Alex Connock - Media: Can you make it?

Alex Connock’s lecture was one of the best we’ve had this week.He is the managing director for a production company called ‘Shine North’, which is based in the Media City, Manchester. The company produce a huge variety of services such as commercials, TV shows and music videos. His job is to come up with the idea, sell the idea and then make that idea into a reality.
You could see he was really enthusiastic about his job and that he loved it, which was really encouraging. He gave some really helpful pointers about getting into the industry.

• Content is not what everyone used to think it was. In this day and age content is everywhere; TVs, internet, social media. We are not lacking in content, but we need to learn how to give people content in both an attractive and memorable way.
• London is not a necessity. Although it is good to be based near a media-based city, like Manchester, it is optional and you can still make it into the industry.
• Learn to edit film. Video and animation are now used to promote almost everything. It is such a big part of our media industry today that we should know how to use it.
• Film what is in front of you. Practice is good and we can make amazing videos just using our phones.
• Learn to do everything with style. In the industry we need to be confident and to stick to our own style.
• Take full advantage of the materials and resources around us. We need to learn how to use the amazing technology that is available to us.
• Learn teamwork, but know how to blow your own trumpet!
• Don’t sit around waiting for people to give you work, go looking for it and never give up.
• Networking; one of the most important part of working in the creative industry.
• Make things fun and interesting. If you’re doing this not only will you enjoy your work but you will also be encouraging the people around you, like your colleagues and the people you work for.