Careers in Creative Industries Week: talk with Julian Dismore

Missed Careers in Creative Industries Week? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with spotlights on some of the events that took place across the week. This post - written by LSE Social Media Ambassador and BSc Environment and Development student, Hayli - covers a talk on breaking into Media.

On 13 February LSE Careers was lucky enough to have Julian Dismore, an experienced series producer, edit producer and producer/director on campus to talk about his experiences, inspire those who would like to work in the Media sector in the future and give them some useful pointers. His advice was inspiring and insightful. Here are some interesting facts and insights from his talk.

What is TV production like?

TV may be easy to watch, but it definitely is not easy to produce! TV production is all about details. All dates, telephone numbers and records must be kept carefully, and no mistakes are allowed. The consequences of making a mistake could be huge – as Julian himself very nearly learned when he found himself accidentally bouncing off of a volcano during filming. Luckily he wasn’t hurt too badly, especially as he discovered that the emergency contact number given to him was wrong! When it comes to TV production, all details (no matter how small) are important!

Working as a TV producer, Julian notes, also requires the ability to be highly adaptable in changing situations and ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Benefits of being a TV producer

Meeting one wise person is definitely better than reading a thousand books! As a TV producer, you have the unique privilege of having open access to people’s lives. And it is always the ordinary people that Julian meets that make his career special. People who have faced great obstacles,, police officers who have saved lives, parents who are able to overcome the tough experience of losing their child.

Drawbacks of being a TV producer

It can be very difficult to get into TV production and there is little job security due to short-term contracts. You also have very long hours of work with shifts lasting as long as 28 to 30 hours! The role can also be very stressful as you are constantly working on a schedule outside of your control, dealing with, for example, poor weather conditions and the possibility that others will or will not arrive on time, which could mean not being able to follow your schedule.

Top tips from Julian for securing your job in TV production:

  • You need a great CV. Do not find a typical CV template and put the topic “CV” on your CV. Everyone knows it is a CV!
  • Also, put education at the bottom and do not list any of your GCSE or A-Level      results.
  • The most important point to emphasise is how you can contribute to the media industry and what makes you useful to them. Bear in mind, not how they can help you but what makes you useful to them.

Once you get in:

  • Always volunteer to work the weekend shifts.
  • Make more friends.
  • Never leave without your tv referee! They are an invaluable contact and can help      you to get a more secure position in the future.
  • Find a mentor and work hard for them as they will be able to guide you to success throughout your journey in the TV industry.

Interested in finding out more about the media sector or other roles within the creative industries? Explore our sector pages on careers in arts and media and communications.