Unlocking the door...

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breaking_in

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Hi Chiefs,

I have a few questions about breaking into the local news realm that perhaps a few of you would have answers or advice about.

First, me in a nutshell:

After getting my degree, I worked as an Audio Tech, Studio Cam Op, Audio Engineer, and occaisional Photog for a production house that shot a weekly 1 hr. magazine show for CNBC, a 1/2 hr. magazine show for syndication, and a ton of daily news for broadband.

When that shop lost its shows and scaled back, I went freelance, shooting mostly corporate/PR inhouse projects, a couple of (other people's) vanity documentaries, and pilot for a local show.

My break came when the local CBS affiliate (O&O in top 5 market) hired me to travel to Central America, South America, and Eastern Europe for one of their local shows. I field produced one story, shot a 4-part series, and a half-hour special which won Emmys for my producer and I.

The next two years I spent in Eastern Europe working on a couple of talent agency startups with some people I met while doing my story there, plus I managed to shoot most of a long-form doc (which will be released in theaters in the next few months) with a producer I randomly met while there.

In this past year since returning to the US, I've sent out a tall stack of demo reels to small-mid, small, and flea-sized markets (approx. #50-200) and have had little response.

I finally had to settle with a Master Control job in a sub-150 market. After a couple of months, I asked my boss if I could talk to the Assignment Manager about their open Photog position, I gave him my reel (which he was happy to take), and still, after 2.5 months, no response.

My questions for you guys are:

Would my reel have to really SUCK to not even get an interview in this situation? Or do I really miss the qualification mark that widely?

On hiring, do Small Market Chiefs think candidates will not move 1000+ miles for an entry-level job (or won't stay?)? Do they prefer previous employers with call-letters?

It is incredibly frustrating spending my days in Master Control watching most of our Photogs send us paks and liveshots that are so sloppy and sub-standard that I would have been fired for even trying to submit in any other situation I've been in. I'm not the kind of person who gets off by putting others down, but geeez, I'm really chewing my nails here.

Any thoughts?
 
I'm just taking a guess here, but I would bet your reel doesn't have any news packages on it. It sounds like it's all long-form or corporate... and that is a whole different world of shooting.

When a chief pops in that tape, they are not going to relate it to everyday news coverage. Either it is highly produced or irrelevant corporate footage. What you need to do is find a way to convince those that your tape that you are capable and willing to learn to adapt to news.

Additionally, if you just hand over a tape you can't assume that it will get watched. The chief that hasn't called after 2.5 months has long ago forgotten about you. Go out there and get his attention. Offer to shadow a crew or shoot some weekend stuff for them. You have to get the attention of those doing the hiring.
 
What about the CBS affiliate that hired you for their stuff? Do they have any openings or know of any?... Not all the O&Os are Top 10 stations.
 
Originally posted by Stoney:
I'm just taking a guess here, but I would bet your reel doesn't have any news packages on it. It sounds like it's all long-form or corporate... and that is a whole different world of shooting.

When a chief pops in that tape, they are not going to relate it to everyday news coverage. Either it is highly produced or irrelevant corporate footage. What you need to do is find a way to convince those that your tape that you are capable and willing to learn to adapt to news.

Additionally, if you just hand over a tape you can't assume that it will get watched. The chief that hasn't called after 2.5 months has long ago forgotten about you. Go out there and get his attention. Offer to shadow a crew or shoot some weekend stuff for them. You have to get the attention of those doing the hiring.
Click to expand...
I have to agree, if you gave me a tape and I haven't called you, either I was too busy to look at it, or have forgotten about it. If you work at the same station, talk to him, ask if you can "work" on the weekends to get some experience or shadow on your days off.
If I get a tape and the first story doesn't grab my attention, I won't watch the rest of it...I just don't have the time.
Make a point of asking, "can you look at this tape with me and see if I might fit the photog spot you are looking for." If not, ask what you can do to further your experience because you really want to get into news.
Don't just hand out a tape and hope that it gets noticed. Get involved.
Hope this helps, good luck.
 
I have to agree about the reel - if you don't have any news pieces on it, find a way to shoot some. Go out on a weekend and shoot a few. I get stacks of resumes with documentaries and other productions. I want to know if you can shoot and edit a 1-2 minute piece with soild video, good nat sound and creative shooting.

If you don't have any pieces, go shoot a few on the weekends. 3 solid pieces are enough. No need to go overboard. Chiefs are very busy, and we don't have time (nor do we wnat to) watch a 30 minute show of shuttle thru 10 packages.

Awards are nice, but I'd rather have a photog that I know I can count on in a bind - who can work well under pressure. When I see resumes with a lot of production house experiece, it leads me to belive that you had mouch more time to put things together. Most news stories are needed to be shot and edited in one day - and throw in setting up a live truck - you need someone who has at least worked in a newsroom.

Being a chief in a small market, I wouldn't object to looking at any tape, but the fact that you are now an MCO helps. I look for someone with some experience, and I don't expect guys with 5+ years to work in a small market, but any news experience helps.

Hope this helps.
 
If I saw all that high-end stuff on a reel, I would assume you wouldn't be interested in moving to a rural 100's market with starting pay under $20,000.
But, if your were interested, I'd hire you. PM me.
 
Hey guys, I just wanted to say thank you for your insights and ideas. I would have posted this earlier, but I got wrapped up in acting on a few of them.

...and BluesDaddy, if I can't make it work in this market, you may hear from me soon.

Thanks again, all.
 
Have you thought about staying in production as opposed to going to news? There's an opening in the "Job Openings" section that High Noon is hiring a staff shooter. They do a lot of stuff for the Food Ntwk and HGTV.

Warren
 
Hey check out the thread in this very forum entitled "trouble finding photogs!!"

I think I may change my handle to "Hitch". Hooking up chief photogs and photogs looking for jobs since....well since a couple days ago anyways. :)
 
Keep checking...I was in the same boat, I was in production as Photographer/Editor and finally DP.
My just ended, could not find any job openings, so I had to move back to my hometown (mkt 150+) and work partime as a news shooter, taking all I knew about lighting and camerawork and using it for news. I was a bit rusty, but got it within no time, which lead me to be a shooter in market 46.
Make sure that you have news to show, but also, if you don't, do a story yourself about an interest you have, make a story out of it and put that on your resume...if you have access to equipment, might as well take advantage of it..
 
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