Help advice needed sought

[gregles76]

Let me tell you guys a story.
Recently I was phone interviewed for a promo producers role with a very large and well known company. At the conclusion of the interview, I was told I was going to have a face to face interview and would be called to arrange the details soon.
About a week passed I still didnt hear anything, so I called the person and got his voice mail. I left a message and a week later still had no response. A week pasts and I call again, by this time my "something isnt rite meter " was running crazy. I left another message spoke to his secretary and still no return of my calls.

So fast forward another week lo and behold I get an email saying I now dont have an interview and they have gone with someone else.

How can people do this, say you've been short listed and have an interview, and go back on that.

I am so disgruntled with these practices. I need some advice on where to go now. Where and how do I crack it with a company who will give me a go and let me get back to doing what I do best editing.

I have such a wide variety of skills and experiences in audio and video but I still cant crack it.
I am an eternal optimist and believe that there is that opportunity out there somewhere. I would just like some ideas from those who have been where I have been and how they cracked it. Maybe even some good places to get my show reel to, trusted contacts. I live and breath video . I didnt get into this for money I got into it because its what im good at and I am willing to go anywhere and start wherever if it means I have the opportunity to grow, develop and edit.

Any help advice would be greatly appreciated.

[editboxer]

I worked in a factory for 9 months.
During that time, I studied some more even if I was an experienced editor.
Took me 4 years before I started cutting again.

Moral of the story?

Chin up. Persevere. Be nice, play nice.

The industry's small so whoever snubbed you will not remain anonymous for too long.

Find a way to use your skills paid or (shock, horror) unpaid. If you are good, you'll be properly rewarded. Either you get good contacts or at least you'll get to know the people you are going to avoid for the rest of your career.

You are an editor, be creative.

[Thomasstrick]

hmmm, i have a similar problem. I am investigating a work visa for Australia, but because "Film & Video Editor" isn't on the scarce-skills list, i cant.

The only way would be via getting a permanent job first. Posts like yours are disheartening, as it paints a picture of scarce-work & oversupply of keen folks with skills. Most job ads I've seen in Aus are "residents only can apply". Logically.

My advice, in your case, would be to keep your skills sharp on weekends, and try get a toe in wherever you can, within the industry. Cut n post lot's of web video perhaps? And have a killer reel, even if it's all just material shot for the purpose.

[rachelw]

howdy - as a seasoned promo producer I can say it's highly likely that your calls have been noted but that the parties in question have made a decision that contacting you is not a critical matter for them. Often if they decide to hire someone, nobody else gets a courtesy decline nod or anything. It's also possible that the person you spoke to got smoted off the planet for sinning. Thus making them unavailable.

There are a lot of people competing for these roles, but I've never had an over the phone i/v unless it's for an overseas role (which I've had). So it sounds fishy from the outset.

Basically, don't hang on every i/v and don't wait for one gig to fall over before you apply for the next. Yes it's a tough racket to crack into and it's highly nepitistic once you're in. So you can be fantastic, not fit in well, and only last about a month...or be horrible and popular and have a long life span....I'd only chase this kind of work if you know within yourself that you're destined to be a promo producer, as it's a highly specific role and requires a wide array of skills. Also, it's possibly worthy to note that i've actually walked away from producing a few years ago because the rates of pay have been sliding downwards, and it's really not worth the bother any more. If you're being offered less than 60k for a gig you're probably being done over, unless it's a junior role. Senior roles which used to start at 80k are now having a ceiling of 80 - I just poo-poohed one the other day with a similarly 'big broadcaster'. I just don't slave away without the kitty. No money, no love. End of the story.

as for the oversupply of editors - yep, thomas you are right. There are a very large number of unemployed and employed editors rabbiting around australia seeking jobs, but don't let that stop you if you have a strong interest. There are ways to enter, they just take a bit of nonce. If you have a relationship with a local university in your country of origin, you may be able to negotiate an introduction for 'work experience' which often can lead to other work. Or you can apply for a course in an aussie university and use that as a means to gain entry. If you undertake a masters or something in austraila in video production or similar, you will make contacts locally and be able to get freelance gigs while you up your quals. It's not a simple way but it's a way.

however, given the fact that there is less and less viable attractive production going on and more sausage-factory work, is there a particular reason apart from the working landscape that makes you think of austraila as a good place to seek o/s employment? It's a particularly microscopic playing field here on the top end.

cheers

r

[gregles76]

I have the fantastic news to report , today after about a year out of film school I was offered a fantastic editors job.
Whats even better its a very supportive company who believes in my talents and will be training me in other video areas away from just cutting such as after effects and camera operation.
This time I have been very careful to make sure the organisation is good and I have everything in a contract and everything looks good , fair and just.
I am absolutly thrilled I was getting very close to deciding to go back to uni and train in something else.
Best Christmas present I could ever hope for.
cheers

[Jude]

Congrats Greg. :) Well done for being persistent enough to get a start. As someone said to me the other day - this is the only industry where graduates are expected to work for nothing. No other profession would accept that - not lawyers, not scientists, not plumbers, not shopkeepers. Only us.

[gregles76]

finally got a position where im earning a fair days pay for a fair days work got to be a step up and a lesson for everyone in that who's starting out.

[Adam_Jones]

whereabouts in Australia are you working, Greg?

This gives me a little hope for when i finish uni.. one more year to go!

[gregles76]

melbourne. i was in sydney for a number of years and only really cracked it when I came back here.