Unit 7: Understanding the Creative Media Sector - REBECCA

Unit 7: Understanding the Creative Media Sector

1.     Understand the structure and ownership of the media sector

2.     Understand ethical and legal constraints within the media sector

3.     Understand the regulation of the media sector

4.     Know about employment opportunities and job roles in the media sector

5.     Be able to prepare personal career development material

Sectors

Film

Television

Publishing

Interactive Media

Games

Radio

Photo Imaging

Advertising

Animation

Research ONE media sector and find out what job roles are available

List the roles that you are most interested in

Are these jobs entry-level posts?

Are the jobs likely to be short-term freelance or long-term employed posts?

Choose one job role and research:

·      What the job involves

·      Skills, qualifications and experience needed

·      Pay rates

·      Types of employment

·      What you need to apply

Television Industry

There are over 55 jobs involved in the television industry. A select few include actors, art directors, camera operators, choreographers, costume designers, television directors, editors, executive producers, graphic artists, lighting directors, location managers, make-up and hair artists, marketing managers, prosthetics artists, receptionists, television researchers, sound supervisors, stunt performers and television presenters.

The roles I am most interested in are the job roles of actors, agents, camera operators and stage performers. 

Actor

Actors are involved in the film, radio and television industries. Their job is to interpret a writer's script and bringing it to life and also to create various different characters. To fulfil this role, you would need to:

know how to prepare for and perform at auditions and casting sessions

have a good short-term memory and the ability to ‘learn and forget’, especially when working on a popular drama series with little time for rehearsals or repeat takes

be able to learn new lines at very short notice, to accommodate script changes and cuts

be able to assume a different body shape or language

be able to drive 

have singing and dancing skills, ideally

have clear and concise diction, and be able to assume different regional and national accents

be able to deliver lines at a specific pace and to precise timings, particularly when dubbing lines onto live action or animation

have strong powers of observation, in order to learn from others' body language and create believable characters

be aware of how your performance may be affected by: the types and positions of microphones, cameras and cables; different lighting techniques; the requirements of different sets and locations; and whether there is a live audience for a studio recording 

be aware of a professional etiquette 

You will need to train to become a professional actor in order to work in the film and television industries. There are full time-academies that offer full-time acting courses including children in the primary school region, such as the Sylvia Young Theatre School, situated in London, which offers children aged 4-18 years old. There are specialist drama schools who usually only accept students aged 18 years. These schools have strong links with acting agencies, casting directors, production companies and broadcasters. There is a down side in becoming an actor, as there are no guarantees of work or progression. If you are managed to get work and for example, you work on a film for 10-12 weeks will get a minimum pay rate of $2,506 per week (£1,750 per week). For a project over 20 weeks, actors will get a minimum pay rate of $2,087 per week (£1,458 per week). 

Regulations in becoming an Actor

You will need to ensure that all the actors and/or contributors (e.g. interviewees) who appear in your film sign a contributor's release form, giving you the rights to use their performances in your film and in the related marketing. Release forms aren't necessary for anyone who appears as part of a crowd scene or fleetingly in the background of your film.

Some clauses to look out for in actors' agreement are:

Term of Engagement: Producers should be entitled to the exclusive services of an actor for X amount of days/weeks to complete filming of the part (usually referred to as "the shooting period"). In addition the agreement should set out if the actor will be required for rehearsals and wardrobe fittings. Subject to the actor's prior professional commitments, the producer may also require the actor for retakes, post-synchronisation and otherpost-production services.

Remuneration: The agreement should set out what monies are to be paid to the actor and when. For short films payment is often due once all services are rendered by the actor i.e. at the end of the shooting period. In feature films, payment is usually paid in equal instalments at the end of each week of the shooting period.

Expenses: This sets out what expenses the producer is providing the actor e.g. transport, accommodation, per diem allowance.

Credit: This clause should state the position of the actor's credit(e.g. front or end credits) and whether it will appear on a single card in the on-screen credits. It should also state as to whether the actor will be credited on any advertising material.

Health: Actors should give assurance that they are not suffering from any injury, illness and the like which would prevent them from rendering their services and are often expected not to engage in hazardous activities during shooting.