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Preparing for progression
What is a freelancer?
A free lancer is someone who works for themselves. This means that they can work how they want, they don't need the usual contract. Some people do freelancing along side there normal job. They can find there own work. Finding work can be dome many different ways. You can do this by word of mouth, different events and job sites. Some knows what their next job will be but some doesn't know what their next job will be.
Where does the word freelancer come from?
The word freelancer comes from a novel called Ivanhoe it was written by a Scottish writer called Sir Walter Scott. The writer describes the Italian and French mercenaries as "freelances" meaning that they were free men who offered there service to land owners who are rich. Tis elements of freelancing has changed. They basically amounted to a private army and would fight on their Lord’s behalf against groups loyal to other noblemen. Thankfully this element of freelancing has largely been abolished today.
Freelancer responsibility
They run their own business so they have to take on all the responsibility themselves. They have to do all the administration, the accounts of the business, the marketing, the contracts and the invoices of the business. They have to have training done but they have know how to do the different. They need to be able to communicate with the different people. As a freelancer they will be creating different assignments and they will need to be well presented. They need to make sure that all the equipment's are working properly. They need to make sure that all there tax's are all correct. They need to make sure that all the paperwork is accurate. They need to make sure that they have insurance for their business. They are responsible for the health and safety of other people that they are working with.
Freelancer requirements
Freelancers need to make sure that they have all the correct requirements. They need to choose a role that they have experience in. They would need a portfolio of projects that they previously completed. They would need to be able to access the different equipment so that they can complete the different tasks. They would be required to be organized and the management skills. They need to know what they are doing. Another requirement is that they need really good time management.
How to be come a freelancer
To become a freelancer they will need to have the right mindset. They need to set themselves goals for their business so that the business can be successful. They will choose what they want to do. Many will choose something that they love to do. For there business they need to identify their target audience. They need to figure out what there target audience likes and there dislikes. They need to be able to build their brand and become established. They need to advertise and promote there business so that the public knows about it. They should create a website for their business. They need to make sure that they fill out all the correct the paperwork. They need to make sure they speak to the right people.
Critique the role freelancer
Being a freelancer has both positives and negatives sides to it.
Positives -
Being a freelancer you have flexible hours. This means that you can work the hours you want to work and you can chose when you work. You have full control over clients where as when you work for someone else you don't have that control. You can work from anywhere you want for example your house, a café and on a holiday. You are our own boss. You only need to speak to your clients. You can do what you want and when you want to do it. You can keep all the money that you earn you don't need to share it with any one.
Negatives-
You don't have a steady or reliable work load. Your pay and work load would be inconsistent. Being your own boss can also have a down side because it can be difficult to separate personal and work. This could mean that you work long hours and you don't get any time for their personal life. Being a freelancer means that you have to find your own clients and projects whereas in other jobs you don't have to. When it comes to getting paid you can get paid but then there is a risk of not getting paid. You don't get the benefits that employers get like health benefits and more
Self branding
Self branding is a form of marketing for an individual. This is a popular trend that has been growing around celebrities. It is a good way to promote name recognition that goes alongside the product or services. For example Beyoncé has created a clothes line called Ivy Park. This is known by majority of the public because of who Beyoncé is. When self branding is successful everything that follows will be successful as well. Self branding is not limited only to celebrities and more. This is where the individual can leave there own personal trademark.
Self branding
Photographer
Photographers should create a online portfolio. They should create a website where they can put there portfolio. The photos that you take helps them decide if they like your work so this would help the client to choose whether they want to use this service. They should use social media to promote them as photographers and there work. To promote work on social media they would post pictures after they have done a photo shoot and they would tag their clients. They should do some research about their clients. They should find out what they like and dislike.
Camera operators
Camera operators should create different videos. They should create a website to promote their work, services and themselves. This will help to see the clients to see if they like or dislike what they see doing this will help the to choose whether they want to use your services. They should us social media to their work and services. They should us social media to promote their work and services. Using social media will help the camera operator to promote themselves. They should research into their clients about what they like or dislike.
Producer
As a producer they should create a website to create awareness for there work and themselves. The website should show their skills and their talent. They should learn to network with different people for different companies. They should be able to define their brand by creating a logo or another way. They should use Social media to promote their work. Using social media will create more awareness for them. If they have created content they should show a sample. This should help the clients to decide if they want to use your services.
Sound
Sound is can also be part of self branding. They should create a website to promote there work. They could provide a sample of their services on there website or there social media
Using social media will help them to bring awareness to their work and services. They should create a logo to promote them. they should research into their clients. This would help them know what they like dislike.
Contractual employment
Contractual employment is a signed agreement that is between an employee and employer. It shows the rights and the responsibilities that the company and the worker has.
Different types of contractual employment?
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Full time
Full time employment is the most common. The contracts would only be offered to permeant positions. On the contract they will show the salary and the hourly wages of what the employee would earn. The contract would also state there holiday entitlement, pension benefits, sick pay and parental allowances. Most employers would recognise that the employee would need to have work 35+ hours.
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Part time
Part time employment works fewer hours than a full time employee. They can also hold permanent positions. The contract has the same details as a full time contract. The employees hours should be scheduled to work per week and should be visible within the contract. They may be able to work overtime. Part time employment have different benefits like a flexible schedule, allowing to work around the employees other commitments and having different opportunity for people.
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Fixed term contracts?
Fixed term contracts lasts for a certain amount of time. The amount of time has been set an agreed. The contract might include a time frame. The employees have the same rights and benefits that a permanent contract have. Depending what the role is and how the employee performances this can lead to a longer term positions.
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Temporary contracts
Temporary contracts are similar to fixed term contracts. Temporary contracts can be offered when a contract is not expected to become permanent. They usually would have some form of end date . The end date may change. Temporary workers may have their contracts extended. They have the same benefits as the other contracts. The different benefits they can get is they are more flexible and they are able to manage work around studying.
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Agency contracts
The agency staff have their contracts agreed and manage. They are done by a recruitment consultancy or employment agency. They normally work on a temporary basis and the length of their contracts will depend on when they are free. The responsibilities of the agency is to makes sure that the employees rights are protected.
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Freelancers and contractors
Contracts may change from positions to positions. They are generally considered self employed. They are responsible for different things like tax. the contract may include a start dates and end dates and the salary. The workers may not be entitled to the same rights as permanent members or staff even though they manage their own schedule and decide their own terms.
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Zero hours contracts
They are also known as casual contracts. They specify that an employee only works when needed by the employer. The employer has no obligations to provide set amounts of hours to work. The employee does not have to accept any work that is offered to them. They are entitled to the same annual leave as permanent workers. The employers have to pay them the national minimum wage to work. They may look for employment somewhere else.
Critique contractual employment
There are many positive and negatives to contractual.
The positives are that you have a chance to impress the employer. This can lead to an offer to be brought on as a full time employee. The length of the employment of the start date and the amount of hours they would work. The salary because agreement contains how much they would make. The benefits that employers give the employees like health benefits, staff discount, bonuses, holiday pay and more benefits. The contract may say that employee can be promoted or they can receive a bonus. The negatives of the contractual employment is that you may not be in the inner circle because the other employees know that you are there for a certain amount of time. The employee will be paid as a contractor meaning that employer will not deduct for taxes. Therefore you have to make sure that pay your own taxes to the government. You might not be able to have the normal benefits like holiday, health benefits and more.
Location manager
Location managers are mostly freelancers and they are paid on a contract basis. The salary would start on a lower salary. Winter is mainly quiet but in summer it is busy. Location managers would be the first arrived . The hours are long and unsociable. Part time work is very rare to find as they need to be available. There are many employers for location managers like independent production companies, post-production and facilities house, community film and video projects and film companies. There are many different projects that needs a location manager like Tv programmes, trailers, entertainment and advertising.
Camera operator
Camera operators are mostly freelancers and they are paid on a freelancers basis. The starting rate for a camera operator for a television drama production is around £418. This could be for ten hours. On a high budget that could be over £30million but the recommended rate is £600. Outside broadcasts and news rates go from £250 and £320. The general hours is between 10-14 hours a day this includes night shoots, evenings and weekends.
Film/ video editor
Film/video editor they are meant to be a freelancer. They are paid on a contract basis. They could earn £21,000 tat is with experience. Film/ video editor isn't a entry level job. It is necessary to start at a lower paid level generally as a runner where they are paid the national minimum wage. The hours will change because it depends on the production.
How do bigger media companies and organisations brand themselves?
Netflix
They were found in 1997. They were a DVD by mail services but then over the years they developed into a streaming service. With the streaming services you can get a account that you pay for monthly. They use social media to advertise like twitter.
Walt Disney
They launched Disney plus in 2019 where they are streaming services where they stream movies, exclusive shows and Disney originals. With the service you can get an account where you can either pay monthly or yearly.
Self branding - magazine designer
Cecilia Perriard - magazine editor
Cecilia Perriard is a magazine editor. She uses many different platforms to advertise her business. She uses Instagram, linked in and behence. on each of these pages she has the work that she has done. On linked in she tells us about her education, the languages she can speak and the different experiences she has had. On her Instagram and behence it shows all the work she has done. Doing this promotes her business especially the on Instagram this helps to reach the young people. I think she could promote herself more.
Laura Reid
Laura Reid is a magazine designer. She promotes her business on Linked in. On her page it had the work she has done. She shows her education, her experience and more about her. I think that she could have promote herself more as I could only found her on linked in
Nazar Haiduchyk
Nazar Haiduchyk is a magazine designer. I found him on behence and linked in. Linked in had more detail about him and his experiences. Behence shows his portfolio of the work e has done. I think that he can promote his work on different platform.
Self branding intentions
The purpose of my business is to design magazines. The services that I want to provide for the customers' mock ups of the magazine. I chose many different methods of branding to advertise my business. The name that I have chosen is “Fab Designs” I decided that it should be short because I want people to remember what my business is called. Business card is one that I choose because I can put my business website, name, logo, email and social media information. I can keep my business card simple so that it can attract people to my business. I will create a website so that they can look at what my services are, they are able to look at a portfolio and they are able to contact me. A tagline is a good one because it can make people remember what you are. I will create something that is short and sweet. Paper advertising because you still have people who get magazines and newspapers so that would be a good way for them to find out. Word of mouth a fantastic way because someone could tell someone else about my business. Social media is a common way because everyone nowadays uses social media so I could promote my business on social media as it will catch people's attention better. Web advert is a good way for those that are on the internet a lot. Unique Selling Point (USP) is an important one because it is something that I have done that they like about my business this will make them come back to your business because of your USP. I will design a logo for my business so that I can put it on things that I have created for my business. I hope to achieve by marketing and branding my business is to get people's attention towards my business.
Mind map
My companies name will be
Fonts that I like
Colour swatches
Logos
logos first draft
As a class we had to vote on the different logos. The rest of the class voted that this logo was the best out of the rest of it.
CV draft 1
CV draft 2
Daily diary
6/01/2021
Today we registered and got told information about what the next step going forward. Our first task was to answer questions about work experience and answer them on our website. We got told that we had one hour to complete the task. We then got told the other tasks for today. We had to create a
media cv and had a one to one. We then had to create a linked in account and create a profile.
Show reels
What do you like about the showreel?
I like that the have different camera shots and the movements of the camera. The music that is in the show reel matches the videos really well as it represents the the theme. I like that they didn't mute all the clips in the showreel.
What do you dislike about the showreel?
I dislike that they don't have any contact information for the company.
What content has been included?
They have included upbeat music that relates to the theme of the show reel. Different camera shots and movements have been included. They include audio from the clips as this add to the show reels
How has music been used within the showreel?
The music that has been included has been used really well as it matches the theme. When something is going to happen they cut it to the beat of the music.
Do you think the content ‘sells’ the producer?
The content that they used does sell the producer as it show what they can do and that they know what they are doing.
Does the content provide any ideas for how you will edit your own showreel?
The content has made me think about what projects I can include in my showreel
What do you like about the?
I like that the music matches the themes that was included in the showreel. I like that they included their contact information at the end of the show reel where as the other showreel before did not have any contact information. I like the camera sots and the movement. I like the content that was included. I liked the filters that was included in the show reel.
What do you dislike about the showreel?
I dislike that they muted the audio especially when they are talking.
What content has been included?
They included many different projects like interviews, films, magazines and gaming designs
How has music been used within the showreel?
As I said before the music of the showreel matches the content of the showreel really well. They cut the video to the beat.
Do you think the content ‘sells’ the producer?
The content does sell the producer really well as they showed many different projects they have completed.
Does the content provide any ideas for how you will edit your own showreel?
The content does provide me ideas to think about what I am going to include and what music I am going to include in my showreel
Showreel planning
Magazine editor advert
Interview
Daily Diary
7/01/2021
Today we we completed different tasks the first task was to analyse a high end showreel and student showreel we then went on to plan for our show reels as we can edit them. So when we are back in college we will create our showreels. We then had a lesson at 3:15 where we were being observed. We then had a task to look for a job advert for our role play advert
Business cards
As a class we voted on different business cards. They liked this business card out of the other business cards that I designed.
Headshot
Analysis
In the interview I was nervous because I don't like doing interviews and pubic speaking but I have to get use to doing interviews and speaking in public. I also lacked confidence in myself so I know that in the future I need to work on. I was also dressed appropriately for the interview. With the answers that I gave in the interview could have been better I could have also answered in more detail than I did. So I know next time I have an interview I need to practice my answers and make sure that I structure them in a good way. I should have read through the job description in more detail than I did. I should have also researched into the company more than I did because I could have answered the questions that were about the company and the job description better. Watching the interview back I realized that I need to work on my vocabulary because I was repeating words and when I could not think of words I would say um. I also recognised that I could have been more specific in my answers for example when I was speaking about my skills I could have spoken about skills that were related to the job. Throughout the interview I applied many different techniques like dressing properly. I also spoke clearly throughout the interview. Looking back at the interview recording I would change the length of my answers that I gave in the interview. In my opinion I would not hire myself for the job. I know that I need to improve doing certain things like doing my research properly so that I can have a successful interview in the future.
Daily Diary
13/01/2020
Today we had our role play interview for unit 11. While waiting to do the interview we had to create 5 logos for our business. I created 5 different logos on canva. I don't know which one I will choose but that will be decided by the rest of the class tomorrow morning. During the interview I had to answer different questions. Tracey was the interviewer for the interview. I was not nervous at all for this project.
Daily Diary
14/01/2021
Today we voted on the different logos on teams. They liked the logo where it has paint brush lines in the background with my companies name on it. We then created 3 different business cards and voted on teams on what business cards so e they can decide what business card they liked. The business card they liked was the one where the writing is spread around the business card. Throughout the day I was working on Ucas making sure that my application was complete.
Showreel
Ident
Evaluation
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