The Television Industry

I wish to work in the television industry, specifically within the production sector of short dramas or entertainment. The job roles In this particular industry are varied, but ideally I would like to be a producer. This role includes overseeing the whole production working closely with the director from pre-production to post-production including organising the budget, accommodation, crew, equipment and catering. After researching into this role using the links below I believe that to be a producer you must be organised, have excellent people skills, leadership, financial awareness, assertiveness and motivation, all these skills are essential in order to drive the production forward. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/drama/advice_production.shtml http://syn.org.au/sites/default/files/SYN%20Guide%20to%20TV%20Roles%20and%20Responsibilities _0.pdf https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/tvorfilmproducer.aspx Realistically I know that I must work my way up from the bottom to become a Producer starting as a runner then possibly as a production assistant/ researcher. These job roles although seem understated are essential to the process running smoothly. They require motivation, versatility, good communication & administrative skills as I have learnt through the research links below. http://www.creativeskillset.org/film/jobs/production/article_3873_1.asp https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/tvproductionrunner.a spx http://www.filmandtvpro.com/uk/page.php?uid=4442

Process of concept, design and production

For the blog Im using Tumblr which I have never used before. Because of this I have been playing around with the themes trying to find one that suits the industry I want to go into and my personality too. I chose stationary as I believe it in keeps with the film & TV industry especially with the paperwork driven role of a producer. I also chose a dark purple background in-keeping with my logo and therefore my brand. This theme has a simple layout and format making it easy for myself and others to read, use and navigate.

Strengths & weaknesses of my work

My strongest skill set is my organisational and problem solving skills which can be seen through the two films I have or am currently producing. Producing a film takes a lot of organisation, planning and determination to make the vision a reality on screen. Whilst making a film you come up against a lot of obstacles whether it be visually, financially or legally and really it is up to the producer to overcome these obstacles and keep the ball rolling. I feel I have these qualities to a certain level and Im determined that using these skills I can gain an entry level job. The link to the fiction film below was my first time producing in my second year. I felt it incredibly rewarding and from this I knew that this is what I love and want to do. Get Away - https://vimeo.com/75885918 My weaknesses within my work are my creative skill set. I can interpret other peoples ideas and visions but find it difficult finding my own vision at times or believing in my own ideas. I know that I have to work on my confidence and self-belief, but I do believe within the last year my confidence has grown and my creative influences are starting to broaden making the creative process easier. I hope to build on this further and I think graduation and more work experience within a professional environment will help me to do so. (SWOT analysis is on my tumblr)

Evidence of research CV & Show reel

From researching into the roles within television production I can see that a wide range of skills and versatility is needed in order to progress and become successful such as; motivation, passion, good people and communication skills and a diverse range of skills. From researching into ideas to improve my CV I can see that within the film and TV industry the simpler the better. I have found that employers arent looking for intricate designs/ layouts and to ensure they are streamlined and clear. The content should be relevant and any experience should be highlighted and stand out, as this is most important to gaining a job within the industry. Although the CV should be uncluttered and concise I am going to include my personal logo in order to promote myself, show professionalism and personality on the page.

Show reels come hand-in-hand with CVs and most employers in this industry want to see a showcase of our work to see our skills in practice. I have researched into show reels within the industry and the advice they give is to keep it short and sweet (3-4 minutes is ideal). Put your best work first and always include your contact details. It critically should be given as a hard copy DVD but more importantly on an independent website with a personal domain name. This shows professionalism and will make employers take the application seriously. This is something I am going to really consider investing my time and money in when putting together my show reel. http://amyclarkefilms.com/cv-writing-tips-for-film-makers/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112136472 http://ifsstech.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/12-tips-for-an-effective-showreel/

Evidence of research Business card

Business cards are extremely important to have in this industry as networking is essential to progression and making contacts for possible future employment. Again they should be simple , uncluttered and be able to sell yourself instantly (but being a little quirky is always good for standing out) a business card can allow you to do this and experiment.

I like this design on the left for example as it is eye catching and quirky, showcasing a direct interest in film/TV to the receiver allowing it to be memorable.
Business cards will be needed for our end of year show in Soho, London. As there will be an invited professional audience who will be looking to network with us and hopefully allowing us to gain jobs/experience out of it. I will keep this in mind when making my business cards and also in cooperate my logo and colour scheme onto them in order to further my brand.

Evidence of research - Logo

For my first attempt of a logo I came across the Baileys logo and really liked the back-to-back use of the B and thought I could incorporate it into my logo using my initials. I thought this was simple yet professional however, it would be too plain if it was just that on its own so I researched into other logos and saw that they all had some sort of border. I decided to try a slanted square as creatively I thought this could stand out. However, after further research Im not sure I like this and Im currently looking into changing the border to a circle. I believe this will look smarter and more professional as I found the square to be too harsh against the roundness of my initials. To create my logo Im using Photoshop as it allows me to play around with my idea and I feel comfortable using it. I decided to add colour to my logo as I believe this will make me stand out on paper and it adds a bit of personality to my logo. Apart from purple being my favourite colour I think its a fun, unusual colour, and that after researching the meaning of it, purple connotes femininity and sophistication, giving future employers a subconscious impression of me. I chose to play around with the grading of this colour for it to look different. However, Im still not happy with my grading choice and I feel a block colour could be more beneficial and in-keeping with industry standards. Whilst researching I found logos like the one on the left . This is from a production company within film & TV and so it shows what the industry may be looking for if I wanted to be taken seriously as a professional. Im going to take this research on board and look into tailoring my logo around it as I really like the design. Much like with CVs and business cards the simpler the better.

To do:

W/E - 2/3/14: I plan to have re-designed my logo and researched further into the industry I wish to go into and its job opportunities. W/E 9/3/14: By this point I would like to have a solid logo design and finish my professional CV. I will also have started researching further into business cards. W/E 16/3/14: I hope to have business card in place incorporating my logo. I will start piecing together my show reel. W/E 30/3/14: I hope to have a draft of my show reel and if required a second draft of my CV. By this point I hope to gain feedback hopefully from industry professionals on my CV, business card, show reel and logo and therefore start making contacts. W/E 13/4/14: I will re-draft if needed and finalise my brand. I will also start looking into setting up my own website. 28/4/14 Hand In. Throughout this process I will be looking and applying for work experience/ entry level jobs. I have already applied for work placements at BBC, Lime Pictures and ITV.