OT: - do you work for a news staiton?

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 7/21/2005, 10:37 PM
I've got a couple of questions - I was talking to a news anchor at one of my jobs today that I wouldn't mind getting out of - and he said that they were looking to hire a photographer. Said that the duties were basically shooting - running live feeds, and editing together bits - all things I'm highly capapble of, question is that he said that they'd want a demo reel - and I don't know what kind of content I want to put in there. Also - I assume that jobs like this don't require writing copy for the narrations because they're done by the talent, but more like I'd be matching their recordings. I'm just trying to not go in to it blind.

If you work in a TV station and know what kind of things you see in demo reels, I'd surely appreciate it.

Dave

Comments

David_Kuznicki wrote on 7/22/2005, 5:43 AM
Hey Dave--

We're not a news station (we're PBS), but since I do the hiring, hopefully some of this is relevent!

I look for a few basic things in a Production Associate. Can they shoot? (most people coming out of college can't. It's a dying art form!) Can they edit? (ALL of them know Final Cut Pro) Do they seem to have 'it'? (Is the demo reel cohesive?)

Since you're mostly putting together a reel to be able to go out and shoot stand-ups, B-Roll etc. (that's what I'm guessing, from the sound of it), just make sure that your footage is usable. It doesn't have to be anything arty, but enough so that an employer knows that you know the iris from the focus without having to be told! STRESS your shooting experience. Seriously.

If you also want to put on something that you've edited, either go with something flashy (did you put together a music video, perhaps?), or a news story of some sort that shows a clear point of view. Show them that: a) you can push the buttons & edit, and b) that your point of view on a story is worth sharing in your market. Local interest stuff (ie: local stories) sell in everything but the top 15 or so markets, so use it if you've got it!

Also, (and I'm being serious here!) KEEP IT SHORT. I literally throw out any demo reel longer than 5 minutes. I don't have the time to watch 47 minutes (which is the length of the longest reel I've gotten in the mail) of footage. The station will know within 1 minute of your reel whether or not you're right for them. Don't waste their time. Keep it short.

Finally-- be sure to make it clear what your role in the piece was. I've had plenty of reel where I had know idea what the applicant did in the piece. And I've had other times where their credit at the end didn't match up with what they said they did. Seriously.

Feel free to contact me offline if there's anything else I can help you with!

David M. Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
Dan Sherman wrote on 7/22/2005, 6:19 AM
Avid is the standard for most commercial news operations I know of.
There are some exceptions,---but few.
Most union shops are picky about who does what. Reporters usually write stories to the pictures, shot by a photog. then go to an editing suite where an editor does the hands-on work while the reporter (or writer) instructs him over the shoulder.
Over the past few years a hybrid has evolved. At smaller operations he/she shoots, writes and edits.
If you have never worked in a TV news operation you do not have the kind of demo reel the news director is looking for. That will be apparent to him/her. Be up front. Put together a SHORT reel of some or the projects you've done.
As David mentioned make it clear what your roll was.
Your challenge is to convince him/her you can translate your knowledge, skill and experience into a day-to-day TV news operation. He will be particularly interested in how you work under pressure. There will be times when you are cutting a piece with litterly seconds to air, and rolling from the edit suite.
News editing for the most part is kind of like working in a sausage factory. Crank it out,---fast.
If that sort of work environment appeals to you,---go for it.
But I would say in most medium to major markets you'll need to have some actual work experience and a reel of news stories you have actually edited in the pressure cooker of an editing suite.
Maybe a small market job would be a better choice if you are headed down the news tape editor road. The bonus is you may also learn a lot about writing to video and shooting. Valuable assets you will be able to use in many applications in the future, inlcuding making docs.
Good luck Dave and let us know how you make out.
All news directors got into the business because somebody gave them a break. Some folks are generous and will respond in kind.
Don't beg,---but it helps to grovel,---a bit. News directors respond to flattery.
Seriously though,---this is from a Canadian perspective where broadcasting is still much more government regulated.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 7/22/2005, 10:43 AM
Thanks guys - we're not much of anything but a small market here - we have maybe 300K in population. I don't know avid though - so that may kill me (so to speak), and I don't write my own things - for the most part (i've wrtten a couple of spots - but I let writters do most of my stuff - it's not my biggest strength - but I'm not bad at it.

Dave
plasmavideo wrote on 7/22/2005, 11:14 AM
Not all news operations use Avid.

A lot of stations use Grass Valley NewsEdit, a kind of hybrid between linear and non-linear editing, as well as NewsByte, Canopus and various others. Very few operations I know of use anything Mac based.

With NewsEdit, stories are cut and moved to Grass Valley Profile servers for playout.

Some stations stil use (believe it or not) tape to tape editing with an edit controller.

Believe me, it helps to have great general computer skills as well, as most newsrooms are fully computerized. A basic technical background is essential, as, depending on the job, you may well drive and operate an ENG truck with microwave and editing equipment. Also, in the field you wil run into many different situations with microphones, sat trucks, pool feeds, audio interfaces, etc. that will require you to use basic engineering skills and think on the fly.

Oh yeah - as was pointed out, shooting skills are an absolute. Knowing basic lighting techniques are essential. Learn how to tell a complete story visually in 30 seconds of edited video. Shoot lots of b-roll footage for fill and cutaways.

Good luck with whatever you try.
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 7/22/2005, 11:21 AM
I'm fairly confident in my ability to shoot - and tell a story with images (though it's not like I'm not full of doubt sometimes).

Thanks for the input guys - i might call him up and get a little more info.

Dave