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Geek Jobs in Television Production?

Posted by timothy on from the blue-screens-of-other-than-death dept.

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?"

2 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. Web Streaming by The_Mighty_Squid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

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  2. Geek jobs in TV by AlecC · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

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    Consciousness is an illusion caused by an excess of self consciousness.