Tim Jacobs Interviewing Joe French from Kentucky

Can you briefly define your job?

“My main job is I acquire media. I go into the field and shoot video, or I record audio known as ENG, Electronic News Gathering.”

How did you get started in this business?

“I joined the army. I was an army broadcast journalist. I did a pitch in the army and worked for Armed Forces Network and then when I got out of the service, I started working as a freelancer and I’ve had a couple of staff jobs as well at a local television station here. I do a lot of remote special broadcasts… stuff where a network doesn’t want to hire a full-time employee like its just one job on the road. For example a football game, a basketball game, or a live shot going on the news.”

How do you tell someone over you that you couldn’t accomplish an assigned task?

“Generally, you just have to be honest about what happened. A lot of times, I’ve had this happen before, where I would get an order to go interview someone and I would show up on-site at a camp and the interviewee does not want to be interviewed. Or the interviewee has left the location or something like that, and sometimes, you know, you just have to be honest and say what happened. I’ll tell you what, with television and motion picture production in general, here’s the best thing you can know: It’s a team sport. You cannot do it by yourself, it takes a concerted team effort. There are many jobs to be filled on any set, whether it is a news set or a movie set. No one person gets it done, it’s a team sport. A lot of things can happen to cause failure.”

Do you have any advice for a media student that is just starting out?

“Pick a specialty, and learn it well. Like I said before, it’s a team sport and you need to learn to become a member of a team. Once you get on a freelance crew, then sometimes you can learn different skills, but generally you want to find one skill and be the best at it.”

Todd Sanderson- Miles Franco Interview Extra Cred

> 1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

I'm an Avid non-linear film/video editor and After Effects compositor.

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> 2. How did you get started in the business?

I got started in high school working in the TV studio. I then went to college, dual majored in film/video and earned a Bachelors degree. Got work right out of college and never looked back. I've been an Avid editor professionally for 14 years.

>
> 3. How do you tell someone over you that you couldn't accomplish an assigned task?

It almost never happens. I'm the last rung on the ladder as it were. After all the writing, pre-production, shooting, directing is done... it all falls in my lap and never quite as it was intended. As an editor there is little to no margin for error and the time frame is always tight. If I must work late, so be it.

That said, there are two things I'll say to address your question, as it's a good one, and I've seen this issue ruin countless people in this industry.

1-Honesty without hesitation: This industry is filled with very creative and good hearted people. If I screw something up or make a mistake... I say so. I admit my failing, explain how it happened 'without making any excuses' and then fix it as fast as possible. A film/video is a collaboration of many different departments and all make errors along the way. I'm no different and %99.9 of my errors can be fixed, unlike the errors made during shooting.

I've seen people be fired because they deflect and lie to try and not be held accountable for a mistake they made.

2-Know how to see the future: When I'm assigned a task, I immediately gauge what's being asked of me, how much time I think it will take and if I need help. If those 3 things do not match what's being presented to me I say so then... not later when it's too late. If I need more time... I say so. If I need a 3D graphic artist to accomplish a complex animation... I say so. If the workload is too heavy for the time allotted, I ask for a second editor to work with me. Even if all these things are denied me, I've made it clear before we start that I'm being handed an unfair deck. This helps as the project moves along, and often halfway through the project, what I asked for is finally granted when the client sees I was right. The ability to see the future comes with time and experience.

I've seen people be fired because they wither under unreasonable demands, try their best and fail as was easily predictable. Failing at the 11'th hour is not acceptable. Look ahead and don't let it happen.

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

Burn no bridges... it's all about who you know in the end. That sleepy lazy student next to you in class... he may be the one hiring you in 4 years to work on his major motion picture.

Good luck,
Todd

Interview with Production Manager

1. I am currently working as an Assistant Production Coordinator (APOC), which I have been doing since early 2008. I was an office PA and production secretary before that, but I'll talk more about that in answer #2. My experience as an APOC has generally involved the following (and I will try to be brief): sitting at a desk in the production office for 10-12 hours a day, answering the phones, sending emails, ordering equipment for various departments such as tape and markers for camera, microphones and transmitters for the sound department, gels and light bulbs for electric, lumber and clips for the grip dept, wigs for hair, make up for make up, etc, making sure the cast and crew have all the information they need - scripts, schedules, contact lists, travel information, shipping, etc. Depending on the show, there is sometimes quite a bit of paperwork to do in order to be compliant with the studio (such as NBC for Friday Night Lights or New Line for Friday the 13th). Then there is the random stuff that comes up that ends up taking up quite a bit of my time as well - finding a coffee truck to come to set at 8pm to serve the cast and crew coffee all night, convincing a bar or restaurant to stay open late for the crew, finding a restaurant in a far off city to deliver a smorgasbord of food to a crew member' who had a death in the family, finding 100 ponchos and rain boots ASAP because it started raining and we are shooting outside and the location just turned into a mud pit. I could go on - but hopefully you get the idea!

2. Short answer: I walked my resume around to production offices in Austin for a few weeks until someone hired me. Long answer: I got started after college. I grew up in Texas, went to college in Colorado and wanted to move back to Texas after graduating with a degree in English (I had no plans to get into film). At the time, my brother was working in the art and construction departments on various Robert Rodriguez films in Austin - Spy Kids, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Shark Boy & Lava. I thought film work would be a good way for me to find a temporary paying job in Austin while I figured out what I really wanted to do. He introduced me to a few people in the industry, told me where some other film productions offices were located and sent me off to talk someone into hiring me. I walked my resume into 4 or 5 different offices (Austin was hopping with films at that time) until the kind coordinator on a reality show called "Rollergirls" hired me as an office production assistant (PA), mainly because I had a big reliable car at the time. The show failed miserably, but I got a paying job, worked my butt off as a PA on that show for 6 months, made friends and contacts who then recommended me for the next job, and the next job, and the next job etc. 5 years later, I am still in film - 2 years as an office PA, a year as a production secretary and the past 2 years as an APOC.

3. That's never happened, I always accomplish everything. :) Not true, many times I am given crazy, ridiculous tasks that cannot be completed (such as being asked to call that one restaurant and talk them into staying open late for us, even though I know for a fact that the owners will not stay open late for anyone, anytime, for any reason.) I explore all the options, try as many solutions as I can before I go to my boss and say "I can't do this." Usually my boss (or bosses) will ask if I tried A, B. and C before they will accept "I can't" or "I didn't." I try to make sure I have done everything I can think of before I walk into their office so that I can say "hey, I know you wanted me to do this, but I tried A, B, C, D and E I still can't do it. Do you have any other suggestions?" Most times, they do have a suggestion that works as they have many more years of experience. But sometimes there are things that just can't be done when we need them to and usually they know this and will accept it. And sometimes it means sucking it up and taking the blame for not doing something, when it is not my fault that it didn't get done.

4. My advice applies more directly to film, but I think it is applicable to almost any field of work: work hard and get to know people in your industry. As great as it is to have a killer resume, your chances are much higher of getting a job if you know someone in that field of work. In my opinion, you are better off with a decent resume and great recommendations - word of mouth recommendations are a good 70% of the reason I hire people. The other 30% is attitude and availability. If you can't find a paying job, try to get an unpaid internship, work your butt off, meet people and get an inside look at what it is really like in your desired field. Work hard, be flexible, be available and have a good attitude, it will pay off!

Interview with Assistant Director

Can you briefly define your job to me?
I am the assistant director. Basically I maintain the order on the set. I mainly rangle the extras.

How did you get started in the business?
I started off as taking theatre in high school. While in high school I became involved with video production. I decided that it was something I wanted to do and decided to pursue it as a career. After graduating from North Carolina School of the Arts I started doing miscellaneous work. Eventually, I got a gig as an intern for Little Miss Sunshine in 2006. I have been working my way up for the past few years. Currently, I’m the second assistant director for City of Jerks.

How do you tell someone that they are not accomplishing an assigned task?
I would let them know they are not doing the task the way it needed be, and show them the ropes.

Any advice for a media student starting out?
If this is your passion, then do it. If it's something you want it will work out for you.

Interview with Assistant Director

Can you briefly define your job to me?
I am a assisstant director. I'm responsible for running the set and maintaining a constant flow on set. I’m mainly in charge of arranging the cast and crew.

How did you get started in this business?
I attended USC (California) and graduated in 2004. After graduation, I started doing work with Courage. I later went on and interned with different producers. I was given the chance to go to the Tribeca Film Festival to intern. I would later come back to South Carolina and began work as a base camp director for Army Wives. After wrapping up Army Wives, I mainly traveled along the East Coast doing work. Now, I’m based in Georgia. Recently, I wrapped up The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford. The film deals with the assassination of President Lincoln. Other recent work includes working as a PA on Dear John (2009) and Meet the Spartans (2008). I was recently admitted into the Directors Guild of America.

How do you deal with someone who is not carrying an assigned task?
I would pull them aside and try to teach them. I believe in having a stable team when I work. I want my workers to feel comfortable with me, and not view me as a tyrant. I want them to be able to come and talk to me if they feel they need help, because that is how a team works. If the person is an intern, its expected for them to mess up because they are learning.

Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?
Follow your dreams and go for it. If this is something you want, you’ll find others that will be willing to help you. It’s all about building connections.

Interview with Louisiana AD

Interview with Ann C. Salzer
Assistant Director on Ray, Freelancer


-Can you briefly define your job to me?
"1st AD is the director's right hand, they will take a script and break it down and develop it per department and then break it down further to schedule for filming. On a day-to-day basis they are to handle filming and making sure every shot has been shot and every prop is ready, etc."


-How did you get started in the business?
"In photography after college, even though she studied computer science. Her cousin called her up for a job and she started as an office PA. She walked onto set she was sold. After that she kept going from project to project. She went to LA for a time and then came back to New Orleans and has been in the business for 22 Years. "


-How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?
"Be honest and straight up tell them. Never lie and always have a solution to the problem. By scheduling prepare a fallback in case."


-Do you have any advice for a media student starting out
"Find somebody who's going to give you that break. Doesn't matter where you start just so long as you get your foot in the door. Doesn't even matter if you know where you want to go just so long as you're able to start. Also, be very political, know how to give someone an idea to go along with you on your own vision."

Interview with Massachusetts "Big Wig"

1. Ms. B is a Production Manager who’s responsibilities include creating the budget, hiring the crew and obtaining equipment. For her a typical job lasts 7 to 8 months and breaks down as follows: 8-10 weeks for prep, 12-16 for shoot, and 4 weeks for wrap.

2. She went to school to study Broadcast Journalism and worked for a short period in Europe doing news. Upon returning to the States, she got a job on a production working as a “Go-For”. She worked her way up in the business form there.

3. Finesse it! You never tell them no! Through diligence and research you always find another solution.

4. Run Away! Seriously, you learn by doing and you’ll learn so much more in one day on set then in years of schooling. To be successful in the industry, you must be humble and passionate. It’s important to have a thick skin and be prepared to work long hours. Starting off, you have to be willing to do anything, without compromising your values and have stamina. You will meet some of the nicest people and some of the nastiest people in the business, regardless; you have to believe in yourself.