Is education needed for job opportunities?

[Simon Carlson-thies]

Its a lot harder to land a job if your self taught, that at least has been my experience… not to say its impossible but you’re reel will have to be very good and you’ll have to have better then average references. It also really depends on your employer, some may care some may not.

Any place in particular that you had your eye on…?

My personal opinion is that school is a good idea and I personally would recommend it to anyone… it will give you a whole lot of options that you won’t otherwise have… you may even find some new thing that your interested in that you wouldn’t have guessed… but this is just me… and I do theoretical research in a range of fields so its essential for me to have degress on the end of my name…

Simon Carlson-Thies,
Digital Light Graphics And Animation

[Jt]

There are a few places specifically that I am going to try approaching, but will also talk to people I know, to try and sniff out any other leads.

What would everyone say the best approach to landing a job is? Dropping by with a reel and resume, giving a phone call, and warning them that you’re going to be coming with such, or what? Up until now, my work has been word of mouth, or people seeing it, and contacting directly… so, this self-promotion thing is new to me. 😉

Thanks again!

[Jeremy Doyle]

It was my experience that school is kind of like networking. It lets you meet a lot of people and give you connections you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. As for the actual education part of it… I learned a lot of theories on how and why, but actually using tools, I’ve learned way more playing around with them and learning myself. Most of the books that teach specific programs are as good as training at most schools.

If you have a killer demo and already have contacts, I don’t know that school would do much for you exept give you bills to pay.

[Shane Ross]

I have never seen a job look at my education when considering me for work. All they care about is your Reel and Resume.

That being said, the best place to learn what you need to know, and to build your resume is school. Free use of equipment, and professors teaching you the craft of production and post production. The only other way to gain this experience is to work your way up from the VERY bottom of production and post at a post facility or production company. If you know nothing, then you will be at the very bottom. But if you come out of school with a skill, then you may land at a low position with a specific department.

Plus going to school offers you education in other areas…to make you a more well rounded individual. AND…with a knowledge of all aspects of production (that school will offer) you will know how to make your own film/TV show if needed.

One big arguement that I got into with a fellow classmate (who was dropping out) was that production companies are more likely to hire a guy who worked on 5 films than a guy right out of film shool. This is true. But that isn’t a fair comparison. You need to compare people just starting out. So would they most likely hire a kid who went to film shool or someone with no experience whatsoever? Film school, for they have a basic knowledge of all aspects of filmmaking. He dropped out anyway. Shame really.

Shane

Alokut Productions
http://www.lfhd.net

[Kevin Monahan]

I’ve got a BA in RTVF. Has it helped me? Yes. I learned how to write screenplays and papers that were actually thought provoking. I learned how to watch films from around the world critically. I learned how to debate. I became more interested in the world. I learned how to harness my creativity. And, I learned how to be part of a team. If you’re young enough, I highly recommend going to college. You have the time to fill up your brain with all sorts of interesting things. Your “well” will have plenty to draw from while you’re trying to make a living as a creative professional.

I spent 5 months in a vocational school becoming a hardcore Avid editor after college. Did that help me? Most definitely. One thing that I learned in college is that your technical skills need to be updated every 5 years or so. This was a wise investment because after this training, I got some hardcore chops on Avid, which has given me good FCP chops as well.

If you are “self-taught” and learn all the button pushing things you need to know, you still aren’t getting the full story. You really need to be trained by someone who knows the ropes. My instructors were passionate, but they were also tough. A nice by-product of that is that if toughens you up too. You learn to settle for nothing less but a great edit at the very highest quality. I learned not only how to be creative with the tool, but I also learned not to fear computers. I like the idea of not only being an artist, but also becoming a proficient technician. These two traits go well together in the job market.

Is education needed for job opportunities? No. You can dupe anyone with a decent reel. Education is something you should do for yourself. I recommend both college and tech school, if your real desire is to become a well-rounded story teller.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Workshop!
fcpworld.com
Pres. SF Cutters

[Jt]

I actually have more expeience than I think I’ve given the impression of, and my storytelling skills in the edits are what clients have appreciated most, thus far. I’ve got an award winning short film that I wrote, shot, edited and directed (along with my twin brother, who I have collaborated with, much, to date), as well as a few documentaries, which have been broadcast/sold thousands of copies, and one that won an award for the director… I’ve also gone to an intesive screenwriting program in LA, called Act One.

You may not want to, but I’d be happy to send a copy of my resume that I have been working on lately, and see what you think of it, in comparison to other folks getting decent jobs, out there. I’ve got lots of great experience, and apparently talent, and skill, as well; my two things I am lacking are years and college, being 22, and self-taught.

Let me know if you want to take a look at my resume, to see what you think!

[Walter Biscardi]

[JT] “In the world of post production/production, is it necessary to have had some school background of some sort, to increase the likelyhood of landing a job?”

Absolutely. I think that a well rounded education only serves to improve your worth and your ability to tell stories. And as Kevin notes, you get to play with more free equipment in college than you ever will be able to play with in the “real world.” I produced and edits probably hundreds of video projects and short films in college. People wanted me to cut their stories because I was really picking up storytelling. At the same time, I spent a lot of time working with the theater groups where I did a lot fo lighting and that has really helped me today when working with lighting designers on my projects.

I minored in American History in college and that came in very handy when I started right out of college at CNN. I knew some topics and understood some political stories quite easily so Producers gravitated towards me as their choice editor. I got noticed and moved up into some high end units very quickly.

This also helped me greatly when I went to work for Foxwoods Resort Casino which is owned by a Native American Tribe. I very much understood the history and culture of the tribe and that helped me work very well with both the Casino management and the Tribe. It was here that I designed my first Post facility and that really elevated my stock.

Now I’ve been on my own about 6 years now and everything I have built still has its foundations in my college education. Can you be the next great editor without education? Probably, but I’m going to be looking at your reel and your foundation when considering someone for a job here.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters