Carrer Advice FCP

[Tariq Peter]

Hi Guys,

I have been working for multimedia company for the past 10 years, I am now 30 and the company has moved gradually moved into all things web, they have had to reduce my hours due to the lack of video work.

My main issue is that I started working when I was 19 and completely self taught, I am fluent in capturing, trimming, adding titles in FCP and then authoring onto DVD and have worked on some large projects.

My main worry now is where on earth to go from here, DVD authoring has become so easy people are offering it for peanuts, the skills I have FCP are good not enough to apply for a job as any kind of post production engineer and I am constantly being asked for a showreel which I can’t put together as I only trimmed and authored DVDs. I have added the titles of the DVDs I have authored to my CV but it’s not really helped.

I have mortgage and a toddler and I really need to make the right step. I was thinking about doing a FCP certified course but they are so expensive and a lot of the techniques you can find on the web is it really worth it and do employers actually want it? Could the money be better spent elsewhere?

I love all things video and would love a full time job just editing but I need guidance from the experts in here on where to go. I have been guaranteed 9 months work from my company but after that they are not sure so I can pay the mortgage up until then so I really need to use my time in the correct way. I do film weddings but that cannot guarantee my families security. Please help with any thoughts or suggestions.