Can someone tell me how a young guy can get a job/traineeship working
in television or film production (specifically Melbourne, Australia),
and what kind of jobs are available? He's a very personable, strong,
capable guy who's recently finished high school and doesn't want to do
the Uni gig yet. He can turn his hand to just about anything but
doesn't want to approach a production company because he doesn't know
quite (qite? ;) what's on offer. What qualifications and experience
are required for such jobs (e.g. gopher, contestant liaison, floor
crew, etc) as well as maybe some contacts or approaches on cold
calling the powers that be.

I have been working in television for the past ten years, and your son
may have a tough time ahead - but it is possible for him to achieve
his dream.

Determination, persistance and knowing the right people will get him
his job. he should make it his business to get to know anyone and
everyone in media, as they will know when jobs become available. Most
are not advertised externally, as there is such high demand for them.

Work experience is another way to get his name into the right circles
and to learn more about the industry. It is alos tough to come by, but
if he keeps hassling the news directors, executive producers and so
on, he will get a break.

If all else fails, creativity of the highest order is called for. I
know of someone who sent an executive producer a boot, with a note
saying he "just wanted a foot in the door', another photogrpahed his
hand, and atatched a note saying "please give me a hand into the
TvVindustry." Corny, but true - and both scenarios I have described
earnt the school leavers a job.

Spin off industries are also an alternative - advertising agencies, 
casting agents, PR agencies and so on are all a good way to start.

Traineeships exist in print media, specifically at Fairfax and News
Limited in Melbourne. They advertise in their papers in September or
October. Trainees have to send in their resumes, and any work
experience is looked upon favourably. They are then put through a
rigorous series of exams and  a few are chosen at the end. The
traineeships are lowly paid and usually last three years until the
graduates become fully fledged journos.

The other alternative is for your son to look at student university
radio. These stations are manned by volunteers, and he can learn the
basics of production  in radio, which he can then apply to TV at a
later stage.

I wish him the best of luck.

Thanks leithal, that's good advice. Poor kid - with the state of the
job market in general there's not a lot of doors opening anywhere.
Thanks again :)

Check out www.fullsail.com.  Not a university, but may be a happy
medium that would get him some connections.

I am someone who has wanted to work in Television since I was eight
years old. I have worked in and around TV and video production for
quite sometime, but never really broken into it.

The road I have recently decided to take is that of education. I am at
film and TV school in New Zealand, which is offering me a very wide
range of experience in a lot of very practical things.

The first thing your son needs to figure out, is what sort of TV job
he wants, be it in front of the camera or behind it. You don't have to
get too specific just yet, but some idea of roughly what he's
interested in is a very good starting point.

There are basically two ways to get into the TV industry. One is by
who you know, the other is by what you know. Both seem to work
reasonably well, and both will require you to learn a lot on the job
and make your interests and skills known.

If you'd like to post some more on precisely what sort of area of TV
you think he'd be interested in, I'd be happy to offer some
suggestions.

Also, have you considered formal education? While it's not always
required, there are a few good options in Australia, and if he feels
like a little trip across the ditch, I'd highly recommend the school I
am attending.

Regards,
sycophant-ga