Geek Jobs in Television Production?

Takeel asks: "I'm a geek who is about to graduate from university with a bachelor of science in television production, but, for the life of me, I can't seem to find any geek jobs in TV. I know these jobs have to exist in some form; if they didn't, we wouldn't have things like TechTV! :) Does anyone happen to know about or have a geek job in the TV production industry?"

Comments

Web Streaming

[The_Mighty_Squid]

As a geek with a BA in Broadcasting I found myself in web streaming and video on CD and DVD. I started out the normal way, PA. I was lucky enouph to be in a non-union shop where I was taught all aspects of TV production. Chyron, switcher, audio, and editing. All that knowledge helped me get ahead of the other guys who come from just a computer background.

My suggestion:
Start in traditional TV. Start low. Learn from others. Ask questions. Get as much hands on experiance you can. Learn about scopes and audion levels. In you spare time learn about codecs and non-linear editing. Adobe Premier is good. Learn other aspects of the web like Flash.

This is just my 2 cents and the way I went. Personally I find it the perfect combo of tradition TV producton and computers.

Good luck.

Re:Web Streaming

[Ooblek]

I used to work in post production, which I'm guessing is similar to TV. I'll tell you that you better love it before you get into it or else you'll get sick of dealing with the non-geek types.

If you start as a PA, make sure you're not the only one that knows how to run the teleprompter. I saw this poor girl that had a graphic design degree that they stuck on the teleprompter one day and I never saw her anywhere else again. Sure it gets you a spot on the stage, but I'm sure running a teleprompter is not a real challenge.

Geek jobs in TV

[AlecC]

Yes, there are plenty of geek jobs in TV. But, because there are vast numbers of people trying to "break into TV", you want to paly the geek angle heavier than the TV production angle. And I would suggest you don't start with the big broadcatsters. They may have many, many jobs, but they tend to promote from the bottom up. You need to look at the small production houses. They are the ones buying the latest tech in order to get that little bit of edge, and then need someone with the necessary tech knowhow to drive the bleeding-edge kit they have bought. Anybody who can really drive state of the art IT kit - whether windows or *nix - and also relate easily and constrictively to creative artists should have no trouble getting, and keeping, a good job. If you really can straddle the tech world and the artistic world, you are on to a good thing.

I'm a Geek for a Network

[CharlieG]

OK, I'm a geek for a major TV network supporting the News Division. Only ONCE did I do a project that was to appear "On Air" (And the Producer didn't use the shot)

Most of the work is fairly standard "Geek" work. I've written a system to track Video Tapes (VERY nice system), a system to deliver News Wires to the desktop, scripting "stuff" and stuff to deal with Elections data

Sure, It's in Network HQ, sure, I get to walk onto various sets almost at will, but the work could be anywhere, and it wouln't help you get a TV job

Reality

[Atrus5]

My father works in electronic maintenance, which is pretty much fixing anything other than light bulbs that break, at NBC4 in Washington D.C. He's worked there for about 20 years and is still near the bottom of the ladder, because they hire new people very rarely.

That's not really what you're interested, you want to do somehting that involves "mucking about with computers". Sorry, but most of the computer stuff lies in network graphics and the weather departments (the writers and related use computers to type stuff up obviously, but you're not interested in that, it seems). Most of the equipment uses "computers", but they're all highly specialized hardware systems the users never see. The places I mentioned before where you do see something that resembles your normal computer both demand specialists in their field. As for IT stuff for the normal machines, it's contracted out to outside firms. There just isn't much to muck around with.

You mentioned that you have expierience in non-linear editing. There are only about 5 editing suites in the building that use it, and they're for high-profile national-network and sports editing. Only their best editors use them. Sorry, there's just not much that the new people get to play with

Howdy, I've got a few answers

[Argyle]

I run the broadcast engineering and IT groups for the cable TV arm of a large entertainment company.

There is a wide range of jobs in the TV technology field.

There is a main split between the creatives that understand technology (like producers, graphics people, etc.) and the geeks that keep the technology running (maintenance, design, configuration, operations, etc.)

If you are a creative guy, I can't help much. That's not what I do.

What exactly are you interested in? "TV Production" would denote that you are involved with lighting, camera setup, etc. "Geek" would denote that you are involved with system design, signal quality, operations, etc.

The real hub of this kind of work is in Los Angeles. There is a huge amount of post-production done here at every level. Typically, people take lower end jobs to learn the 'real world' of production before being able to get a 'good' job doing it. Alot has to do with who you know in the business.

Email me if you want more info...