Why Now’s the Time to Think about a Career in Post Production

As this year’s university graduates get ready to launch themselves into the world of work, plenty will be considering a career in the creative industries. However, it remains the case that post production is often overlooked or misunderstood, despite offering a dizzying mix of both art and technology. 

From animation to VFX, herein lies an exciting and innovative world of jaw-dropping entertainment born from a highly creative, global community. Perhaps you are passionate about art but worried about becoming the stereotypical struggling artist? Why not combine your passion with a career in post-production; one that can further hone your skills whilst generating an income?

This industry is all about creation and innovation. Some may think it’s just technical and discount it, fearing that they may not have the skills, but in reality it’s about animation, sounds, visuals. It can involve creating a film from raw footage; adding VFX onto an existing reel; generating 3D graphics or retouching an image, composing music, or colour grading. It’s hard to define and categorise and it’s sometimes for this reason that it gets overlooked as a career.

Here are some reasons to consider joining the ranks of the post-production industry. 

With  recent tax breaks announced at the Spring Budget 2024, designed to help the industry in the UK by giving a 5% increase in audio visual expenditure credit, this is a great time to consider a career in post-production, whether you choose to specialise in stop motion, gaming, image retouching or sound – or any other flavour of this wide-ranging discipline. While the writers’ strikes in Hollywood are still casting a shadow, the long-term picture is positive: One of increasing demand for skills in a growing industry.

 

Certainly today, there is more content than ever before and I have absolute confidence that this will remain the case. With diverse formats and channels, and the worlds of cinema, streaming, advertising, and gaming converging, the future is bright. Today, gaming is a huge part of post-production, too. As one of the fastest growing industries, it’s a significant recruiter. If you see yourself designing characters, worlds, sounds … this is a market ripe with potential.

It’s not just the UK; with many countries besides the UK also offering tax schemes designed to attract productions to their shores, this is a truly global industry. It is also one which equips its workers with highly transferable skills as well as amazing opportunities to play a role in box office hits such as ‘Avatar’ and, more recently, ‘Dune: Part 2’ as they help to bring to life truly immersive worlds.

 

By choosing a career in this field, you are not limited to any one country or style. You can work from a laptop in Bali, or join a big, buzzing studio. The variety is endless, and, as your life evolves, you can flex accordingly.

While junior starting salaries could be around the £20-25K figure, at a mid to senior level you can be earning a very generous income. A VFX supervisor may earn £800-900 a day, and a top-end editor, £700. Meanwhile, unique talent can charge what they want, while average and entry-level salaries are also attractive.

 

My number-one piece of advice is not to wait for companies or projects to come to you. It has become so much easier and more affordable to create projects as a self-starter. The tools and the software are becoming more affordable, too; there are often free versions, or independent licences, meaning that individuals can build their own portfolios independently rather than waiting to be given experience. Technology should never be a barrier, and it’s not of number one importance in this industry, which is an art form too. I’m also determined to see this industry become less male-dominated.

Post-production also remains a very collaborative environment. With a great variety of artists to learn from, you can gain exposure to a range of styles, and it can be helpful to network at festivals or other industry events. Be proactive and seek experiences out. You aren’t limited to a country, nor a culture, and while you can choose to specialise, you may prefer to try many styles and approaches – always learning from others as you go.

 

I’m speaking from experience: We have recruited many graduates to our growing team. We ask them to make recommendations, to post on their noticeboards. We have hired at least six to eight people this way.  Some were doing their Masters degrees. They understand the latest trends. These are truly digital natives who understand digital-first formats.

 

You don’t have to come from the most prestigious university or course, either. In fact, you don’t even need to have a degree - but being a self-starter and truly passionate is key. And you have to be proactive. For instance, consider volunteering at the post-production houses as a runner.  Often, this is a long-term process and the end result is not visible until much later. It’s important to love the journey.

 

Indeed, my final piece of advice is simply to get going, and then to send your portfolio to post-production houses. We are always looking for fresh talent and having it come to you is so refreshing. Seek out opportunities to build your credits and your resume. You are judged by your portfolio - not where you came from - and those more experienced in production can support you. I still get that fuzzy feeling when clients are super happy – I’m more proud of the team and their output than ever. Fortunately, that feeling never goes away.

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