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Rank: PB Member
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Is it better to study your chosen field in film to specialize (in my case post production) or work your way up?
I am in a quandry as to whether to study for an MA in post production or continue to try to work my way up. I have been working as a runner/edit assist for about a year with little chance of progression and wondered if it would be a better idea to try and get ahead by study instead...?
Any advice would be gratefully received! :)
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Rank: PB Member
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I think work, Samantha. In the same year it takes you to complete an MA, you could gain invaluable real-world experience, and save yourself a lot of money. I don't think there's much an MA could teach you that you couldn't teach yourself and learn as tape-op/machine room junior.
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Rank: PB Member
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I would always go for on the job training, its by far the best route, learning from a seasoned old pro......
who needs an MA, my old boss always went for the keen trainees every time
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Rank: PB Member
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You could always do both - you can do a modular MA with Skillset. It's a bit pricey to my mind but you should be able to fit it in around other work commitments.
At one time I would always have said do on the job training but now I'm not so sure.
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Rank: PB Member
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An MA in post production? Taught no doubt by people who have never worked in teh industry
I would imagine that even armed with an MA in PP you will turn up for day one at a post house to be told - put the t shirt on and then put the kettle on, a no doubt earn the nickname Prof...
Save yourself a fortune and mine is white without.
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Rank: PB Member
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Too true Dan but - and I'm saying this as one who went the whole apprenticeship way myself - that qualifications count now-a-days.
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Rank: PB Member
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Not that it matters to most, but in the U.S you got more of a chance practicing medicine than making T.V without a degree, I may be biased but you have to learn properly and making Tea won't make good T.V and is a very english way of doing things, you guys just love the thought pf people serving tea. But different strokes for different folks. Bit I do think things are changing and qualifications will start to matter if only to cut down the large amounts of people applying for jobs.
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Rank: PB Member
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Having a qualification doesn't mean you can do the job.
Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.
I've only twice, since going freelance, gotten jobs through applying for them. ALL the rest, and I mean dozens and dozens, are through knowing people in the industry who know you can do the job. The best way to know people in the industry is...
Maybe the part time way suggested above is a happy medium?
Having said all this, I got a qualification (HND) at Glasgow College of Building and Printing but their course is/was based entirely in the practical realm and was taught by lecturers still working in, or only just out of, telly.
And that was... oh f... 12 years ago!
Good luck whatever!
I.
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Rank: PB Member
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work, lig and beg I say. Not necessarily in that order. I'm cynical of the business motivations behind the people who run these courses. If you want good, short, cheap (as they are part funded by a bursary if you're self employed) then go to http://www.skillset.org/ and see if there's a course for you which will increase your technical knowledge. They're not bad, but no course is substitute for practical experience at the end of the day.
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Rank: PB Member
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In my experience these course are not worth the paper they are written one, it just makes the college figures look good for media studies.
So no help in furthering your career in Broadcasting,it would be more financial viable to get a job in a bank at least you will get a bonus every year.
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