Transferable Skills

Skills which can be adapted to different working environments and circumstances are referred to as transferable skills. While studying media for the past two years, I have picked up a few skills that would be useful in using in a media profession. In this post I will go through the various skills which I have picked up in media and explain how they may be useful to me in a media profession. 

ICT skills                                                                                    

To begin the first skill I will discuss is ICT skills, which has been a skill I have used almost every lesson in media, and throughout the two years has developed even further. As the majority of our assignments are based on the mac's, we are constantly using different software programs to present our work on. These include Microsoft word, powerpoint, excel etc. Another program that we're constantly in use of is blogger, which for me was a new experience as I had never used it before starting media. Other software programs used were final cut pro, which is mainly for editing each production that has been completed. This software is useful and will be transferable in a media environment when editing films, TV shows or even music videos. Therefore again showing that ICT skills are vital and very transferable to the workplace. It also shows that although this skill may be quite boring because of the fact that there isn't anything very uplifting when using Microsoft office, it can also be quite fun and exciting when using platforms such as final cut pro.

Final Cut Pro 

The editing software that I used for editing my videos was Final Cut Pro. Before taking on the media course I had no previous experience with the program. Since starting the course I has picked up some crucial editing skills which I know will aid me if I wanted to work for a media company editing film content for example. The powerpoint shown above is a tutorial I create for my unit 16 work (as it is an editing unit). The powerpoint shows how I used Final Cut Pro to edit the short single camera film in my unit 1 and 22, where I discussed the editing made to the sound, graphics and lighting of the film. This skill of being able to edit a film's content is transferable to a work environment because it is something which most people would not have had the opportunity to learn, this therefore is not only useful in the media profession but can be useful in a wider context. 

Microsoft (excel)

The first Microsoft program I will discuss is Excel, which was one I found myself constantly having to use in order to present my work neatly, and use for most of the pre production work such as the shooting script. I had previous experience using excel, however it was not the usual amount as I would use it in media. The skills I picked up here were being able to enter in information  for each shot of a scene for instance or and create calculations for the pie charts used for our music video research. Again these skills are almost always going to be needed in most jobs today, which means that being able to go into a job having had past experience with Microsoft in media, will stand me in good stead for the job I want to pursue. 

Teamwork Skills                                                                       

Teamwork is another skill that i improved, during the course. Having to work in groups to be able to make a production, apart from the documentary, meant that we had to work as a team. Working on pitches, the actual production, the evaluation and the editing stage, as a group meant that we needed to have, good communication with each other in order to give out tasks and roles to each other, to set up dates where we would film, designing a production schedule, listening to each others idea's and taking in all ideas into account and making sure that everyone participates in the production. Having to do focus groups in order to receive feedback on the finished project, arranging what questions each member of the group would ask, allocating roles then as well. Teamwork requires good organisation among us to be able to arrange dates to film, meet deadlines for unit's, making sure we manage our time effectively. 

Pitches

Communication Skills                                                         

Communication is one of , if not the most important skill needed in any profession. Focusing on the communication needed in my media course, I had to use this skill in almost every task I was given. The times I needed this skill the most was in my pitches and focus groups for ideas I had for productions, and also for my voice over productions. Where I probably didn't need it as much was in the research and written tasks where I didn't need to speak with people. 

The clip above conveys how my group and I used the skill of communication effectively when carrying out a focus group for our music video (unit 29). Firstly, before the focus group was together we needed to gather people in order for them to participate and give their opinions. This required us to communicate with them and tell them exactly what we wanted them to do. 

Organisation Skills                                                                            

Planning

Planning is another area in organisational skills. Almost every subject studied in schools require planning as it is the backbone of everything successful. During the two years spent in media, I have found more and more that planning is this essential. For instance, planning came into good use for the first production I ever made in media. This was my short film from unit 1 & 22, where I needed to be organised and coordinated with everything I was doing or thinking of doing. The planning I did here was pre-production documents which are completed in prior to making the film, these included a shooting script, risk assessment, call sheets, location recce, release forms, prop list, cast list and crew list. Without these documents I will not have been able to even begin filming any footage. This is because the shooting script was useful in giving me direction for the details of each shot, the risk assessment will act as a reassurance that we have taken into consideration all the hazards possible just in case of a real life incident. Again, effective planning comes from good organisational skills and this also requires you to put everything in a single document where it can all be found. Here is an example of my pre-production documents that were done for unit 30 (Advertisement). 

Practical Skills 

The camera language that i learnt, the camera movements, angles, and shot types have all reflected onto the productions that i have made, they can have a big role to play in the shooting stage and getting a variety of different shots, means that you have more footage to work with in the editing stage, also the more shot types and angles you have in a production it will keep the audience engaged more as they will looking at a scene from a different perspective and be more engaged, and not be bored by looking at the same thing all the time. Learning and knowing the various camera language has allowed me to apply them to the productions I have made and will make. 

Research Skills 

Research skills are very transferable and are almost adaptable to every job there is. Throughout studying media research has been the primary and possibly most important thing we needed to cover as it is what we need in order to add depth into our blog work. For instance in our unit 16, where the task was the history of editing, we needed to research the web so that we got accurate dates and information. Another unit where research was important is unit 27 which was the factual programming unit where we produced our documentaries. This unit required us to research into existing documentaries and the various styles in order to understand the ins and outs of a documentary and to build on our existing knowledge on the subject. 

Career Development

After graduating from sixth form with a QCF Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Media Studies, I may decide that I want to further my experiences and studies in this field by taking up a course, or an apprenticeship or an internship.  In this essay I will research three main types of routes available to students wanting a career in the media industry and in particular the TV and Film industries. Then I can consider which route I would potentially take if I wanted to continue learning about media. 

University 

Firstly, one route into the media industry is through academic courses which are usually found or taught in institutes of higher education such as a university. These will usually last for a period of 3 years, however this may vary depending on the course structure.

Bournemouth University - Media Production Course 

Above is a screen grab of the media course in Bournemouth University. This course is open to all students who have an interest in media or media production, and is tailored to giving students the text book knowledge they need through an academic procedure. This is done by developing the students in each year of study. For example, on the first year of the media production course at Bournemouth University, some of the units include: Developing Arguments which is an introduction into the critical thinking and learning processes involved in studying media at academic level and beyond. Another unit called Digital Film helps learners ''explore the principles and practice of digital film production and workflows, including pre-production, production and post-production considerations''. Moving on to the next two years of studying for a media production degree, the core units include Fictional Production which is meant to ''extend both your practical skills and your critical understanding of fictional forms and content, examining the similarities and differences in practice across media''. Finally, the last year (year 3) gives you the option of either completing a 4-week or 30-week work placement during the course. 

From looking into the university course, I have found that this route into the media industry can be quite rigorous as it involves a heavy work load in terms of coursework and exams. Each year is slowly moulding you into the perfect candidate for a media company. It does this by allowing you to build up your knowledge and understanding of what it takes for a professional life as a media guru. As a student you'd want to present yourself to future employers as a fit, eligible candidate who is keen and has ambitions to become a successful person in the media industry. This can be shown through the degree, where students who have taken up an apprenticeship or work experience would not have. You're also showing the prospective employer that you're well equipped academically to start a career in the media industry , whether that be in TV , Film, Radio, News print etc. 

Apprenticeships / Internships 
Another path into the media industry is through gaining experience on the job through an internship or an apprenticeship. These courses are designed to give students the ability to become more employable through showing that they already have experience, and are not just coming into the industry as a university student might do for example. The apprenticeship I am going to be looking at is with the media organisation called 'Met Film School'. This is the leading provider of film training in London. The Met School is well known for its successful programmes which they provide for students who are looking to work for a media company one day. They also have masterclasses from industry professionals who act as mentors for the students, this is a huge benefit to a student wanting to learn and develop their understanding of the ins and outs of the media profession. 

Work Experience Programmes 

Another route into the media industry is through taking up a work experience programme and gaining knowledge through that. One experience I took up was during my time with Creative Sparkworks a media charity where I took up a film course, where I was given the task to go out and film someone else's film. As part of the crew my job was to unpack all cameras + tripods, lights and lens's. The location was an old warehouse owned by the famous Freddie Notes & The Rudies. 

Here I am holding the black magic camera, filming Prince who is playing the role of a homeless teenager, who has reached this stage due to difficulties at home and getting kicked out of school. The work experience programme allowed me to develop an idea for a short film, be able to pitch it to a pool of 10-15 students and tutors and then film and edit it. 

I was assigned to the steadicam , which I was satisfied with because I feel much more better using it in terms of positioning it correctly to get the best shots. I reckon I got some really successful shots,
making sure that I went along with what the actor wanted, whether that be angles or shot types. Again, I gained hands-on experience through taking up a work experience with a media company. This has given me the confidence in handling and operating a camera and other various pieces of equipment, which is a positive because it means that I can go out into the media industry with good experience in using professional equipment. 

Exploring Media Trade Fairs

A media trade fair is an exhibition where media institutes in various areas ie ; film/TV/Radio etc, promote their services or products. The most important point here is that it is a method of recruitment where individuals are able to network and build relationships with those who are already in this industry. I will be researching into one of the UK's leading trade fair providers and explaining the benefits an aspiring individual hoping to start a career in the media industry would gain. 

Firstly, the BVE provide workshops and seminars which are timetabled and are open for the public to come and engage themselves with. This is one of the company's strongest assets because it has allowed thousands of individuals to get that 'foot in the door' in the media industry. For instance they have a workshop called connected media Europe which will be commencing in 2017, and is aimed to give individuals an insight into the modern day technologies which they use to interact with others anywhere. This exhibition will not only benefit the individual who is coming to visit and learn but also the exhibitors show casting the event, who will benefit from their prospective employees purchasing and gaining insight into their products/ services. 

Elliot Grove, is the founder/director of Raindance Film Festival, which is another successful media institute in the UK. He, in the video above is being interviewed by BVE . His company, very similar to BVE provide trade fairs and other opportunities such as as apprenticeships BTEC / Degree courses. During the interview Elliot and many others talk about the wider benefits of having a provider like the BVE and Raindance to provide trade fairs where prospective employees would want to get that first hand experience with the latest ''gear''. They also mention the importance of having an opportunity like this for these potential employees, not only because of their benefit but also for the sake of the employers or exhibitors to meet and potentially employ these candidates. 

I think that as technology grows and evolves it is important for those in the industry who are producing and distributing our TV shows, films etc, should have an excellent standard of knowledge so that the content we are provided with is of good standard, making it compatible with competitors on a worldwide scale. 

There are many reasons why a prospective employee would visit a trade fair, and there are also reasons why a trade fair would want prospective candidates to visit them. Firstly, the BVE have over 330 exhibitors across 8 sectors , therefore it is the ultimate opportunity to network with professionals, with experience in their careers. This will stand you in good stead when looking for a job or courses in the media industry. The networking will also benefit the exhibitor as they are able to promote and market their products, whether it be a camera or even a tripod. Another reason why you may benefit from attending a trade fair, would be that you're provided with hands on sessions where you can discover and experiment with the latest technologies in the current market, all whilst talking to the manufacturers themselves. This can also benefit the person exhibiting because they are again marketing and promoting their products, this will benefit the candidate viewing the product as it will allow them as Elliot Grove said ...''to access not just any information, but the latest information''.

Developing Technologies

The development of technology for decades now has allowed for the television and film industries to provide a better viewing experience for their audiences. Before the 20th century there was no such thing as television- or at least for the public, it was available in crude experimental forms in the late 1920s. It became available for the public to buy black and white television sets in America and Britain, after WWII had ended. With the introduction of television, came about analogue viewing on television which was the beginning of how people would view television shows. 

I will discuss the benefits of analogue TV and how this improved the audiences viewing experiences, then I will go on to discuss how this developing into digital broadcasting. 

What is analogue?

Analogue is the original television technology which uses analogue signals to transmits video and analogue to the television. 

This method of watching television was the beginning of the development of the television industry, as there was no other method of television delivery until the 1950s. The method involved the encoding of image and sound information which is transmitted as an analogue signal which is them composed of amplitude and/or frequency, this then appears on your television screen. 

Although, it was the start of something revolutionary which would later develop into a fast growing successful industry there were also many cons involved at the time it had started. 

Firstly, analogue provided the television audience with a motion picture which was all in all better than reality as it meant people could develop broadcasting ideas. This would benefit an audiences watching experience as they are now able to watch something on their TV's (even if it was a 9 by 9 inch) without having to experience it real life. 

However, one thing which was probably a con, was the resolution and image quality on screen. Although it was exciting to now have the pleasure of watching something on TV whilst sat at home on your living room sofa, it was also disappointing to endure bad quality picture quality because of a satellite issue for example. The analogue screen is said to be very ''fuzzy'' at times, not only this but as the image is moving, it makes the quality even more unclear. Not forgetting the sound and how this may vary from time to time depending on the satellite quality.
Another way analogue improved the audiences viewing experiences is in film. This is because film's were now filmed digitally using a digital camera and then edited on a computer software such as final cut pro, this would replace filming on camera reel's and then physically cutting and sticking the reel's together to edit, which would obviously take up a lot of time and effort. This was a huge benefit to the audiences watching as it meant they were experiencing far better quality images in film, which would make it more engaging to them and keep them watching. It also meant that the audiences were getting the films they were waiting for much quicker than before, which would also add to their viewing experience.

What is digital?

Digital broadcasting came into existence in 2012, where a switch over took place from analogue television. This started on 17th October 2007 and was completed on 24th October 2012. This allowed for huge growth in the media industry with regards to film and especially television benefiting the most. This allowed for the audiences watching the various service broadcasters the chance to experience a more advanced version of their shows, but this time with better quality. 

One obvious advantage of digital TV to the audience is that they get to watch with better picture and reception quality. This is because unlike analogue the signals are more concise ; this allows for the various channels to occupy the same air space. There is also an improvement in the sound compared to analogue TV, this is because the reception is less affected by the weather. 

Another impact this had on television and film, was that it brought about better graphical quality. Where before there was black and white television and film, now using digital, production teams were able to use colour and even CGI to create fake characters and locations/ backgrounds.  This in turn improved the viewing experiences of the audience. Above is the a video showing the visual effects behind the film 'The Avengers' where almost all the way through the film digital plays a massive role in the use of CGI effects as part of the editing. 

The video on the left shows exactly the differences and similarities between analogue and digital. It is essential to understand this because it is the only way of knowing which is better in terms of the audiences viewing experience, considering that technology has in fact developed.  

The Internet

The internet is or has become a huge tool in our everyday lives, whether that be for a social or educational reason. The more technology continues to evolve the greater and more powerful the internet becomes. This in turn has aided our viewing experience on the internet, where the different platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc allow us to continue watching the TV shows/ Films we've missed.  

Once connected to the Internet, users can access Internet services and various other platforms such as Youtube, twitter and many more.  It will improve the viewers as they will have various different platforms to visit and ca entertain themselves. There is a lot of freedom on what you can watch as you tube has various different channels that people can watch. The Internet also gives people the chance to get a subscription for Netflix and they can watch films on that without having to go to the cinema.

SkyGo

The internet can also be used to spread trailers on websites such as IMDb (Internet Movie Database) or YouTube. People can search the internet for sneak peeks on the latest films, find out who is in the film, learn the storyline and find fan websites dedicated to getting more people interested in a franchise. Sky and other television companies have websites like Sky Go which allows you to access channels, programmes and recorded items via devices connected to the internet such as an Ipad or tablet. This also means that if you missed a programme you can catch up, for example, you can use BBC iplayer which allows you to see, or re-see, all the content of the past couple of weeks. This gives the audience more chance to watch films and television and the company can monitor how many people are watching the programmes to gather information on how popular it is. Audiences are now able to sign up for subscriptions to websites that allows the audience to stream films and programmes.  Another advantage is that you can shop online which means you don't have to go out to the shop and you can shop online and have the good delivered to your door. It also means that people that compare prices and see what prices suit them. The disadvantage of using the Internet is that spending too much time on the Internet can affect your physical and mental health. Such people can become reclusive and lonely. This could lead to low self-esteem and a whole psychosomatic conditions.
Below is a video showing the development of technology in television from standard TV to 4K TV. This is recent development which has transformed the way audiences view television and has enhanced the television industry. 4K television as mentioned in the video, ''refers to the number of pixels that a TV has'' which takes up as much resolution as a standard television, but the difference is that it shows a more crisp and  sharper content.Thus this is one of the reasons why 4K TV is benefiting the modern day audiences.

Showreel + Playlist Of All Productions

Above is a playlist that I have put together of all of my productions in media throughout the last two years, including pitchs, focus groups, rehearsals and voice over slideshows. This is to make sure that everything is together in one place and is also clearly accessible. As I have explained in the showreel above I have pick-up many useful skills along the way, whether that was through the theory or practical side of production and planning.