Vid...I\'m thinking about a career change into the film industry

[GmanJoe]

I wanna work in post production video editing. I have an opportunity to move to California without spending a lot of rent money.

In the mean time, what school or place should I go to get some training there? This is something I\'ve always wanted to do. I know the pay in not as good as I have now (I\'m in IT) but I\'m burned out by this job I landed on 17 years ago. It wasn\'t what I really wanted but the pay was great. Now I want a career change into the field I want.

Any advice on this? Thanks, man. We\'re about ready to pack up and move by the Fall. Depends on what I decide on but I don\'t wanna jump into something and without asking those in the know.

[Viper_Fujax]

good luck meng

I can tell I\'ll probably be doing this type of change-up in the future. I\'m also doing IS/IT and just getting started. while broadly everything is interesting to me (database/programming/networking) I tend to get bored with almost everything when it gets too in depth.

I just sent my resume to SCEA so I could at least get into the industry i\'m interested in

anyway, kind of side-tracked. what part of cali you moving to? or does it depend on the job/schooling that you still have to pick?

[GmanJoe]

I\'ll be in LA. Not sure which school yet. The one my sister in law is going to is a training center, http://www.videosymphony.com

Good luck sir.  I\'m sure it\'s not an easy (or inexpensive) industry to break into.

[videoholic]

Most of those video production schools are a joke at best.  A high priced joke at that.  Without a solid degree to get you in the door somewhere you\'ll have to be prepared to make no money and suck a lot of dick.  Two things you are probably very well use to.  

Everyone with a video camera is a videographer and everyone with a Mac is a video editor.

It\'s a very tough business to get into and have any type of success at.  I am working on trying to get a show together now so that if my other show dies (Now in its 9th season) I\'ll have something to fall back on.  

I wouldn\'t go out there to chase your dreams unless you at least have a start.  In Cali there are a million interns willing to take 100,000 internships.  And those are the unpaid positions.  It\'s all who you know....  If you have a bunch of money saved up and can survive a while on nothing then you are good to go.

Woohoo!!!!  I should be a motivational speaker.  I could make hundreds!!!!

[Titan]

I\'m in the process of career changes myself. I have always loved photography and trying to break into it but I have a full time job. I got into marketing to make money to fund buying equipment to pursue my photographic endeavors. I now work 50-55 hours a week and have no time to shoot or edit. I\'m so burnt out and unhappy that I\'m not doing what I want to be doing and I\'m unhappy with my life right now. So I feel you Gman. I wanted to get into that business too but its an incredibly tough field to break into. Like what vid said, its about who you know, not what you know. Hey, maybe vid can set us up with jobs on his show

I feel film making is gonna stay a hobby of mine and if it turns into something else, then awesome. Otherwise I\'m sure I\'ll make some cool indie films with some friends. I know plenty of people that are down to shoot a movie on the weekends.

Gman, I have a friend who does EXACTLY what you are hoping to do.  He has told me the same things Vid said above.  It\'s all in who you know.  Fortunately for my friend, he knew someone from his student days who got into the business ahead of him and gave him a helping hand.  Of course he\'s also been at it a while and has a ton of experience.

I can ask his opinion on schools; that is something I don\'t know anything about.

[GmanJoe]

Thanks, Cored. I\'d really appreciate that. I don\'t plan on working in Cali. Just learning.

Most of those video production schools are a joke at best.  A high priced joke at that.  Without a solid degree to get you in the door somewhere you\'ll have to be prepared to make no money and suck a lot of dick.  Two things you are probably very well use to.  

Everyone with a video camera is a videographer and everyone with a Mac is a video editor.

It\'s a very tough business to get into and have any type of success at.  I am working on trying to get a show together now so that if my other show dies (Now in its 9th season) I\'ll have something to fall back on.  

I wouldn\'t go out there to chase your dreams unless you at least have a start.  In Cali there are a million interns willing to take 100,000 internships.  And those are the unpaid positions.  It\'s all who you know....  If you have a bunch of money saved up and can survive a while on nothing then you are good to go.

Woohoo!!!!  I should be a motivational speaker.  I could make hundreds!!!!

I have a few things going for me. I\'ve already paid off my home and I have no kids. Just me and my wife and my doggy. I have a place to stay in Cali rent free. I can rent out my current home in Maryland for at least $2500. It\'s 4 floors, a movie theater in the basement and a two car garage and loft. I\'ll only rent it out to a family. So that will be an additional source of income. I do have money set aside for training. I realize I can\'t just go into video editing/sound studio on my own as I would be the worst teacher for me.

I plan on working in broadcasting once I get some experience. Hopefully back in WashDC in a couple of years.

Just echoing what vid said about the high-priced schools...

I know 3 people that went to Full Sail in FL straight out of high school for TV/film production.  Their parents paid out the ass for this school\'s inflated tuition rates.  All three ended up living BACK with their parents for years after they "graduated," struggling to find a job.  Now I think two of them do camera work, not sure what the other is up to.  But I know one guy is 30 and still lives with his folks.

Also have a couple of college friends that do post-production work and they seem to like it, but I\'m certain they don\'t get paid much.

Hope I\'m not painting too bleak of a picture. :liar: But yea, there are tons of people that think they are "directors" simply because they have a Mac... you have to have the drive, talent, and business sense to really one up the competition.

Congrats on paying off the house.  I wish my tiny townhouse in georgetown rented for $2500! :ohnoes:

[GmanJoe]

That\'s where I get lucky. If I do land a job doing what I want to do, even at less than what I make now (I made enough to pay off an $800,000 home ), I think I\'ll be good. I\'ll have only utilities to pay and insurance and health care.

Very cool that you\'re following your dream, damn the pay! :thumb: I think ABC7 is HQ\'ed in Rosslyn with a very nice view of the Potomac on the upper floors and right across the Key Bridge from DC.