Exploring Careers in TV and Film

Many young people are fascinated by the idea of being actors but have little idea of what the career entails. This book provides a detailed look at the captivating world of television and movie acting from both the glamorous and practical sides. It explores what it is like to be an actor during preproduction, filming, and postproduction, and offers extensive information on how to develop acting skills while in high school. It provides invaluable information on training for and breaking into acting as a career, an inside look at what it is like to be an actor, and an examination of how developing acting skills can lead to other career opportunities.

This book about screenwriting assures aspiring screenwriters that they can begin chasing their dreams while still in high school. With colorful photographs depicting experiences of screenwriters and others working in television and film today, as well as firsthand accounts from those involved in the industry, this book explores the skills needed and coursework recommended to help students wishing to enter the television and film industry. Readers will learn about the different types of scriptwriting, from Hollywood movies and series shows to local news and video games. They will discover how the writing processes work, what types of jobs are available and what they entail, how to deal with inevitable setbacks, and how screenwriters' skill sets can be applied to other careers.

Actors rely on a stylist's keen eye to capture their character's mood, imperfections, or beauty, with stylists ultimately helping to bring a character to life on the big screen and on television. This high-interest book provides insight into what it is like to work in the profession, including how the role fits into the industry as a whole and advice on how makeup and styling works for actors. It also provides tips for how students can gain experience through internships and DIY projects. Through expert advice and tales of success and failure, readers will learn how to best improve their chances to break into the world of media makeup and styling, and how these skills can lead to success in other professions.

Hollywood movies, television shows, and YouTube videos all have one thing in common: they start with a "big" idea. The producer takes that idea and brings it to the screen. The more complicated the project, the more skills a producer needs. Today, technology makes it easier for more people to take on the role of producer. Digital cameras, smartphones, and the internet help students and others produce their own videos. This book describes the production process and includes advice from industry experts, teachers, and young professionals to help students complete their projects successfully and safely while developing valuable skills that help build great careers in other fields.

One of the key parts of any film or TV show today is music and sound. They give the viewer a sense of atmosphere, hope, fear, danger. They also allow loud sounds like doors slamming, glass breaking, and explosions, as well as barely noticeable sounds like breathing and feet shuffling, to come across well on screen. But who is behind these effects? This book explores the role of a sound mixer in the television and film industries, ways students can learn skills while in high school related to the career, expert advice on how to get involved and get a job in the field, and information about how sound mixing skills can be valuable in other careers.

Costume designers don't just design costumes, they design the characters in movies and television shows. In this book, readers will enjoy learning the behind-the-scenes stories about how costumes turn ordinary-looking actors into everything from superheroes to villains, peasants to kings. They'll discover how they can channel their passion for fashion and history into work in the real world. Seeing how the craft of costuming requires not only research but also teamwork, budgeting, and attention to detail will reinforce good practices that transcend careers.

A passion for interior decoration might lead someone into the dynamic world of television and film set design. Using color, style, and technology, set designers create a diverse array of environments that portray characters and tell a story. However, what does a set designer do before, during, and after a production? This book outlines what skills students might need to be a set designer, successes and setbacks related to the job, and the responsibilities involved in this exciting and creative profession, while also explaining how skills developed in amateur set design experiences might lead to other careers.

Becoming a successful director like Steven Spielberg or Patty Jenkins requires a lot more than knowing when to call "action" or "cut." In this book, readers will discover the many skills, communication, leadership, time management, and storytelling, that make a promising director. They'll find out how high school students can start developing those skills now. They'll learn about the different directorial positions and the difference between working in television and movies, then see how these skills work in careers outside of the film industry.