Job Responsibilities
I watch videotapes while typing everything I see and hear by
time code of the tapes. You sometimes have to transcribe
interviews or the whole tape verbatim. You have to
log/transcribe 3-10 tapes 30 min./60 min. per day depending on
where you work. You do this all day long, usually 45 hours a
week.
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Job Requirements
A BA in Communication or Film at a major university is the best
route. But, in entertainment, it's all who you know and luck.
Video production classes are difficult to get into at a major
universities unless you are in the major or a senior. Definitely
take an editing, writing, and audio class. You often have to
stay up all night writing scripts for classes.
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Uppers
You do the same thing all the time, so once you get the hang of it, you don't
have to stress about other things like making phone calls or researching. You
meet a lot of contacts.
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Downers
It's very tedious. It's hard to figure out what people on the
tapes are saying. Your employer wants quantity over quality. You
can get carpal tunnel easily if you don't use wrist rests at
your computer because you do nothing but type all day long. You
get mad at and sick of the dumb people you're
transcribing/logging all day every day. Sometimes you don't get
to see sunlight because you're stuck in a cubicle. It's a 24
hour a day position, so you may be working the graveyard shift.
And, you're usually unemployed in between the 2 month average
jobs, as with any TV/film job. You may have 6 jobs a year, so
you're constantly applying for jobs until you meet contacts,
which will refer you to other jobs if you're good.
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Lifestyle
The work hours are usually 9+ hours a day, not including the unpaid lunch. It's
a 24 hour a day position, so you may be working the graveyard shift. There's no
travel. You may or may not be invited to the wrap/Christmas parties. You usually
get to wear anything you'd like, including jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops. You
might easily become friends with your fellow loggers/transcribers because you're
stuck doing slave labor in close quarters together.
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Compensation
Logging/transcribing can be near minimum wage ($7-$12.50/hr.)
with no benefits, except for some possible free meals, snacks,
and wrap/Christmas parties.
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Advice to Jobseekers
It's the easiest entry level TV/film position to get. But, once
you're a logger/transcriber it's hard to be anything but a
logger/transcriber. Every TV/film company needs
loggers/transcribers, but nobody wants to do it. You might move
on to story dept. assistant or post production assistant.
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