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Television, Film & Video Careers Interested in a film or television career? Already in school earning your film/tv degree? Don't have a degree, but still interested? The first thing to understand about television and film is that they are part of a bigger industry, entertainment. Most of what you see on TV is actually filmed, and there are many more opportunities in radio, audio recording, multimedia and more. You can even start a career at your local television station, WITHOUT A DEGREE.

back to What Nots Home Page Written by Rudy C. Granados published by Associated Content Other Article Series: Collecting Vinyl Records Speculative Theories Misc Articles

	Table of Contents
	1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW	5. CAMERA & AUDIO
	2. GETTING STARTED	6. LIGHTING
	3. PRE-PRODUCTION	7. POST-PRODUCTION (editing)
	4. PRODUCTION
	SPECIAL SECTIONS	VIDEO TUTORIALS
		FOR HOME VIDEO MAKERS

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Industry Overview You have to look at the bigger picture here. Whether you want to be a film director, cinematographer or even work in a recording studio, you are employed in the Entertainment Industry. That's important to remember, because most employees in this industry are freelance or part-time workers. Because of this, many employees migrate between film and television work because the jobs are so similar. Even if you want to be an audio recording engineer, you'll gain valuable experience working part-time at the audio board on the local news. And if you are working at that local news station, you'll probably pick up other skills like camera operation, computer graphics and more. Great skills to help pay the bills as you start your audio recording career, because that work will probably be part-time as well. See how it works? The best part is that you can begin your career with or without a degree. Of course a degree is the best path to take if your aspirations are to become a famous Hollywood director. While that path is difficult, it can be achieved with money, passion, perseverance and a lot of hard work.	courtesy of Internet Archive Drive-In Commercials But the more you learn about how the industry works, the more you'll understand there is a place for anyone to do what you love best. To get there, you'll learn skills you hadn't expected, and may find other interests along the way. You may even find that you have a better chance of doing what you aspire in a local market. It's about understanding the difference between your aspirations and expectations. It's great if you want to be a Hollywood director. The following articles are for those who just want to make a living doing what they love.
	Starting a Career in the Television & Video Industry General overview of how the industry works. Includes often overlooked opportunities in this large industry, with or without a degree. Surviving a Career in the Television & Video Industry Many employees in this industry are part-time contract freelancers. This article offers suggestions on how to keep food on the table.

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Getting Started It doesn't matter if you're earning a degree in film or not. No matter where your college is located. You'll probably find yourself working at a local television station sometime during your career. If you're not earning a degree, this is a great place to start because the playing field is level. You don't need a degree to work in local television, just a desire and willingness to work hard. Just as in film. Most local television stations will hire employees with minimal experience. Skill and experience are always useful, but mental toughness and self-discipline are also required. Your employer must trust you with equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars, and they will expect much more from you than an ability to run a camera.

Learning about your working environment, and what your employer expects from you when you first start out are what these articles are about. It's good to know, and may lead you to other paths of employment you may not be aware of. Inside Track: Working in a Television Production Studio A general inside look of how a local newscast is conducted, and a few job opportunities you may not be aware of. How a Television Station Operates The employees of a local television station, and how it makes money. There are employment opportunities at your local TV station that you may not be aware of. What Employers Want in Camera Operators There are certain things an editor or your employer need from you as a field/location camera operator. Knowing these tips will help you to avoid the usual beginner's mistakes. What a Film or Television Crewmember Should Know Film or Television, there are certain qualities a crewmember needs to remember. It makes the difference between working, or waiting by the phone.

STUDIO TERMINOLOGY & CONFIGURATION EXAMPLES

Typical Camera Movements & Positions Pedestal, Dolly and Truck movements are occasionally called for using specialized hydralic tripods (dolly). Most often times though, they are merely movements for camera positioning before the scene is actually recorded. Note that when talents are speaking with each other, the camera assigned to each talent is positioned across at an angle. This is so that the camera captures 3/4 of the talent's face, and avoids a profile (side of head).

Typical NEWSCAST STUDIO Usually the director is in the back of the controll room. In larger studios the director and producer may even be in other rooms. Note Tape is still used today, although more and more it is moving towards digital media.

Typical TALK SHOW SET Just about the same setup, but the cameras are in a different configuration. Note that this allows for the cameras to obtain cross-shots.

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Pre-Production There are three rules to any production: plan, plan and plan. It begins with an idea, then a script, money to get it made, a screenplay, hiring a director, a crew, an editor, and having a marketing plan. Before you even roll the camera there is so much to do in the pre-production stage that it actually takes longer than shooting the scenes. All of this is the responsibility of the Producer. Do you need a degree to be a producer? Maybe a degree in business, marketing or something similar might be helpful, but the answer is no. To be a producer, all you need is a lot of money, or an ability to talk people into spending theirs, and probably both. Oh yeah, and you'd better be good at managing money, budgets, deadlines, marketing and administrative duties too. If you want to be a successful producer, that is. These articles will give you an example of what an industrial-market-level producer does. Believe it or not, the same skills apply to film production. They are very similar in nature to things a producer is responsible for on a movie.

Pre Production pt 1 What is the role of a Producer? This is part one of what a producer is generally responsible for, using an industrial video production as an example. What happens before the camera rolls. Pre Production pt 2 Part two of producing a video project. It's time to record, but after you're done, there is a whole lot more a producer must do in post, distribution and marketing. And you thought this would be easy. Producing a Video Project and Script Development This will walk you through a simple industrial video project from a producer's perspective. Emphasis and suggestions on the script development phase. Scriptwriting & A/V Scripts for Short Subject First, a reality check for the aspiring writer with their great movie or TV idea. Then an introduction to what is known as an Audio Visual script, and how to write one.

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Production So..... You want to be a director. Do you know what a director actually does? If you have read any of the articles above, you know that most of the creativeness has already been done by this stage. The director may or may not have been involved near the end of the pre-production stage. Maybe the director is the producer. It just depends. Yes. Directors and actors have essential creative input during the production stage. They use these skills to further enhance the overall project, and let's not forget about post-production. But that's getting ahead of our selves. During the production stage, a director has creative involvement, but also manages the production. What skills does a director need? The obvious skills are creativeness and vision. Just keep in mind that directors also need skills in organization, management, quick decisiveness, abstract and analytical thinking, and people skills to complete their assignment. It's a lot more than working with actors, setting up the (already planned) scene and saying "Action!" These articles will give you a real-world example of what a director does. All directors do similar things, whether in film or television. Any director understands they have only during the production stage to get the best creative output from everyone involved, and do it in a methodically planned process.

How to Become a Movie Director Want to be a famous movie director? It's not easy, but it is possible. But there are plenty of other ways to become a director if you set more realistic goals for yourself. Production and the Director's Role What does a director do? A look at what a director is responsible for, both creatively and as the manager of a tightly scheduled assembly line of cameras, lights, crew and actors. Making Films and Videos: Advanced Strategies A closer look at the role of a director, focusing on small industrial market projects. A director's strategy begins at the script level, and often involves working with non-professional actors. Producer/Director Relations: Industrial Market Pt. 1 These two segments will focus on the producer - director relationship in an industrial level television/video market. The information is important should you find yourself at this level, which is more likely than filming a Hollywood blockbuster. Producer/Director Relations: Industrial Market Pt. 2 The relationship between the client-producer and director at this level varies in any number of ways. If I only used one strict formula in creating programs, there would be many unhappy clients and my career would not have lasted this long. Video Production- Talent Releases & Recording Special Events Anyone who is recognizable on your video or film needs to sign a talent release, but there are exceptions. This will explain those exceptions and help you find where to get copies of releases to use. video film production talent releases special events occasions industrial market jobs employment career professional small business local entrepreneur Video Production- Cameras, Weddings and Special Events 1 A 3-part series for those considering taping weddings & other special events. Things to consider & how to solve problems that arise. The first 2 on cameras, & one on posting & what to charge. video film production camera lighting editing weddings special events occasions industrial market jobs employment career professional small business local entrepreneur Video Production- Cameras, Weddings and Special Events 2 Pt 2- Lighting conditions and how they affect the camera. Ways to resolve these problems & improve image quality. video film production camera lighting editing weddings special events occasions industrial market jobs employment career professional small business local entrepreneur Video Production- Editing & Money Issues for Weddings & Special Events 3 This segment will address how to edit these kind of events, and discuss how to determine what to charge. video film production camera lighting editing weddings special events occasions industrial market jobs employment career professional small business local entrepreneur

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Camera & Audio Basics Here is some basic information about video cameras and audio equipment. Fundamental stuff you will be coming into contact with when starting your career in this industry. Good information for home video-makers too! How a Video Camera Works Looking at how a professional video camera works, some of the components, the differences and similarities with consumer cameras. A camera's functions in a work environment.

Camera Shots and Their Uses The basic camera shots and their general names in video. Helpful for script writing too! What the shots are sometimes used for, and hints on composition. Audio and Microphones Working in a recording studio, A/V department, film or television crew, you will be using common microphones and an audio mixer. This is an introduction to basic audio tools. How a Television Teleprompter Works Ever wonder how a TV teleprompter works? It's simple really. So simple, that if you are handy with tools, you could probably even make one yourself, saving yourself big bucks!

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Lighting Basics & Techniques There's not much mystery when it comes to lighting. Most of the techniques and terminoloy is similar in both film & television. These articles will introduce the basic lighting fixtures you'll come into contact with when first starting out. You'll also find tips on how to use them. Good information for home video-makers too! Lighting Fundamentals and Principles Basic lighting concepts and fundamentals. An understanding of how light works and more importantly, how light affects a camera when capturing a scene. Identifying and Using Lights The basic lights you will come into contact with upon first entering the industry, and how you will be using them. General safety tips are included so you don't hurt yourself.

How to Position and Adjust Lights Basic every-day fundamentals of how lights are positioned for different applications. Introduces the Three-Point Lighting scheme normally used when lighting for people. Lighting a Scene: Advanced Strategies Examples of lighting a scene for night and indoor light. Concepts like motivational lighting and creative techniques are introduced. NEW! July 2010 HOW TO MAKE PORTABLE PVC LIGHT REFLECTORS FOR VIDEO OR FILM Two light portable light reflectors you can easily make out of PVC pipes for a few bucks. Bring them along for extra light on those outdoor shoots. Self-standing so they'll work if you have help, or you are doing it alone.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL LIGHTING TECHNIQUES

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Post-Production & Editing Video or film editing is more than just slapping clips together. There's an art to editing. Understanding the concepts is the first step to your own personal creativity. Then the basics. If you're new to editing these articles & examples can help you get around, and understand how it works. These basic functions can be applied to almost any software.	Film and Video Editing Concepts Understanding an Editor's Main Screen: pt 1 Understanding an Editor's Main Screen: pt 2 click to see Streaming Video Editing Tutorials
The mechanics of editing is actually quite simple, but editing requires planning and an understanding of editing concepts. click images to enlarge, click again to reduce

MAIN EDITING SCREEN Most video editors look similar. Whatever software you own, these articles will help with the main screen. click images to enlarge, click again to reduce

	Main Screen To the far left is the Preview window, and next to that is the Source window. On the far right is the Bin window where all of the files are stored. User Buttons can be anywhere depending on the software. Sometimes in other windows, or their own windows. The Timeline Window is where most actual editing is performed. Notice that the Timeline itself is inside its own window.
	Timeline The Zoom Control may be on top or elsewhere. It will often have a scroll, in/out buttons, edit-frame step and others. The Tabs are for choosing loaded projects. Usually there are User Buttons, but special features may have buttons of their own. Note the Timeline Indicator bar and the Time Display. Each Trackhas basic functions, maybe more.
	Preview/Source Window The Safe Title area is useful for positioning titles. There is usually a Scroll for moving to different parts of the clip. Sometimes you may have a Shuttle for more precise scrolling. Note the begin & end Time Displays, and the usual Playback Controls. The Mark-In and Mark-Out buttons are located somewhere in the window.

A SIMPLE VIDEO EDITING PROJECT A FOUR-PART series of articles using an example of a simple edit project with video & audio clips. Besides your music tracks, you will need some media files before you begin. Refer to your software on how to Digitize Video and create Title Pages. click the links to read the articles >

Editing a Simple Project: pt 1 Editing a Simple Project: pt 2 Editing a Simple Project: pt 3 Editing a Simple Project: pt 4

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	INSERTING A CLIP INTO THE TIMELINE Inserting a clip into a Timeline can be done a couple of ways. Go to your Bin where the file is, click and drag it to wherever you want on the Timeline. You can also select the clip and do it with your software User Button. For the article project, insert your video clip starting at two seconds. Then insert your black frame right in front of the video clip.
	CREATING A DISSOLVE OR CROSS FADE The easiest way is by clicking and dragging it over the clip next to it. Another way is by placing the Timeline Indicator where you want it, and click a user button or selecting from the pull-down menu. You may have to make adjustments doing it this way, if you want to control the timing. In this example from the article we are using the 01:15 sec. Black Clip and sliding it over creating a 01:00 sec. Dissolve. This leaves 00:15 (a half) sec. left on front. Select both clips together using your software's Selection Tool (once the user button is pressed you can select a section of video on the timline with the mouse) and move both clips over to the beginning of the Timeline. This will result in a half-second of black playing before your video actually starts.
	REVIEWING YOUR WORK SO FAR Your video and audio clips are in place on your Timeline and your Main Screen should look something like the example above. Your Preview Screen will display whatever frame the Timeline Indicator is at. Your Source Screen will show whatever Clip is selected, whether it is audio or video. In this case it is the B Roll-1 Clip.
	AN EASY WAY TO CUT OUT AUDIO FROM A TRACK Whether the Audio Track is attached to a Video Clip or not, you can cut out portions of audio by using what are normally called Points. Using your mouse pointer, click on the line where you want the audio to first cut out (1). This will create a Point on the line. Create another Point where you want the audio to begin fading back up (2) and another where you want the audio to fully play (3). Create one more Point in front of the second one (4). Next select and and lower Points 1 & 4 to the bottom. This will cut out any audio in that section of the clip. Then lower Point 2 to the bottom as well. This will create a fade up to Point 3. The length between Point 2 & 3 is up to you. All Points can be selected and moved around after being created to make final adjustments.

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Helpful Articles for Home Video Makers Special articles for the home movie maker. Advice and tips to help give your next web video a more polished look. STREAMING VIDEO EDITING TUTORIALS

click links below to read the articles What Digital Video Camera Should You Buy? Thinking about buying a video camera? What features will you need? What do you plan on using it for? This may help you determine what camera best suits your needs. Which Video Editing Software Package You Should Buy? Depending on what you want to do and how much you want to spend determines which editing software you may or may not need. This helps you decide what's best for you.. How to Think of Ideas for Your Web Video Need an idea for your video? It isn't that hard to come up with one once you know how to do it. This will help you get the ideas going. Creating Better Web Videos: Comedy Acting Ways to work with inexperienced actors, and getting the most out of them

Creating Better Web Videos: Lighting Help with making your videos look better by using simple lighting tricks that even someone using table lamps can use. Creating Better Web Videos: Audio Getting the best audio you can from your built-in video camera microphone. Creating Better Web Videos: Editing Things to remember while you are editing your masterpiece together. Free Useful Media Resources on the Internet for Artists If you like to video tape, edit, record audio or other creative things, you may not know how many free resources are out there you can use for your projects. Here's just a few.

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	TIP: Break Down the Script To help actors remember their lines, break up the dialogue into different shots. Later on in editing it will help cover mistakes in your master shot
	How It Looks in a Storyboard If the shots are composed right, the scene will edit together seamlessly.
	TIP: Lighting Set the camera up & place your 'stand-in' where you want. The first thing you can do is remove the ceiling cover. This helps to brighten up the room. Next remove the shade from a table lamp & move it where you need to light up dark areas. Remember to avoid backlight coming from a window or other light from behind and be sure you have permission to move things around.

AUDIO TIPS: Since you can't plug a microphone into most consumer camcorders, you are stuck with the built-in mics. Here are some things to remember while capturing audio on a camcorder.

VIDEO EDITING TIPS: Trimming Video Clips The easiest way to trim a clip is by grabbing the end of it with your mouse and dragging to where you want it to start or end. An icon will pop up when your mouse is over the end, like a razor or other shapr. Another way to trim clips is by using the Preview/Source Screen and make the adjustments by using a Mark In or Out. If you want to preserve the video while trimming the audio, you must 'split' the clip first. Just make sure you do not move the audio track or it will be out of sync. Mixing Audio If you have two audio tracks, you'll have to adjust them by inserting points where you want the audio to lower or raise. They can be moved around for precise positioning and cross-fading.

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