Careers in Television Production by Institute For Career Research

Author:Institute For Career Research [Institute for Career Research]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Institute For Career Research
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Professionals Speak

I Direct Sports Broadcasts

“Since I was a kid growing up in Texas, my two great passions have been photography and sports. I played everything my parents would let me sign up for: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis. But as much as I loved to play, it was soon obvious I would never be a pro athlete or even a collage player. I was usually second or third string on my high school squads, but still happy to be on the field with some occasional playing time. When I wasn’t competing somewhere, I was busy with still cameras, film, and soon videos. I created short videos and posted them to YouTube. I originally planned on becoming a videographer, a cameraman, or maybe a magazine photographer, so I went to college to study visual arts and creative technology.

I found what would become my true calling at the University of Texas in Austin. Even though I only played intramural sports, I was always hanging around the varsity teams and shooting images. One day the football coach asked if I would be willing to videotape the practices for him. Of course I accepted! The assistant coaches told me what shots they wanted, and I complied. Soon I was traveling with the team and shooting their game films. I quickly developed the instincts and split-second timing required to anticipate where the plays were going and how the game was flowing. My volunteer work helped our team improve – and gave me some great clips for my portfolio. I also met working broadcasters and camera operators when the big TV networks covered my games, and I made sure to cultivate those relationships.

After graduation, I used many of those contacts to line up interviews with local TV stations and sports networks. I landed an entry-level job covering high school games for the Fox affiliate near my West Texas hometown. After more training and a couple of years’ experience, I was able to move up to the Fox Sports Southwest network as a full-time sports cameraman. This regional network covers all types of college and professional sports across Texas and surrounding states. A few more years, and I became an assistant director. I guided the other cameramen to get the best shots for our broadcasts. Last month, I became a director, which means I’m supervising three assistant directors and selecting which shots go out in the live broadcasts. It’s a new challenge I’m just starting to sink my teeth into, but already, I’m enjoying the excitement of sharing my love and knowledge of sports with our viewers.”

I Am a Television Cinematographer

“I did not start out planning to work in television production. In fact, I wanted to be a musician. I started playing guitar in junior high and joined my first band at age 14. My friends and I played music at parties throughout high school and college. I knew that the music business is tough, so I didn’t really plan on a full-time music career.

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