Help with resume video. at DVinfo.net

Dustin Waits · August 25th, 2004, 07:23 PM

Okay I tried to get a job at the local television studio, but they said that they had no PA jobs available. I also asked them about photojournalist jobs (they needed people who could shoot and edit video tape) and they said you have to have a college degree and at least 1 years experience. And they said that they dont do internships there and that I would have to go through Human Resources to get one. So, my current boss told me to right up a resume and make a sample video of my work to send to human resources. He can help me write the resume, but he doesnt know anything about video. So how should I make this sample video? How long should it be? Most of my footage is BMX contests and stuff but its good (if I do say so myself), and I have a couple videos that arent BMX related (Anniversary video that I did, and Hurricane Charley aftermath footage). So how should I put this footage together. Or should I just send them a tape with the complete videos on it?

Cory Moorehead · August 25th, 2004, 07:43 PM

Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly.

Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want.

Best of luck.

Dustin Waits · August 25th, 2004, 08:02 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Cory Moorehead : Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly.

Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want.

Best of luck. -->>>

Thanks for the reply.

so should I just put the whole videos on dvd then? The Anniversary video is around 10 or 15 mins long and I have some really good BMX videos that are around 5 mins long. Or should I cut them up a bit or what?

Josh Bass · August 25th, 2004, 09:41 PM

I hope I'm not being retarded here.

By video resume, I assume you mean what most of us refer to as a "demo reel." If that's the case, I urge you, as other have urged me, not to make it any longer than five minutes. I have my reel up online. Here are the links:

http://www.joshbass.com/Operatorreewm9.wmv

http://www.joshbass.com/operatorreelqt5.mov

I'm not saying this is what YOUR reel should look like, but it's just an example. I'm sure a hundred people have a hundred different reels.

Here's another tip: you're supposed to tailor your reel, as much as possible towards the position your going for, kind of like you do with your written resume. So, if you're going for shooter editor position on the news, you'd want something that's kind of similiar to a news package, that you shot and edited yourself, no?

You mention in your post hurricane footage. Anything you can make out of that? Mix some B-roll with some interviews, make a little news package? Maybe add some quick shots of what you consider to be the shots (from the hurricane, anniversary, bikers, whatever) that show your artistic eye for videography. My $.02 (US).

Cory Moorehead · August 26th, 2004, 07:45 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Cory Moorehead : Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly.

Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want.

Best of luck. -->>>

Cut it up and put your besst parts on the DVD. Then make a DVD menu in which he can choose which piece he wishes to watch. Basically showcase tiny clips of your best work.

David Stoneburner · August 26th, 2004, 08:02 AM

I would agree with Josh. Most places will make there mind up within the first 3 minutes of your video. It's better to have 3 minutes of your best stuff than 10 minutes of good, and Ok. In your case since you don't have a lot to go with, stay with the absolute best. I've been in the business for 15 years and have hours of video, but I still wouldn't send more than 10 minutes total to anyone unless they asked for it. I usually try to keep to the 5 minute rule. Also tailor your demo to the job that you are going for. If they are interested, they may ask for more material, then again they may not.

Good luck,

Dustin Waits · August 26th, 2004, 10:20 AM

Thanks for all the advice guys. I went through all my footage and decided that the hurricane footage shouldnt go into the demo reel (I had no tripod and I was walking around while shooting so its a little bit shaky). So that leaves me with BMX footage and anniversary footage, which do not go together at all. So what I'm planning on doing, is picking out my best bmx clips and making a little segment with some kind of fast paced music, like techno or rock or something, and then fade to black, and then have the anniversary footage fade in with a slow song in the background. I'll put that on the DVD, and I'll put my other fully edited short videos on the disc with it. Like all my BMX contest coverage videos and stuff. And of course I'll have a DVD menu be able to choose which videos to watch. Does this sound good?

Here are some links of the short videos I am planning on putting on the DVD...

[you can also download the quicktime version of these by replacing the ".wmv" with ".mov"]

Roots Jam Contest: [these are one video that I split in two for uploading reasons]
windows...
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart1.wmv
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart2.wmv
quicktime...
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart1.mov
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart2.mov

Opening of Bonita Skatepark:
windows...
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/bonita.wmv
quicktime...
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/bonita.mov

Jim Jam 2004 contest:
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/jimjam.wmv
quicktime...
http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/jimjam.mov

Footage for the demo reel will come out of the above short videos and videos that I am not going to put on the DVD.

August 25th, 2004, 07:23 PM	#1
Dustin Waits Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 243	Help with resume video. Okay I tried to get a job at the local television studio, but they said that they had no PA jobs available. I also asked them about photojournalist jobs (they needed people who could shoot and edit video tape) and they said you have to have a college degree and at least 1 years experience. And they said that they dont do internships there and that I would have to go through Human Resources to get one. So, my current boss told me to right up a resume and make a sample video of my work to send to human resources. He can help me write the resume, but he doesnt know anything about video. So how should I make this sample video? How long should it be? Most of my footage is BMX contests and stuff but its good (if I do say so myself), and I have a couple videos that arent BMX related (Anniversary video that I did, and Hurricane Charley aftermath footage). So how should I put this footage together. Or should I just send them a tape with the complete videos on it?

August 25th, 2004, 09:41 PM	#4
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I hope I'm not being retarded here. By video resume, I assume you mean what most of us refer to as a "demo reel." If that's the case, I urge you, as other have urged me, not to make it any longer than five minutes. I have my reel up online. Here are the links: http://www.joshbass.com/Operatorreewm9.wmv http://www.joshbass.com/operatorreelqt5.mov I'm not saying this is what YOUR reel should look like, but it's just an example. I'm sure a hundred people have a hundred different reels. Here's another tip: you're supposed to tailor your reel, as much as possible towards the position your going for, kind of like you do with your written resume. So, if you're going for shooter editor position on the news, you'd want something that's kind of similiar to a news package, that you shot and edited yourself, no? You mention in your post hurricane footage. Anything you can make out of that? Mix some B-roll with some interviews, make a little news package? Maybe add some quick shots of what you consider to be the shots (from the hurricane, anniversary, bikers, whatever) that show your artistic eye for videography. My $.02 (US). __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

August 25th, 2004, 07:43 PM	#2
Cory Moorehead Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 148	Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly. Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want. Best of luck.

August 25th, 2004, 08:02 PM	#3
Dustin Waits Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 243	<<<-- Originally posted by Cory Moorehead : Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly. Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want. Best of luck. -->>> Thanks for the reply. so should I just put the whole videos on dvd then? The Anniversary video is around 10 or 15 mins long and I have some really good BMX videos that are around 5 mins long. Or should I cut them up a bit or what?

August 26th, 2004, 07:45 AM	#5
Cory Moorehead Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 148	<<<-- Originally posted by Cory Moorehead : Definatly put together a portfolio of clips organized on a DVD with a DVD menu of some of your best work.Put a CD Label on it and make it look pro. They will love that if presented correctly. Also, ask if they have any volunteering places open. Im sure they would love the extra help, you would get some experience, and eventually you will get the spot you want. Best of luck. -->>> Cut it up and put your besst parts on the DVD. Then make a DVD menu in which he can choose which piece he wishes to watch. Basically showcase tiny clips of your best work.

August 26th, 2004, 08:02 AM	#6
David Stoneburner Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 493	I would agree with Josh. Most places will make there mind up within the first 3 minutes of your video. It's better to have 3 minutes of your best stuff than 10 minutes of good, and Ok. In your case since you don't have a lot to go with, stay with the absolute best. I've been in the business for 15 years and have hours of video, but I still wouldn't send more than 10 minutes total to anyone unless they asked for it. I usually try to keep to the 5 minute rule. Also tailor your demo to the job that you are going for. If they are interested, they may ask for more material, then again they may not. Good luck,

August 26th, 2004, 10:20 AM	#7
Dustin Waits Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 243	Thanks for all the advice guys. I went through all my footage and decided that the hurricane footage shouldnt go into the demo reel (I had no tripod and I was walking around while shooting so its a little bit shaky). So that leaves me with BMX footage and anniversary footage, which do not go together at all. So what I'm planning on doing, is picking out my best bmx clips and making a little segment with some kind of fast paced music, like techno or rock or something, and then fade to black, and then have the anniversary footage fade in with a slow song in the background. I'll put that on the DVD, and I'll put my other fully edited short videos on the disc with it. Like all my BMX contest coverage videos and stuff. And of course I'll have a DVD menu be able to choose which videos to watch. Does this sound good? Here are some links of the short videos I am planning on putting on the DVD... [you can also download the quicktime version of these by replacing the ".wmv" with ".mov"] Roots Jam Contest: [these are one video that I split in two for uploading reasons] windows... http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart1.wmv http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart2.wmv quicktime... http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart1.mov http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/rootspart2.mov Opening of Bonita Skatepark: windows... http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/bonita.wmv quicktime... http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/bonita.mov Jim Jam 2004 contest: http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/jimjam.wmv quicktime... http://www.bmxbums.com/videos/jimjam.mov Footage for the demo reel will come out of the above short videos and videos that I am not going to put on the DVD.