VIDEO, SOUND, & MUSIC PRODUCTION
A CENTRAL MONTCO TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
SECTION 2 LECTURES
THE TOP 7 JOBS IN THE MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY
1. FILM/VIDEO EDITOR
The explosion of online and mobile video content had led to a corresponding increase in demand for film and video editors, who take raw footage and transform it into a finished product. Editors must be adept at using film editing software programs and generally have a degree related to film or broadcasting.
Median Pay: $59,810
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 11% (For film/video editors and camera operators.)
2. VIDEO PRODUCER
If you spend any time online, you've probably noticed that video is taking over your favorite sites. Someone has to create those eye-catching, meme-inspiring video moments, and that person is a video producer. As the internet video boom continues, expect to see more of these jobs on the horizon.
Median Pay: $74,420
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 5% (For producers and directors.)
3. PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
If you have fantastic communication skills and are comfortable talking up the merits of your favorite brand or product, a career in PR might be the perfect fit for you. PR specialists typically work for advertising agencies, public relations firms, or large companies with in-house PR teams. They design and execute media strategies to keep their employer's products and services in the news—in a good way.
Median Pay: $61,150
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 6%
Tips for Starting a Career in Public Relations
4. SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER/BLOGGER
Companies often employ bloggers as part of their marketing strategy; an engaging blog provides a friendly public face for the company, while potentially helping the organization's ranking on Google and other search engines. Writers who work primarily on blogs have to be able to turn out attention-grabbing copy that adheres to the organization's voice and style guidelines while keeping social media and SEO principles in mind.
Median Pay: $63,200
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: Little or no change (For all writers and authors, including bloggers.)
5. SOUND ENGINEER
Sound engineers work in a variety of different environments, from recording studios to stadiums to theaters, recording sound files. They also often maintain recording equipment. Sound engineers have variable schedules, depending on the needs of their clients.
Median Pay: $45,510
Typical Education: Non-Degree Certificate
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 8% (For broadcast and sound engineering technicians.)
6. ART DIRECTOR
Art directors design visual concepts for promotions and products. They may work in print, online, television, and other media. Depending on their industry, art directors may have previously worked as graphic designers, photographers, or illustrators. To succeed at this job, you must be able to communicate well and manage a team of artists, as well as have proficiency in relevant design software.
Median Pay: $94,220
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 1%
7. SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
If you already spend most of your time on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc., the good news is that it doesn't have to be a waste of time. If you're willing to embrace the strategic marketing side of social, you might be able to turn your passion into a career. Just be advised: in addition to a bachelor's degree and plenty of social media know-how, this job requires tact and discretion. The internet never forgets.
Median Pay: $61,150 (For public relations specialists.)
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Outlook, 2018-2028: 6% (For public relations specialists.)6
Careers in Multimedia Marketing
According to a report published by the International Newsmedia Marketing Association, multimedia advertising is becoming mainstream. Advertising agencies, public relations firms, Internet marketing companies, and other media companies, including newspapers and magazines, are employing multimedia as a major strategy for improving service and gaining an edge over the competition. Following is a sampling of career opportunities available in the realm of multimedia marketing:
Advertising manager
Creative director
Media director
Marketing or promotions manager
Product development manager
Market research manager
Public relations manager
Multimedia Careers in the Entertainment Industry
In filmmaking, multimedia technology is changing the way movies are created, as well as how they are distributed. In the world of video gaming, visual effects are reaching extraordinary levels thanks to advancements in animation and other multimedia technologies. If you have an undergraduate degree in multimedia and would like to work in the entertainment industry, then consider the following careers:
Digital camera operator
Sound engineering technician
Multimedia artist
Film and video editor
Dubbing editor
Sound effects editor
CAREER SPOTLIGHTS
FILM/VIDEO EDITOR
Program Tasks related to this program:
601 Identify and use various script formats (i.e., radio, TV, 2 columns, and screenplay).
602 Develop a storyboard and shot list.
603 Import and/or transfer media into editing software.
604 Use video and audio effects and transitions.
605 Add titles to video production.
606 Export finished project for distribution.
Career Overview:
The Editor is yet another unsung hero in the filmmaking process. For a century of film history, Editors have taken raw footage and worked to transform it into a cohesive whole. Basically making one thing from many. But, how do they do it?
What skills does a Video Editor need?
Storytelling is the number one skill a video editor must-have, noting you must see the video through the eyes of your audience and consider how your edits affect the story you’re telling. Knowledge of editing tools such as Apple’s Final Cut Pro or Adobe’s Premiere Pro is key. Taking a course or subscribing to a teaching site such as lynda.com to develop your skillset. Experience with After Effects, color grading, and sound software, as well as the latest in mobile, will make you an invaluable asset. Attention to detail and the ability to think laterally and visually are also important.
AUDIO ENGINEER
Program Tasks related to this program:
604 Use video and audio effects and transitions.
606 Export finished project for distribution.
607 Identify types of microphones and pickup patterns.
612 Monitor and record proper audio levels.
Career Overview:
A sound engineer is one of those great jobs for people interested in both technology and the arts. It requires a lot of technical expertise, but also requires a creative bent that helps musicians and performers realize their artistic intent.
If you have a sensitive, well-trained ear and enjoy messing around with electronics, becoming a sound engineer may be just the career for you.
What skills does a Sound Engineer need?
All right, so what exactly does a sound engineer do? The typical visual is of someone in front of a huge soundboard with all its levers, dials, and panels. That's part of it. In truth, the person sitting at the soundboard may be a sound engineer or an audio engineer. The roles are similar, but a sound engineer has more responsibility for the success of a project than does an audio engineer. In fact, spending time as an audio engineer may be a stepping stone to becoming a sound engineer.
A sound engineer is responsible for the technical side of a recording or live performance. The sound engineer designs and manages sound levels and outputs, and is responsible for maintaining the physical sound equipment, like amps and microphones.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Program Tasks related to this program:
601 Identify and use various script formats (i.e., radio, TV, 2 column, and screen play).
602 Develop a storyboard and shotlist.
604 Use video and audio effects and transitions.
608 Apply story-telling concepts to a project.
609 Distinguish frame rates.
610 Demonstrate the proper operation of a video camera.
611 Apply white balance procedures to the production environment.
Career Overview:
Cinematography is the art of photography and visual storytelling in a motion picture or television show. Cinematography comprises all on-screen visual elements, including lighting, framing, composition, camera motion, camera angles, film selection, lens choices, depth of field, zoom, focus, color, exposure, and filtration.
What skills does a Cinematographer need?
A cinematographer, also known as a Director of Photography, is in charge of the camera and the lighting crew. They’re the person responsible for creating the look, color, lighting, and for framing of every single shot in a film. The film’s director and cinematographer work closely together, as the main job of a cinematographer is to ensure that their choices support the director’s overall vision for the film. The cinematographer may also act as the camera operator on more low-budget productions. Cinematographers who work their way up in the film industry can join the American Society of Cinematographers, which gives awards for the best cinematography and allows members to put “ASC” after their name in credits.
WEB DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA
Program Tasks related to this program:
501 Identify and use basic HTML elements to create a web page.
502 Integrate graphics and links to an HTML page.
503 Demonstrate the properties of typography in HTML and CSS.
504 Describe concepts of responsive Web Design (i.e., cell phone, tablet, desktop).
505 Create, publish, and manage a supervised site (e.g., YouTube channel, website, wiki, or blog).
506 Describe the various network protocols (e.g. FTP, SMTP, HTTP, etc.)
Career Overview:
A web designer is someone who is both creative and technically inclined, and uses both these attributes to build or redesign websites. The web designer has the ability to understand what is needed to make a website functional and easy to use, but at the same time make it aesthetically appealing to the user.
What skills does a Cinematographer need?
A web designer's main job is to design web pages. There is a lot to consider in the design of websites which may not be immediately apparent when looking at a webpage for the first time. The aesthetic aspect is an important one and selecting the appropriate colors, font, layout, and images creates the whole personality of the website. In addition to considering aesthetic aspects, the usability of the website has to be a priority. It is important to create a page that the target market can relate to.
CAREER RESEARCH AND PLANNING SUPPORTING LINKS
Welcome to your tool for career exploration and job analysis!
O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development, and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!
MyPlan.com
No, MyPlan isn’t paying me to promote their site. It’s just so useful that I have to recommend it again. There are four different career assessments on MyPlan.com: interests, personality, values, and skills. The values assessment is free, and I’ve found it to be very accurate. If you take all four tests, you can view your composite career rankings. MyPlan also has career satisfaction ratings, salary data, and tons of other useful information.
Career Key
The career key personality and career test is based on Holland’s theory and costs $9.95 (you do not need to take the test). Careerkey.org also has information about changing careers, job satisfaction, choosing a major, and identifying your skills.
The Career Project
If you’re looking for honest information about careers, I recommend thecareerproject.org. You’ll find thousands of career profiles from people that actually work in those professions. Workers report information about income, benefits, work environment, and job satisfaction. You can also view a day in the life, where users detail their workdays hour-by-hour.
QuintCareers
The career exploration section at QuintCareers offers hundreds of career planning articles, links, and tools. Resources include industry magazines, checklists, and directories. The site also has college planning, financial aid, and job search resources. No matter what your career stage, QuintCareers is a must-visit website.
National Career Development Association
Career counseling can help you decide on a career path based on a variety of factors. If your high school or college doesn’t have a career counselor, or if you’re considering a career change, you may need to look for an independent career counselor. Read the guidelines for choosing a career counselor, including your rights as a consumer and responsibilities as a client. You can also search for a career counselor near you in the National Career Development Association counselor database.
Career One Stop
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, careeronestop.org offers salary data, employment trends, and self-assessments. You can download the work importance locator, which identifies features that are important in a job. Skills, abilities, and interest assessments are also available.
Mapping Your Future
Whether you’re just starting out on your career planning journey or making a career change, you’ll be sure to find the information you need at mappingyourfuture.org. The site offers career exploration and college planning resources, in addition to entrance and exit loan counseling.
There are plenty of other excellent career planning sites on the Internet, but I chose these sites based on information accessibility and authority. This is not a comprehensive list and is only based on my opinion and experiences. This list can help start your career planning process, but you should also look for other resources that suit your specific situation and preferences.