Interviewee from M.A. didn't have much to say!

1. Mr. D’s role in the industry varies covering both television and film and doing everything from finding material to seeing the project through postproduction.

2. Mr. D went to a college that didn’t have a film program, so he and a few friends got together created a film and subsequently designed the college program.

3. Be truthful.

4. Find something else! There are honestly too many media students and very few actually find jobs in film. The key is to find your voice and your passion, then go with it!

Interview with Massachusetts "Jack of all trades"

1. Mr. S has done everything in the industry: producing, directing, acting and stunt work. Now a days, he usually works as an Assistant Director, breaking down scripts into schedules, scouting locations…

2. He began as a P.A. or “Go-for” working in commercials. He described his first job as an opportunity to watch and observe. He then began working as a Location Manager, which opened up the door for him to begin working on “Big Films”. His first job as an Assistant Director got him into the Director’s Guild. Mr. S has worked in both N.Y. and C.A.

3. You always figure it out! If there is no solution, then there must not be a problem to begin with. Basically, there is always a way around something or an alternative solution…sometimes, you end up coming up with something better!

4. Find another job! But if it is your passion, stick to it. The job is never easy and you have to make sacrifices. You must be flexible and open; be relentless and dedicated.

Interview with Massachusetts PM

1. Ms. V is a Production Coordinator or Production Manager depending on the job. Usually, her job includes booking the crew and equipment and overseeing people. Ms. V and her colleagues are usually referred to as the “Hub of Production”; they handle paperwork, orders, payroll, contacts, venders, cast lists… She works freelance on motion pictures but just recently began doing commercials as well.

2. Ms. V went to college and graduated with a degree in Communications. She began working in television and moved in to features shortly afterwards after beginning work for a production company.

3. The best thing to do is be honest and up front about it. Otherwise, it makes you look bad. Most of the time people are cool and understand that, sometimes, you just get overwhelmed.

4. Get a good internship, try everything and figure out what you like doing. People in the industry are usually very friendly and are willing to teach you, so do as much as you can. It’s a tough business but if you love it, go for it! It’s long hours and kind of a nomadic lifestyle. If you work freelance, it can be very uncertain at times but very rewarding and you meet lots of different people.

Interview with Niki Welge

Production Coordinator with

The Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment in Florida

Q: Can you briefly describe your job to me?

A: I am the state production coordinator. I work at The Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment. We are an executive branch under economic development. We are charged with bringing economics to the state of Florida. There are 59 local film commissions that work through our office. We work in conjunction to attract the industry to the state of Florida. I deal with production related inquiries like location, incentives, assistance…pretty much anything production related. I also deal with sales and the financial incentive program. I’m the only one that touches that program. I am the liaison with all the local film offices, and deal with stuff like shutting down bridges, national parks, etc. I do a lot with the permitting process and everything state related. I also assist with the tax credit program in the front end communication with people. I handle a lot of stuff here!

Q: How did you get started in this business?

A: I actually don’t have any film background! I come from a government background. I had a job working in D.C. working for the Department of Health. I began working in the Senate right out of college, and had almost no professional experience. I’ve been working in this office for seven years and I’m only 30. I started off as a film commissioners assistant, and since have been promoted four times and had pretty much every job in the office. I know this place backwards and forwards! I really know a lot about the government office and this office, but I don’t have a lot of film experience. But, working here I’ve gained the experience and knowledge needed to do my job.

Q: How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned talk?

A: Well, we have a very small office. There’s only 7 of us in this office. I have a great relationship with the State Film Commissioner, and there are not many tasks I haven’t been able to accomplish. We have a great line of communication, and if I felt something was too big to accomplish then I feel very comfortable asking for help. There are always people willing to assist us, and we have an amazing support staff. They support me and our Incentives Administrator. They do nothing but support us! With the addition of the support staff, it’s been an amazing transition. It’s really all about asking for help up front and not saving it until the very end. You’ve got to know your limits and your strengths.

Q: Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

A: Intern!!! It all depends on your interests. If you are interested in working in a film office you need to know two things. Number one, it is NOT a glamorous job. Number two, you need to get into an office and do the dirty work. It’s not all helping clients, visiting sets, meeting celebrities. It’s solving problems, working with unions, and cutting red tape. You must start from the beginning! Its not just knowing the film industry, it’s knowing how to get things accomplished, who does what, and you need to live it. You MUST get your foot in the door some way. You have to learn how to solve real-life problems once you leave college. You have to start from somewhere. In college I had a business focus, and once I got out of school I couldn’t find a job. I got into government work, and then became somebody’s assistant at this office. Without the assistant this office couldn’t run, and because I had that experience I know everything I need to know.

Interview

Interview on 9/16/10 with writer, producer, director Bo Buckley of

Wilmington, NC

When working for himself, Bo’s jobs as a writer and producer include:

Business and creative direction, deciding which projects to work on, finding everyone to be involved, making sure that, creatively, everyone involved works toward a common goal, handling distribution, responsible for finding money for shows, responsible to investors if anything doesn’t go right, reports to investors, finding the director for the project

When working for other, his job is generally assistant director and/or production manager.

As production manager – oversees the nuts and bolts of production, budget, crew , equipment management, insurance, paperwork, business, working with department heads, handling workers compensation when necessary

As an assistant director - works on set, letting everyone know whats going on with schedule, maintaining set, work outline

*at times needs to be assertive and at times needs to be sensitive in any of these rolls, takes it personally when people don’t do their job

Getting started: When he was a kid, he played with VHS camcorders making movies and commercials. For college, he went to USC (SoCal) for film and bounced around Wright State in Dayton, OH and finally at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh studying special effects, to learn a skill. He decided that wasn’t his path and moved toward people that were talented and stayed working with those friends, made teams with people that he wanted to work with to put together the elements of a project. His creative outlet is writing.

Telling people that he answers to that something can’t get done: It’s a difficult thing to tell someone that something hasn’t gone as planned and a fine line between a good delivery and a bad delivery of such information. It’s important to spin things as best you can to emphasize that you can make something positive out of something negative. Always focus on the fact that, out of bad things, good can come. “We couldn’t do this but we can do this.” Always maintain honesty, don’t throw someone under the bus, be responsible for what you do.

To anyone interested: whatever your dream, make sure you have a plan. Don’t just meander and say you want to do something without understanding what that career entails. Know what your role is before you commit to it and know what is involved and work towards that goal. The business is difficult and a large percentage of people that work in this industry are unemployed, have a backup plan or a different skill set. Network and don’t burn bridges, make friends and maintain contact with them because they may be able to offer you opportunities in the future. Watch others do their jobs and learn from them.

His websites: fearmakers.com, strangestuff.com

1. Job Description:

David Gottlieb is a freelance senior producer based out of North Carolina. Most of his work is done up north in New York but when legitimate work in the Charlotte or Wilmington areas comes up he works in North Carolina.

2. How Did He Get Started?

David found that he had a knack for film production in college and went to film school in Boston. He noticed that his grades in all other subjects were low while his grades in such things as producing and audio were A’s, so he’d found his “nitch.” He kept telling me to find my nitch and stick with it. He said the only way to make it is if you are really good at one aspect of production to start off with and you master that craft while learning others in the process.

3. How Do You Tell Someone Over You That You Couldn't Accomplish An Assigned Task?

David said to initially say yes to everything in your mind but be realistic in your job choice. It is either “sink or swim, feast or famine” so stick with stuff that you really know. Besides all that he said you have to get it done, in whatever you are pursuing.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?

Finding a nitch is key and like he said before, it is “feast or famine” in the production world. He said that it is hard to get into the business as a producer or director unless you are rich or know someone. I told him I wanted to do audio and he said that wasn’t a bad career path. From then on he told me to get my own gear to be even more prepared for opportunities. Along with that he said take a look at the post production side of things as it might be a good choice for getting that foot in the door.

Interview with Hilarey Kirsner

1. Brief description of job:

Hilarey is a freelance producer, production manager and post producer based out of Washington D.C. She handles an array of duties including: directing, writing scripts, budgeting, casting and managing corporate videos.

She has worked on projects for: Discovery Channel, TLC, Food Network, MTV, HGTV, AOL, Habitat for Humanity, Dept. of Defense, and more.

2. How she started:

After graduating, Hilarey began as an assistant to a producer, who was a friend of the family. He produced videos for events and he mentored her for the two years that she worked for him.

After Sept. 11^th she got laid off. Afterwards, with the support of maintained connections, she began freelancing.

She highly stresses maintaining all connections as you gain work, and meet potential customers.

3. Advice on telling someone that you can not accomplish an assigned task:

Hilarey says never tell someone that you cannot accomplish an assigned task, unless there is absolutely no way to get it accomplished. She then gave an example of how once she was assigned accounting duties. Even though she was not confident with her accounting capabilities she still managed to accomplish the task.

4. Advice for media students looking to start out:

Get an internship while you are still in school. It will be the first step in gaining exposure and connections. Hilarey interned at the non-profit organization, Women in Film and Video (http://www.wifv.org/). She says that she still benefits from connections made from this internship.

Lastly, she says if you ever have interest working abroad, then look into the media departments for the Peace Corp., State Dept., etc. All have production departments and would make traveling abroad a possibility.