Television Jobs Represented at the Emmy Awards
Not sure which television job you're interested in? Get inspiration from the Emmy Awards.
Inspiration for Your Career
Sure, most people watch the Emmy Awards to see what everyone is wearing or wait for some backstage controversy to unfold amongst the cast of Grey's Anatomy. However, the Emmy Awards also offer inspiration to those interested in television jobs and reveal the range of roles behind the making of a TV show.
If you've always been fascinated by creative work but unsure of the variety of television jobs that are available to you, consider these influential careers recognized by the following five Emmy Award categories:
Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
2007 Nominees: Deadwood (HBO), Heroes (NBC), Rome (HBO), Shark (CBS), The Tudors (Showtime) and Ugly Betty (ABC)
This year's nominees have sets that range from the classic architecture of ancient Rome to the vibrantly modern office building of a powerful fashion magazine—each one created by a team that includes a production designer and an art director. Working closely with the director and executive producers, the production designer and art director conceptualize the visual aspects that contribute to the emotional tone of a scene.
The production designer and art director are responsible for designing the sets and overseeing construction while maintaining a budget. Each of these television jobs involves working effectively in a team. If you're interested in a production designer or art director job, education in a variety of creative fields can be helpful, especially interior design, architecture, visual art, landscape design and drama/theater studies. Good film and TV schools will provide hands-on opportunities for building a portfolio that will be essential when looking for work.
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Special (Single or Multi-Camera)
2007 Nominees: 79th Annual Academy Awards (ABC), A Tribute to James Taylor (Great Performances) (PBS), Cirque de Soleil: Corteo (Bravo), Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed (HBO) and Tony Bennett: An American Classic (NBC)
Editors are responsible for the creative decisions involved in choosing the footage and assembling it in a manner that illustrates the progression of the story, which makes the editor role a powerful television job. The editor works with the director in determining the best footage each day and oversees the technical process in the editing room.
If you're interested in becoming an editor, look for film and TV schools that offer educational courses in communications, film and television, visual art or information technology. Experience is a must for this television job, especially in handling editing software and working with digital equipment. Editing students should seek hands-on learning opportunities as soon as possible while attending film and TV schools. Effective time management is another crucial skill due to the stressful nature of the job when trying to conform to the production studio's schedule for the show.
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
2007 Nominees: 30 Rock (NBC), Desperate Housewives (ABC), Entourage (HBO), Ugly Betty (NBC) and Weeds (Showtime)
A pot-dealing suburban mom. A ruthless talent agent. A backstabbing neighbor. Because the actors chosen for roles like these can make or break the characters' appeal, casting directors must know when to say, "Don't quit your day job." In the small amount of time during an audition, casting directors must gauge an actor's ability to take direction and express the range of emotions needed for a character.
While there is no standard educational program for this television job, studio executives are looking for casting directors with excellent negotiating skills. A keen understanding of the director's artistic vision is equally important, so potential casting directors should seek film and TV schools that offer business and marketing courses to balance a film or theater degree.
School Spotlight
Attend film and television programs at an Art Institute near you. With locations nationwide, you may not have to travel far to benefit from an education at one of these well-known art schools. Find a location near you.
Outstanding Costumes for a Series
2007 Nominees: Deadwood (HBO), Desperate Housewives (ABC), Rome (HBO), The Tudors (Showtime) and Ugly Betty (NBC)
If you tune in to Ugly Betty every week just to see the high-fashion items the characters are wearing, a television job as a costume designer may be for you. Each element of fashion in television shows is carefully selected to represent the emotions and internal struggles of each character.
Costume designers must have an extensive knowledge of the historical and cultural aspects of every character. They must also have the creativity to express these aspects with fashion. The majority of costume designers have at least a bachelor's degree. Students interested in this television job should seek film and TV schools that offer practical work experiences in order to build their portfolios.
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
2007 Nominees: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS), Deadwood (HBO), Rome (HBO), Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC), The Sopranos (HBO)
Nominated for 15 Emmy Awards, The Sopranos has always tested the limits of cinematography. If you aspire to create cutting-edge television shows such as The Sopranos, the director of photography position is an ideal television job. The director of photography brings the artistic visions of the writer and director to life by working with the director to determine the best lighting and camera angles for each scene.
Because this television job requires highly technical lighting and film work, formal training in photography and cinematography is vital. A good film and TV school will allow cinematography students ample time to practice techniques and learn from their mistakes.
Finding the Right Television Job for You
Television jobs come in many different forms—you can choose anything from costume design to casting—or any number of jobs in between. Whatever your interests are, if you're intrigued by the idea of a television job, go for it! There's a television job to fit you.