where are the jobs these days

[Person Lastly]

saw a link to this article posted on another forum. might give some insight as to where things “could” be heading for much of the industry.

the industry in 10 yrs:

https://www.gbn.com/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=34045

my comment:
interesting read. there is no doubt the landscape is changing. in my small opinion to add to the discussion, in order to continue to make a living for us established in the industry (whatever niche it may be) we need to welcome the new evolving tools in which to support our creative thinking and productivity. and don’t use the tool for the tool’s sake, but for creative’s sake. that is the key.

when desktop publishing came out, consumers were overwhelmed with bad work in the form of flyers, print, illustrations, you name it. it completely desensitized the consumer. as it will happen when they are overwhelmed with this new form of motion media delivered in the future via many different viewing platforms. the consumer will become desensitized and fragmented and confused. some type of ‘filtration/rating’ system will have to be created to help decide what is worth their time. it won’t be as simple as flicking channels because there will be to many.

but, having said all this, what will always cut through is the best creative work, period. if a song is good, people will find a way to hear it. if a film, music vid, spot, etc. is good, people will find a way to watch it. so keep the focus highly creative in order to survive. just my 2 cents.
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editor

[Kevin Herrin]

I agree that the creative work will shine through. I think a key to that is consistentcy in the delivery of quality work. Though that is no different than any other industry out there. The reason I am asking these questions is I have been looking for a position for about a year now and I am trying to get a grasp what market is wanting. It still amazes me how crappy the production value of some shows I see on discovery and the like. I’m thinking “how did these people get the job”. Anyway, now I’m rambling.
Thanks
Kev

[Bob Cole]

[Kevin Herrin] “Or is it still who you know more that what you know.”

Who you know IS what you know. Be genially persistent. I know a very good DP who simply hung around a public tv station for months after his internship and pay ended, while the public tv station advertised fruitlessly for a new cameraman, ignoring him totally… until the day before the funding was about to be cut, when they panicked, & hired the intern. It was the start of a great career, and if he hadn’t gotten that break, he may not have become a DP. otoh, he probably would have gone into real estate and made several million dollars….

— Bob C

[Charley King]

[Kevin Herrin] “Or is it still who you know more that what you know.”

Who you know helps open doors, what you know keeps them from closing again.

I look at the quality of work compared to quantity of work today. Compared to a frew years ago when I could almost name my price to any production or post house. Today there is an abundance of mediocre talented people who work for practically nothing, and since equipment is considerably cheaper more houses producing mediocre product with these mediocre talents.

It is not as easy for the truly creative person to find a hole to step into.
I often said if I had gone into this business purely for teh money I should have become a ditch digger instead. It isn’t the glamore either, it is just a pure love of the creations you turn out.

Where is the work, it is still where it always was. It is all around us. We must endure until the markets finally come back to the reality that quality work comes with quality people, and the producers decide if you are going to make movies, get into the movie business, if you are going to make commercials, sell a product, don’t create a mini movie to make yourself feel important.

OK Time to get off my soap box
Charlie

[Timothy Wright]

What Charlie is saying, and the other guy about, what you know keeps the doors from closing once you are in is the truth.

It may very well take months or years to find a few good accounts, but once you do you will be doing good.

I have changed from doing weddings to no weddings and all corporate and legal video. To it a completely different market segment I have become a “ditch digger,” actually mowing lawns and getting into landscaping, working to hiring a crew to work for me while I do my videos. I am making more money in the lawn mowing than I was as a pro video editor/camera op working for another company 40 miles from home.

The video market is starting to crack for me, but it has taken time. So you might have to divide and conquer so to speak just to survive.

Tim