seem simple but this involves constantly being motivational and positive; whilst also maintaining a good balance between keeping high team morale and getting the work done in the best way possible. Most importantly the winning skill for a director to have is patience.

Surprisingly as a contrast to most other jobs, the director role does not actually require any specific qualifications; this does not however dismiss the fact that in order to be a director it is necessary to have a lot of background experience accompanied by knowledge of the subject. Good experiences leading up to the job of a director include, screenwriting, assisting directors and similar jobs working on a production. The only real way of becoming a director still remains the same as most other jobs in the media, working up from low levels. For example beginning as a runner on a film set and observing how the job is done from an early point guarantees a lot of experience and confidence working on a film set. Altogether the job of being a director is particularly challenging, however if enough effort is given it is a job anyone can achieve a name for themselves in. 

Financial Jobs

Financial

The financial area of the media is mostly populated with accountant roles such as accounting executives and film, TV and radio accountants. These jobs involve a lot of working side by side with the important staff members as they produce the outcome and over time put all the prices together and working with the budget to make sure the production will be possible and cost effective. They may also have to research the costs of each idea that the producers have. The majority of people who work in this industry work freelance for different companies during single productions. There are also job roles such as line producers that come under the financial area, these people are basically responsible for managing all the costs for the project that get spent for example, if they needed to cast more actors or get more locations in the film. They would even have to deal with negotiating the costs of product placement in the production.

Legal Jobs

Legal

There are even jobs in the law sector that apply to media. This is essentially a regular lawyer who specialises in media law and would deal with mainly media trials for example one company suing another. This is arguably one of the hardest jobs to get in the media industry because it requires completion of a concentration of media law at law school. The media section of law is so big and complex that it is split into three different areas that people generally only specialise in one of.  A typical job for a media lawyer would be dealing with issues such as slander or copyright infringement. The skills required for these jobs are really the same as for any other kind of lawyer involving confidence, and a large understanding of the subject area. In the legal aspect of the media industry there are also a few job roles in the company for employees who study the issues associated with producing certain media for example copyright or even ethical issues related to a widespread media such as T.V or Newspapers.

Administrative Jobs

The administrative side of the media involves jobs such as Secretaries and researchers. Secretaries are assistants to the managers and their role involves either assisting one employee in completing their role through whatever means necessary. They can also have to deal with the new members of staff and deal with the public or people from other media companies to do business deals involving funding and equally important subjects. Working in the administrative part of the sector involves a lot of typing emails it also involves managing documents, bookings, budgets, websites and other similar tasks. The research element is also involved here because they have to research everything from what will be needed in the production, to money spent on the production.

Managerial Jobs

There are many different levels of seniority in the media, for example station managers who manage people beneath them and work towards the running of their sector as well as they can. Team Managers would be in charge of assorting the staff into teams to complete work more efficiently and making sure that the staff work well together. Managerial jobs are the foundations of the project and without them they wouldn’t come together properly. One very well-known managerial job in the media sector is the Director.  The Director is the most crucial person during a production to be a director you have to be confident in your decisions and be creative whilst also being responsible for managing the whole cast, including the line managers.  The director is the key for taking a story and turning it into their own personal interpretation of the story in moving image. In every area of the media there are many different types of managerial jobs each slightly more important until eventually it comes down to one role that is in charge of everyone.