Design & Media

Film and Video Production

Jobs in this area include producers, editors and directors.

Producers organise all the essential support facilities for the production team, handling and resolving the day-to-day problems of filming.

Editors are responsible for putting the final product together from raw camera footage, speech, sound effects and graphics to produce the final product.

Directors take overall responsibility for the look, sound and style of a film and will bend a script around their artistic vision. Directors are normally very high up in the industry with years of experience.

If a career in production sounds right for you then you're going to have to start at the bottom. Being a runner or researcher is often a good way to get your foot in the door and you never know quite were it might lead.  The latest recruit to CBBC's Blue Peter, Andy Akinwolere, studied at Sheffield Hallam University and gained his presenting job after he impressed the shows production team whilst working as a runner for the program. It's important, as with any job, to throw yourself into the role and show bags of enthusiasm and confidence and make as many industry contacts as possible along the way.

Keep an eye on industry publications and buy the Guardian on a Monday for its Media supplement. Along with the websites of all the major TV companies and producers theses are all good places to keep up-to-date with the industry and look out for job adverts. It's also a good idea to be pro-active about job seeking - send your CV along to the bigger production companies with a good covering letter or have a ring round to see what opportunities are available.

Relevant experience is essential to show potential employers your serious about your career choice. Joining the film making society at your university, gaining work experience or attending an industry specific weekend course is a great way to gain hands on experience and meet people in the business. Check out the BBC website as they operate work experience programs throughout the UK in different aspects of the industry.

For budding filmmakers in the region Screen Yorkshire is a great place to start. Working with the BBC, Hat-Trick Productions and Yorkshire Television (to name but a few) they have a range of training schemes and courses on everything from production to script writing and wannabe's who have passed through the Screen Yorkshire initiatives have a great track record of finding freelance and industry employment.

Useful links:

Skillset

The Sector Skills Council for Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media provide good advice on how to gain the skills needed to enter the industry.

Screen Yorkshire

Has news of all film, broadcast and interactive media activities in Yorkshire and Humber.

Bectu

The union for film, theatre entertainment and interactive media provides advice on various aspects of the industry.

FT2

Film and Television Freelance Training website for people who want to become freelance assistants in the construction, production and technical areas of the film and TV industry.

Film School Website

Includes information on film festivals as well as film schools and other events.

Start in TV

Information on various careers within the TV industry and advice about how to get into them.