Critique – TV Seminar
Breaking In- TV Knowledge At a Steal
The second of the Wanted Seminar Series, held on Friday the 29th of August.
Content
The guests were really charismatic and their enjoyment was infectious so there was a great atmosphere in the room. Ron Frim emphasis on utilising RMITV and other work experience opportunities made it clear that having practiced skills before you start applying for jobs is of utmost importance. Frim also commented on the necessity of networking and explained how getting on someone’s ‘radar’ is a powerful aspect of finding employment within the industry.
Lucy Maclaren provided some practical techniques for approaching employers which although seemed a little obvious, have already me reconsider my CV and the style of language I use in introductory emails.
I was surprised by their strong encouragement of TV professionals moving to other states and outside Australia for work. These comments also represented Sydney as a much better place to be working in TV, which caused me to think about considering this move for my own career.
There was a discussion about the changes in the industry in regards to internships and budgets. It clarified the huge difference between entering the industry nowadays and when most of the guests were breaking in.
Anna Gregory advised that we need to be prepared to do any type of work because no experience is wasted. She also advised that we are personable, reliable, hard workers and work to a high standard. Gregory commented that we will be able to move across to an area that interests us eventually. This last piece of advice surprised me as I’ve previously been told that you often get stuck in your first role and that it’s difficult to shift.
I enjoyed the light-hardheartedness of the conversations about ‘semi-illegally harassing producers to get roles’ and the anecdotes about disastrous shoots, although they were brutally honest when it came to the harsh reality of being given a chance to ‘break in’ and developing a ‘thick skin’. The high pressure and conflict involved in working in TV did not sound appealing.
On a more positive note, there was a discussion about the need for young people and women in the industry.
Approach
I loved the game show concept and the general chitchat at the beginning to allow the guests to warm up and feel comfortable. I originally thought there was a little too much game show silliness and I wasn’t sure when they’re were going to get down to business, but it happened and it was very worthwhile. Connor was a professional and engaging host.
Theme
The Breaking Bad theme was well executed through the promotional video, the host’s character, the slides and the blue meth lollie snacks. It was individual and tied into the wanted theme extremely well.
Staging
The game show setting wasn’t completely professional, it was a little too cluttered and I was initially unclear what they were trying to achieve. The positioning of the lights weren’t well thought out, they blocked the audience from seeing the guests and vice versa. A raised platform would have helped the audience sitting further back see the guests.
Promotion
The promotional ad was a clever concept, but ran for a little too long. It might have been better if they kept it short and sweet. The promotional poster was once again a clever concept in tying it to the wanted theme, but not professionally executed. There wasn’t a huge amount of promotion. There could have been more content posted to the Facebook event in the lead up to the seminar.
Grade: 80
