 By Zannah Ingraham, Editor, Prospects, October 2006. If you’ve got your eye on a career in the film or broadcast industry the good news is that according to research by Skillset, the sector skills council for the audio-visual industries, 66% of new entrants to the industry in the UK have a degree. Furthermore, despite concerns over the practicalities of Media Studies degrees, one quarter of the audio-visual workforce hold a degree in the subject. The big pictureWhen it comes to film, the industry is still largely characterised by informal entry with the majority of the workforce being recruited to their latest project by word of mouth or direct contact with a producer, director or head of department. In an industry where contacts count, it’s likely that you will have to work for free in order to gain some experience and establish a network of potential employers in the industry. ‘Write to production companies and studios, find out what films are in pre-production, be humble and prepared to start at the very bottom,’ suggests Sarah-Jane Wright from Working Title Films, the production company behind Bridget Jones Diary. ‘Be persistent and dedicated and never underestimate the importance of enthusiasm. Producers want to see how keen you are to get into the industry and how much you know about the realities of the work.’ Breaking inThough entry to the film industry remains undoubtedly skewed in favour of those graduates who already have contacts in the field, the good news is that industry professionals are taking steps to redress this balance. As Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, says: ‘Competition for jobs is fierce and more and more graduates are offering to work for free to get their foot in the door. Obviously this is not ideal and creates obstacles for many talented individuals who don’t have any connections and simply can’t afford to work for free. Through ‘A Bigger Future’, the UK film skills strategy, Skillset is working with the industry to improve access and ensure UK film benefits from the brightest and the best new talent from diverse backgrounds.’ As part of this strategy Skillset has launched a network of screen academies to educate and train new filmmaking talent. The seven academies, which share over £5 million funding, are working together to provide new courses, summer schools, work placements, online learning resources and bursaries to help new entrants and industry professionals develop the skills they need for the workplace. If you have not studied a production-related degree, you may find that you could benefit from some further vocational training, either at postgraduate or short course level. From production and directing to special effects and lighting, there are specialist courses targeted at each individual area. Both Prospects.ac.uk and Skillset have information about specialist courses and funding. Advisers from the Skillset Careers Helpline (08080 300 900) can also provide you with advice about entry into specific industry professions. Working for AuntieIf you’re looking to break into radio or television much of the same advice applies. Without practical skills and work experience you will struggle to get employers to consider you for entry-level positions. Whether you’re applying for jobs or work experience in television or radio, you will also have to prove you have done your research if you want to be successful. ‘It sounds silly, but if you apply to work at a radio station – listen to the station,’ advises Professor Sean Street, Programme Leader of the MA in Radio Production at Bournemouth University. ‘It’s amazing how often broadcasting executives tell me they interview potential staff members who haven’t taken the trouble to listen to the station – or even visited the website. That’s quite an insult, and usually employers will simply terminate the interview if they discover this. So do your homework.’ Many people start their broadcasting careers in regional broadcasting or in the independent sector. While regional and independent production companies do face the same problems as other SMEs, namely lack of funding for staffing and resources, the basic grounding in production you can gain from these organisations can be worth it’s weight in gold. Again further study may put you at an advantage if you lack experience or have studied a degree in an unrelated subject area. When considering postgraduate study it’s important to look for courses which have a strong practical emphasis and offer periods of work experience, which will allow you to build contacts in the field. Ultimately whichever area of the audio-visual industries you’ve got your eye on, much of the same advice applies. Experience, skills and contacts are prerequisites and you will need to build all three if you’re going to be successful. Further information:
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