CV

Script Writer

There is certainly money to be made as a scriptwriter. However, there is quite a disparity between the earnings of the most successful writers and the lesser known writers out there.

Many full-time scriptwriters in the UK actually do other jobs to support their writing. Some work in academia and others undertake freelance copywriting and editorial projects for other publications. Often, the actual income that scriptwriters earn directly from their writing can be quite low.

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Freelance scriptwriters aren’t restricted by conventional working hours. The career path of a freelance scriptwriter can lack a certain amount of job security. Success is often dependent on people’s opinions and fluctuating market trends.

The job can sometimes be lonely, since writers don’t work in an office and rarely work alongside other people. However, a writer’s career will allow you to have a great amount of freedom, as you won’t be shackled to a desk in a sterile office environment.

You may be required to travel, both domestically and internationally, from time to time to meet with directors and producers and attend awards ceremonies. 

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Many scriptwriters have degrees in English, journalism or creative writing. However, scriptwriters from other academic backgrounds are actually very common. In fact, many successful scriptwriters don’t even have undergraduate degrees. Indeed, the industry is one that honours talent and ability in spite of academic credentials.

Scriptwriters can take short writing courses for training purposes. Postgraduate degrees aren’t necessary, but can provide essential training for those focusing on a specific area of scriptwriting.

Basically, all you need are excellent writing skills, an in-depth understanding of the acting process, the ability to create believable characters through well-written dialogue, excellent time management, stupendous research skills and a talent for networking.

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You don’t need any specific training to succeed as a scriptwriter. You just need to be talented, hardworking and a little bit lucky. Watching films, reading and writing are the only training a scriptwriter needs.

Many scriptwriters do, however, train through peer workshops. These are especially useful in allowing new writers to get feedback on their work.

Since most scriptwriters are self-employed, the only actual career progression you can achieve is through an increase in popularity, by winning scriptwriting prizes and by generally becoming critically acclaimed.

What your career really depends on is how well your clients, readers or audience receive your work.

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Character Designer 

A Character Designer creates the look and feel of animated characters. Character Designers are only found in certain cases where characters are complex and important enough to merit specialized attention. When that happens though, a Character Designer is hired to blend skills from across fields to create vivacious, well rounded characters. In this role, you work mainly in video games, animation, and illustration.

At this position you are a cross-breed between several different (and more common) positions. You are an Illustrator, Concept Artist, Animator, andGame Artist meaning that you (respectively) design your characters, bring them to life, then flesh out their look.

In the beginning stages of your work you imagine and sketch out the first draft of characters. As this is happening, you storyboard your character by writing their past and their future, and place them within the context of the narrative to give them life and depth.

If you are working on a virtual character, you then use computer graphics and 3D modeling to design and animate your form by adding in color, molding its movements, and adding its sounds. You continue to refine your characters throughout the game, making sure the way it roars and flips its mane is correct.

To do this work you must be very imaginative and creative, and have the breadth and depth of animation knowledge to make your creation come to life: You are responsible for a character from conception to death, so you must be well versed in all technical proficiencies that are generally split between several fields.

Should I be a Character Designer?

You should have a bachelor's degree or higher and share these traits:

• Detail Oriented: You pay close attention to all the little details.

• High Achiever: You love the challenge of tackling difficult work.

• Reliable: You can always be counted on to do a good job.

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Special Effects Makeup Artist

To become a make-up artist you'll need to possess creative flair, practical ability and an up-to-date knowledge of fashion and beauty trends

A make-up artist ensures that models, performers and presenters have suitable make-up and hairstyles before they appear in front of cameras or an audience.

You could work in a variety of settings, including:

• film;

• live music;

• photographic shoots;

• television;

• theatre.

The work involves creating images and characters through the medium of make-up, hairstyles and prosthetics according to a brief.

In the role you'll interpret the make-up requirements of clients to produce both a creative and technically accurate visual representation. This may involve very basic make-up for a TV presenter through to more complex period make-up or special effects.

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Responsibilities

Depending on the nature of the job, you could work alone, as an assistant to a more senior colleague or as part of a make-up design team.

Working as a make-up artist you may find yourself:

• communicating with clients to clarify visual requirements;

• studying the production - reading scripts to ascertain the materials and the look required, budget implications and identifying areas where research is required;

• producing and sketching design ideas for hairstyles and make-up;

• ensuring continuity in hair and make-up and liaising with other members of the design team to ensure the overall look/effect is consistent and coherent;

• demonstrating and implementing a practical understanding of lighting, the photographic process, colours and the impact of special effects/make-up processes on the skin;

• ensuring that appropriate action is taken to minimise unpleasant side effects from the use of specialist make-up/hairdressing techniques;

• maintaining awareness of health and safety issues and legislation;

• casting facial and body moulds and sculpting latex foam, known as prosthetics;

• fitting and maintaining wigs, hairpieces and prosthetics;

• hairdressing;

• maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of available make-up and beauty products;

• sourcing, budgeting and ordering materials and equipment from specialist suppliers;

• time management, knowing how long a subject will take to be made-up;

• working quickly and accurately in time-pressured conditions;

• taking detailed notes and photographs of work, maintaining an up-to-date portfolio of work.

Salary

• Trainees should receive no less than the national minimum wage or the London living wage.

• A make-up/hair assistant can charge rates of around £200 for a 10-hour day whereas make-up designers can charge in the region of £300. These rates are for drama and light entertainment television productions and low-budget feature films.

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Special Effects Artist

Special effects artists create mechanical, optical and computer-generated illusions for movies, television shows and computer games. Although there's no standard education required to become a special effects artist, some formal training is necessary to help candidates develop their technical skills. Most aspiring special effects artists earn a bachelor's degree in a field such as computer graphics or animation.

 

Required EducationBachelor's degree is typical

Other RequirementsSkills with industry-standard software, such as Renderman and After Effects

Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)*6% for all multimedia artists and animators

Median Salary (2015)*$63,970 for all multimedia artists and animators

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Special Effects Artist Job Description

Most special effects are created through computer graphics programs, known in the film industry as CG. These programs create two- and three-dimensional images and models that can be animated to do things human bodies can't accomplish and things that are unsafe for people to attempt. Special effects images also allow things like building explosions that would be impractical to reproduce live. Special effects artists must learn how these things would happen in real life and translate them into a screen image. Research skills are vital for a special effects artist.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted a 6% growth in employment for multimedia artists and animators from 2014-2024. May 2015 BLS data showed a median annual salary of $63,970 for these workers.

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Skills Required For a Special Effects Artist

One of the greatest skills a special effects artist can cultivate is the art of listening. Directors and writers explain specific ideas to the special effects artist and the artist must be able to understand the concept and create an image that comes as close as possible to the original concept. A special effects artist turns words into pictures.

Some of the computer programs that special effects artists use are After Effects, Houdini, Renderman and Shake. A special effects artist uses every-day office software as well, such as Microsoft Office programs. Technical knowledge must be coupled with innate artistic talent.

The ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines is essential for a special effects artist. Whether the artist works in the film industry, video game or music video field, artists work on a project-to-project basis. Film and video projects factor time into budgets and delays that put a project over-budget can stop the project cold.

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Education Requirements for Special Effects Artists

There is no exact route to becoming a special effects artist. Although undergraduate and graduate programs in animation, computer graphics and graphic design exist, they are not always requirements for special effects jobs. Many of the computer programs used in creating special effects are taught in art schools and graphic artist programs.

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Working Conditions for Special Effects Artists

A special effects artist works with a myriad of people to make a project come together. Often there are several special effects artists working on different components of the exact same scene and they must work together to create one seamless image. Artists make their images work with backgrounds, live actors, directors and other special effects artists who may be working on other characters or image types.

Special effects artists rarely work regular schedules. Long hours and weekends are the norm rather than the exception for these artists. Special effects artists may work for large companies, such as Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar, Disney and Dreamworks, or for independent filmmakers.

Special effects artists create mechanical, optical and computer-generated effects that are used in video games or for television shows, music videos or movies. They must be skilled with computer programs that generate effects and need the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Next: View Schools

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Sound Producer

Sound producers, also referred to as audio engineers, recording engineers, and sound technicians, record and manipulate voices, sound effects, and music for movies, video games, sporting events, and albums. They operate and set up various recording equipment and may repair equipment as well. Sound producers may find work with only a high school diploma, although it's more common for these professionals to enroll in a certificate program that includes hands-on training working with sound equipment. Continuing education coursework and on-the-job training are common. Sound producers also need to possess musical skills and technical skills.

 

Required EducationHigh school diploma or certificate; on-the-job training and continuing education

Required SkillsMusical and technical skills

Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)*8% for all sound engineering technicians

Median Salary (2015)*$53,330 annually for all sound engineering technicians

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Sound Producer Job Duties

Sound producers use a variety of equipment and machines, such as digital audio workstations, attenuators, equalizers, and multi-meters during the sound recording process. During post-production and mixing, sound producers blend recorded clips of vocals and instruments to achieve a certain sound. For movie or television projects, these professionals focus on how sound effects and music line up with visual cues.

Audio producers and engineers can also put their own creative skills to use by making original sounds or music. For example, they may use computer programs and an assortment of other tactile objects or musical instruments to create customized sound effects.

Additionally, sound producers work closely with singers, actors, and other entertainment professionals to make sure that the sound they create is just right. In order to achieve desired results, they have to know how to properly communicate with performers, recording assistants, and others.

 

Salary

The salary of a sound producer is highly dependent on the industry in which he or she is working. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average hourly wage of sound engineering technicians in the motion picture and video industry was $39.74 as of May 2015 (www.bls.gov). During this time, technicians in the sound recording industry earned an average of $25.42 per hour, while those in the performing arts industry made an average hourly wage of $25.80.

In May 2015, California had the most employed sound engineering technicians, followed by New York, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia, reports the BLS. Technicians in California earned an average salary of $73,900 a year, while those in New York made an average of $76,960 per year.

Sound producers are responsible for recording or modifying audio content, mixing tracks together for a song, or creating sound effects and music for films. They must have good communication, musical and technical skills, and can gain hands-on equipment training in a certificate program. Job growth is expected to rise at an average rate for sound producers through the year 2024.