Unit 1, 1.1 "Describe the main types of employment status within the Creative Media sector."
There are a few types of employment statuses in the Creative Media sector, which I have listed below:
Firstly, you have full-time employees. There are a lot of roles in the creative industry that require permanent employees, some of which are not just office-based. For example, Jemel's company, Livenation, have full-time employees that work solely on design, while Edun's company, Studio Canal, have those based in different parts of the distribution sector. Saying that, part-time employees fall under the same category as full-time employees, the major difference being that they don't work five days a week.
Next is the contracted-employees. Contracted employees have a specific amount of time they will work on a project/at a place. This type of employment can be seen when a production of a film is taking place. I, for one, have come across many contracts where a fair few people have been employed for a specific amount of time (usually referred to as weekly contracts). With this type of employment, unlike the one I am going to speak about below, usually, you will only be able to work on one specific project at a time.
Freelancing is another common type of employment in the creative industry. As a freelancer you are selling a product that you supply, whether that be your make-up services, something you have made etc. Most people, as with contracts, work in this way because there aren't many full-time jobs that let you deal with the creative side of the industry as much. Freelancers also have the freedom to work on other projects, not just one in a way that a contracted employee would.
Unpaid work is very common in the creative industry. As the old saying goes, "The more experience, the better" there are many people that will go without pay when it comes to getting a good job. These people can fall under either being volunteers, where they have signed up for a job under the guise as a volunteer (mostly applied to when it comes to charities) or as interns who are usually taken on when a helping hand is needed, sometimes for a few weeks, in other cases, a few months. Interning is similar to having an extended time of work experience, which is for much shorter type than internships are. In some cases, interns do get paid, but very rarely.
Lastly, the type of employee that I am at the moment (an apprentice) is also another employment status out there - apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships don't fit under contracted work because, while working, you will also be studying for a qualification. Nor does it fall under unpaid work, because there is a pay cheque each month. As an apprentice, you are learning all the on-the-job experience that someone doing an internship would, but you are getting paid for it, too.
There is also room for people to swap and change from these kinds of employment, too. Some people may be volunteering while also working as a freelancer or a contracted employee may be getting in freelancer jobs as well.
These kinds of employment statuses aren't just centered around the creative media industry, either. Lots of other industries outside of the creative sector have different types of employment that fall under the ones that I have covered.
Unit 1, 2.1"Describe a range of prospective employers and the profiles and products of these employers."
We all have the perfect, ideal job that we would (probably) kill for.When it comes to the 'perfect' job, for me, a lot of them center around being a staff writer for magazines. I am a big magazine reader, more so than anyone that I know, so being in that kind of environment would really benefit me, I think.
Here is a list of prospective employers that I would love to work for (though it probably won't ever happen, but here's hoping!).
What they do: First published in 2005, Little White Lies is a bi-monthly film magazine. They focus on all new cinematic-releases, dedicating each issue to a particular film that is coming out (as can be seen on the image on the left hand side).
Ideal position: Staff writer
Though, over the past few months, I have locked more onto writing as a whole rather than considering writing for film, I still love writing about film, and Little White Lies, though I do disagree with them sometimes, would be a great place for me to grow as a writer. The style they incorporate is laid back and very casual (unlike Sight and Sound) which is something I am much more in-tune with than over analytic essay-writing.
What they do: Former Vogue art director Terry Jones founded iD magazine in the 1980s. Their more fashion and photography-focused than other less-mainstream fashion magazines, but do delve into the other arts, too.
Ideal position: Staff writer
After dropping out of college, I ended up spending a lot of time to myself as everyone that I knew actually had lives to lead, unlike my job-less one. This was the time when I discovered a lot of things (especially film), and was also the moment when iD and Dazed & Confused entered my life.
I've always had an interest in fashion (though I never dress like it, I just can't be bothered most of the time), and, at 16, fashion magazines started playing a major part in my monthly readings. I never got into the likes of Vogue or Elle, mainly because they dealt more with the celebrity side of things than I care to mention. iD is a great magazine for me because, on most occasions, they celebrate fashion that I actually like (!!) with top-notch photography, and when they do write-ups on musicians, artists, films, books or art exhibitions, my interest is always peeked.
Employer: Myself
Ideal position: Freelance writer
I think everyone daydreams of throwing in the towel to the working world, and becoming their own boss. Yes, freelancing is very tight rope to walk - you don't know when you'll get a job coming your way, and most likely, the pay won't be very good. Still, freelancing is where I think I would progress the most. Being given a writing task to do, and going about and doing it (with a time limit, of course).
If I have to pick an employer that isn't myself, though, the last place of work I have listed below is THE dream job.
What they do: Founded by now-infamous photographer Rankin, and journalist Jefferson Hack, Dazed & Confused originally started as an independent zine publication, before gaining notoriety around the London club scene. Now, Dazed & Confused is a monthly magazine publication, who focus on all-things art, particularly fashion.
I Ideal position: Staff writer film/books
I I've spoken a fair few times about Dazed & Confused on this blog already, so I think you get the gist that I love the magazine. It embodies everything that I love about art as a whole, not just fashion. I've discovered so many films, designers, artists, musicians, and books thanks to the magazine, and out of all the employers I have listed (minus myself, of course!) to work for them would really be a dream-come-true type of moment.
I'm also going to mention a magazine that I wish was around as, though I am now technically an adult, teenage issues are, unfortunately, something that still annoyingly concern me.
What they did: Sassy, formed in the late 80s, were a completely different alternative to the Seventeen-type teenage magazines around at the time. They spoke honestly about drugs, sex, relationships, school, life; everything that concerned teenage girls, really.
Ideal position: Staff writer
I am a big advocate for equality in all it's forms, and something that really bugs me nowadays is the lack of concern there is for people my age, ones who can be easily swayed by what they see/read. Sassy was a magazine before my time (well, I was alive when it was out, but I was way too young to read it) that approached teenage life with a DIY attitude, which I loved.
There are two sites up-and-running now that have been coined as the 21st Century Sassy's (Hardly Magazine and ROOKIE), I just wish they were both in print!
There are many more places that I would definitely mesh well with when it comes to working as a writer. Most, as you can see from the list I made, all have to do with magazines, but, to me, it doesn't matter. As said, I am a big magazine-reader, and all the magazines I have listed above are completely different from each other, though they may cross over in terms of the arts. It's easy to forget that everywhere you work is going to be different from the last working environment you were in!
Unit 1, 2.2 "Explain how to choose an employer in terms of personal interests, knowledge, skills and job requirements."
Itis important to go by what you have experience in, and what you believe you need experience in when it comes to finding jobs. Yes, of course you can get a job that you have no experience in whatsoever (that’s how you start building up on the career ladder), but the likelihood of that, especially in this working climate, is next-to-none.
We’d all like to find a job that we are going to love, but again, just as it is very unlikely to get a job we have no experience in, it will also be a mission to find a jo that we 100% truly love.
Personal interest wise, you may not be able to throw yourself into the deep end and get the perfect job you want. In terms of the industry you’d like to get involved with, usually, you will have to put your blood, sweat and tears into getting that ideal job (unless you’re best friends with Harvey Weinstein.)
Knowledge is also another thing that you have to consider when choosing jobs. Are you knowledgeable in a certain area that few others are? Is there something that you think you could learn more about? These are things we all need to think about when it comes to job searching.
Just as our knowledge in a certain area can be valuable to prospective employers, so are our skills too. If you have a skill that very few others have, this can be a highlight to your application.
When it comes to the actual job requirements, there is no point in applying for a job that requires something that you don’t have, for example you could be asked to have two years’ experience in administration. If you don’t have that experience, then there is no point in applying for the job because they are looking for someone specifically.
Unit 2, 1.3 –Describe how to give and receive constructive feedback
Giving and receiving constructive feedback is very important in whatever you do no matter if it is in a job or not. While you can help others with their own performance by saying what you think they are working well on and the areas where that are in need of improvement, someone can do the same for you.
To give constructive feedback all you really need to do is identify the areas that work well, and the ones that don’t and tell the person who has presented their idea to you.
When it comes to receiving feedback, it is always good to take on what someone has said about you and your work on board, even if you don’t agree with it. Having another opinion minus our own on our work helps a considerable amount with getting an end product that is much better than it was without that feedback.
I have linked two examples of giving, and receiving feedback, but done in a manner that I is both constructive, but highlights the positives.
Three of the apprentices in the group have spoken about their chosen industries in regards to Unit 8 where we had to select two Creative Media sectors within the media industry and compare the two. After reading three of these sector comparisons, I have made my comments on them below.
Gaming wise, as I had mentioned in my own post about the literary industry, there are so many gaming magazines for all sorts of consoles - from Xbox 360 to PC. Without gaming being as popular as it is, there would be no need to have so many console related magazines.
As Robert has a lot of knowledge of games, he has spoken in detail about the way that we play games now and how we used to play games.
One thing that he has failed to touch up on in his summary of the gaming industry is the non-technology type of gaming - board games. Board games, once upon a time, used to be the household activity of the night, but now, consoles such as Wii have made gaming accessible to everyone because Wii games don't require any gaming skills per se, they are something everyone can pick up.
The internet is such a wide resource, one that you couldn't possibly talk about in a nutshell, really.
Robert has spoken about the internet through gaming, journalism and film - internet gaming, the fact that we now have a journalistic voice and films based on games -, but one industry I have spoken about that he hasn't touched is the TV industry.
The internet has a massive impact on the way that we watch television now, (as I have shown in my own post) and streaming wise, this has had a backlash on the way we view films, not just television, too.
The other industry I had chosen that Robert didn't touch upon is the literary industry. Now, we can view magazines online, we have eBooks that we download, and so forth. This could be something that Robert could speak about in the future, if he were to review this post again.
Joy has spoken, in detail, a lot about advertising and - something which I am very much in-tune with - the morals of these. She has also demonstrated that she understands the basic structure of the film industry with the flow chart that she provided, explaining about the transition in technology when it comes to film (how, over the last hundred years, we now have sound/colour/HD, etc.)
The only thing that I would pick up upon on is the fact that Joy hasn't compared the two industries together, nor have any other industries been picked up upon when she spoke about her chosen topics.
Clearly, Deri has knowledge of photography. Touching upon fashion magazines, which is something I spoke heavily about in my own post on my two Creative Media industries, Deri has delved into photography, showing that he has a considerable amount of know-how on the subject (whether that be fashion or photojournalistic photography.)
However, he has only briefly spoken about the Art industry (though I think Photography, Film, Music etc. all land in the Art industries overlap). This is something I think would benefit from more extensive research and writing on the subject.
To back up his opinions, Deri should also supply references to what he is speaking about as this would help to create a valid argument if they are trusty references. Though it is great to have your own opinions in there, facts, particularly when speaking about industries that do rely so much on statistics, are of utmost importance. He does mention that 14% of American's can't read, but how are we supposed to know this without a direct reference to it?
Overall, everyone did a good job of comparing their chosen sectors, but the main point that I will bring up for all three of the apprentices would be the lack of comparisons to other industries. Though out of Deri and Joy, Robert compared the most industries, he missed out a vital one that I spoke about (TV) in his essay.
There are a lot of roles in the production process. There are so many jobs, in fact, that it can be hard to keep up with those separate roles and who is really needed to make a feature film.
Even in independent filmmaking, you will have a list full of people (referred to as the Unit List) that are involved with the film, most of whom would be working in the actual production stage.
Here is a little insight into some of the key roles in the production process
LINE PRODUCER:
Line Producers are usually hired later on in the production stages. They are called 'line' Producers because, without the 'above-the-line' (which means in the budget of a film, you have the key elements of the film, and these are the fixed prices such as writers and directors fee) and the 'below-the-line' costs (which means for all the other non-key elements like crew salaries). A Line Producer's role deals with the business side and physical aspects of a film production. They are responsible for everything running on time during production.
The 1st AD is responsible for assisting the director, supervising cast, crew, and other Assistant Directors. Like the Line Producer, the 1st AD also tries to keep filming on schedule, having to deal with many other things such as overlooking hiring of locations, props, equipment, preparing the storyboards and so on.
A 1st AD is, overall, the key member who is the link to the director and other crew members.
The Director of Photographer (DOP) are responsible for bringing the screenplay to life, visually. DOP's supervise the whole of the camera crew, which includes the Camera Operator, 1st and 2nd Assistant Camera, Camera Trainees and Grip.)
The DOP will work heavily alongside the Director in order to gather what the Director, visually, wants out of the film. It is important that the two are on the same creative-level.
1.2 Outline how to clarify, agree and revise working arrangements in a way which promotes good working relationships and 3.1 Clarify, agree and revise working arrangements, promoting good working relationships
Each day I leave the office, I always make sure that I have a list planned for the next day. Unfortunate things can happen, though, and work sometimes has to come second place to your personal life.
So far during my apprenticeship, I have taken 4 days off (3 were ill days, one was annual leave). Other than that, I have come into work ever day I have needed to. In the last few months particularly, I have stayed as late as 9:30PM to get work done. This, I believe, shows dedication to the job.
Those three sick days were days where I couldn’t get out of bed, and felt bad for ringing in even though it was physically impossible for me to go to work
The annual leave day came out of the blue, just as the sick days did. A family situation arose, one that I couldn’t get out of. Here, I offered to work on a college day to make up for this day that I took off via emailing. Though, in the end, I went to college on Friday, it is important when these things crop up to show that you are dedicated to your job.
Another situation similar to this was a few months ago, when my class had the Friday off of college due to our tutor not being able to come in, and I told my colleagues – who were away at the time – that this was the case, and offered my Friday up to help them out. They took up this opportunity and so I went to work on that Friday. By doing so, like I have mentioned, this shows that I care about my job; that I am willing to let go of that could-be day off so I can put the hours in at work, forming good working relationships in the process.
2.1 Explain the importance of balancing tasks with people
Balancing the needs of tasks and people, no matter what kind of environment your workplace fits into, is always important. Keeping your work colleagues on side, and getting along with them when you are on the job will make life a lot easier.
Examples are a good way of demonstrating what I mean, so I am going to be giving a fair few of them for this unit, firstly, staring here:
If your colleagues give you separate tasks to do you need to make sure that the first thing you ask them both is what is the most important/urgent task of the two.
In the film industry, I have learnt that most things are pretty much ASAP, so, for me, this is the first question I ask my employees.
If both of these tasks are urgent/important, then you have to work out, and ask, which one will take the quickest time to do – you do this first so it is out of the way. The task that will take you the longest time is the job that you want to try and cut down time for if it is urgent.
2.2: Explain the importance of sharing information with colleagues and3.4 Liase with colleagues to ensure effective and productive working
Sharing information with your colleagues and liasing with them is very important in the workplace, one of the most important things you have to do really – it is all about communication.
Just as getting along and liasing with your colleagues in the office will make life run a whole lot smoother, if you don’t tell your colleagues what you are doing, who has called for them etc. this can cause a lot of unwanted hassle and can stop the day from moving forward and other tasks from being completed.
I have experienced this in my workplace. For example, I had forgotten, though I’d written it down, to tell a colleague that someone had called for them while they were out of the office. When I remembered, I apologised and they were seemingly fine with it. I couldn’t have known if this was an important call or not, and luckily, it wasn’t, but if it had been, then there would have definitely been repercussions of this mishap.
Being an administration/personal assistant, it is in your job description to share information with your colleagues that is what you are there for. So in not sharing information that needs to be known, you aren’t doing your job.
2.3 Identify ways of tactfully requesting others to change working arrangements to improve productivity
Sometimes work can become a bit of haggling game. When you need to get many things done in the day, it is always good to see if you can rearrange already booked working plans for another time or date.
An example of this is meetings. If a meeting has been booked for a certain time, there usually is room for this to change (depending on the person you are meeting). The time can either be pushed forward, or pushed back, and if you are able to change the timing of this, it can leave room for you to do more in the day.
Unless something is urgent and needs to be done ASAP, there, I believe, can always be a change in plans to put things that you want to get out of the way first, and then work on the difficult tasks at hand later on in the day.
2.4 Describe how to explain own decisions clearly and constructively and 3.2 Communicate own decisions clearly and constructively
When explaining yourself to anyone in life, it becomes difficult if you can’t get your point across. In work or outside of work, this can happen, and does happen, everywhere and anywhere.
There are many ways to get your point across, but the easiest way I have found to do this is to explain your decision step-by-step, (how you got to this decision, what made you think this was the best way of completing the task, etc.)
I recently had to order Super 8 film from a website, and with this, I had to ring up the company to make sure that the film I was ordering would be right for certain weather conditions.
I relayed this information to my colleague who wanted to know if the said Super 8 film could film in sunny weather and at night.
When discussing with my colleague this, I was told that they supplied a package (which including transferring and developing.)
I spoke to the company again about this option, and they told me that they do supply the Super 8 film package, one that comes with transferring and developing to your chosen medium.
Originally, the plan was to buy one of those packages and a separate roll of Super 8 film, but it came to my attention that, in order to cut costs, it was a lot easier to order two of those packages instead of the one. I told my colleague this and they agreed with my 100%.
Sometimes, you have to use your own initiative, and in this case, I spent a lot less money by doing so. I also explained my decision to my colleague who could see my point of view and backed me up for that order.
2.5 Describe how to resolve conflict situations or dissatisfaction and 3.3 Resolve any conflict situations or dissatisfaction as necessary
When working, experiencing conflicts with a colleague or client are inevitable. We try to avoid them as best as we can, but sometimes; they come at you out of the blue. So, it is always good to know how best to combat a situation where a conflict will arise. Yes, situations where conflicts do occur are different, but overall, there are tips that can help you get through these times.
Note for this example I’m going to change the names of the people involved in the situation.
Recently, I came across Martin, who was dissatisfied with the service he was receiving from another colleague, Sarah, working on the film we were shooting.
The colleague in question had family issues and couldn’t return to work for a few weeks, and she was the only person who could deal with Martin’s problems. I told Martin I would do my best to contact Sarah (sending her emails/ringing her up), but that is all I could do.
I went about trying to get in contact with Sarah, and found, when I rung her up, I caught her at a really bad time. Doing so put me in a bad position (this could be looked upon as being ‘unprofessional’) but this was the only way that I could resolve the situation – by getting in contact with her
When I spoke to Martin, I informed him that I spoke to Sarah and that she would be in by the end of the week, (though it wasn’t 100% certain this was going to happen).
I completely understood Martin’s situation, but since this was something that was out of my hands and I couldn’t deal with personally, I had to give him as many contact numbers and emails as possible for people that possibly might have been able to help.
In the end, I managed to get in contact with one of our companies contacts who then took on board Martin’s case and tried to resolve it the best they could.
Situations like these, I’ve found, arise a lot when working in a production company. Particularly when people are away and you are the only one to deal with their request, knowing that you can’t deal with it personally is aggravating sometimes. You want to help out the person in need as best as you can, but when you don’t have the information or the means to do so, then it is practically impossible.
Unit 4, 1.4 - "Explain the impact of different behaviours and conduct in the workplace."
Whether you notice it or not, the way you carry yourself at work, and the mood that you are in, can have an impact on the people surrounding you.
If you are slumped over in your chair, grimacing as you type away, well, it is pretty obvious then that you are not in a good mood.
If you come into the office with a bright face and a positive attitude, it's easy for everyone to lock onto this mentality.
Generally, it is nice to work in an office environment, or any kind of working environment, where it is at least a little bit pleasant.
Having a nice atmosphere in the office improves your mood and everyone else's mood, and ultimately, the way that you conduct yourself in the workplace and the way that you perform your daily tasks.
(Next section reprinted from Unit 5)
The impact of different behaviours and conducts in the workplace can have a knock back affect on everyone. We try to avoid bringing our down-and-out moods into the workplace, but sometimes it is unavoidable and many conflicts can arise from this.
Note for this example I’m going to change the names of the people involved in the situation.
Recently, I came across Martin, who was dissatisfied with the service he was receiving from another colleague, Sarah, working on the film we were shooting.
The colleague in question had family issues and couldn’t return to work for a few weeks, and she was the only person who could deal with Martin’s problems. I told Martin I would do my best to contact Sarah (sending her emails/ringing her up), but that is all I could do.
I went about trying to get in contact with Sarah, and found, when I rung her up, I caught her at a really bad time. Doing so put me in a bad position (this could be looked upon as being ‘unprofessional’) but this was the only way that I could resolve the situation – by getting in contact with her
When I spoke to Martin, I informed him that I spoke to Sarah and that she would be in by the end of the week, (though it wasn’t 100% certain this was going to happen).
I completely understood Martin’s situation, but since this was something that was out of my hands and I couldn’t deal with personally, I had to give him as many contact numbers and emails as possible for people that possibly might have been able to help.
In the end, I managed to get in contact with one of our companies contacts who then took on board Martin’s case and tried to resolve it the best they could.
Situations like these, I’ve found, arise a lot when working in a production company. Particularly when people are away and you are the only one to deal with their request, knowing that you can’t deal with it personally is aggravating sometimes. You want to help out the person in need as best as you can, but when you don’t have the information or the means to do so, then it is practically impossible.
Unit 4, 1.2 - "Describe challenging behaviours and issues in the workplace" and 1.3 - "Explain the role of the key people to inform in relation to these examples."
Life isn't plain sailing. If it was, we wouldn't be able to form ourselves as 'proper' human beings (to an extent anyway). Certain things we come across in life, whether they are negative or positive, can make us better people for it, so of course, in the workplace, you're going to face difficult hurdles you'll have to overcome.
One prime example of a challenging event that may come to light during a working day is the infamous rude person on the phone. This can happen in mostly any office-based job you have, and to try and communicate with someone via the phone who isn't being very nice, well, we all know that is a difficult task to carry out.
Other examples of challenges and issues you may come across can be double booked meetings (where you have booked one meeting at the same as the other) or mixing up a delivery time and date.
When either of those issues arise, you will usually have to speak to someone, particularly when it comes to something as important as a delivery.
Let's go with the delivery scenario, here. I have had this problem before at work, where I have had to change the time of a delivery because there will be no one in the office, or that whatever package is getting delivered has to be couriered ASAP.
Depending on who this is going to effect, you need to make sure that you are in constant contact with this person. A good example is when we were shooting our film, the production office was based in the North (way outside of London), so a lot of packages would be delivered to our London office where I worked.
If something was sent to me and I had to get it couriered to a London address, I would have to be in frequent contact with the Production Manager and Production Coordinator; possibly the Line Manager on occasions. They would need to know, if that were through phoning or emailing, whether the job had been done, and if complications would arise to stop me from carrying out the task.
Another example of a challenging behaviour and issue that has arisen in my work is something I have reprinted from Unit 5.
(Note for this example I’m going to change the names of the people involved in the situation.)
Recently, I came across Martin, who was dissatisfied with the service he was receiving from another colleague, Sarah, working on the film we were shooting.
The colleague in question had family issues and couldn’t return to work for a few weeks, and she was the only person who could deal with Martin’s problems. I told Martin I would do my best to contact Sarah (sending her emails/ringing her up), but that is all I could do.
I went about trying to get in contact with Sarah, and found, when I rung her up, I caught her at a really bad time. Doing so put me in a bad position (this could be looked upon as being ‘unprofessional’) but this was the only way that I could resolve the situation – by getting in contact with her
When I spoke to Martin, I informed him that I spoke to Sarah and that she would be in by the end of the week, (though it wasn’t 100% certain this was going to happen).
I completely understood Martin’s situation, but since this was something that was out of my hands and I couldn’t deal with personally, I had to give him as many contact numbers and emails as possible for people that possibly might have been able to help.
In the end, I managed to get in contact with one of our companies contacts who then took on board Martin’s case and tried to resolve it the best they could.
Situations like these, I’ve found, arise a lot when working in a production company. Particularly when people are away and you are the only one to deal with their request, knowing that you can’t deal with it personally is aggravating sometimes. You want to help out the person in need as best as you can, but when you don’t have the information or the means to do so, then it is practically impossible.
All the issues that we face at work, or life in general, can either be self-inflicted ones (due to harmless mistakes and misunderstandings), or being at the receiving end of someone else's problems that you have to try and fix out. It's impossible not to face tasks in the work place, as there will always be something that crops up that will put us in a situation where we are faced with challenging behaviours issues. And, when these complications do arise, we need to be aware of the people that we need to inform about these situations.
