An Entertainment Industry Reset

Summary

The video script discusses the changing landscape of entry-level positions in the film and video game industries, particularly in the context of Los Angeles. It highlights the impact of the pandemic, which accelerated the shift to remote work and the adoption of smart tools and AI, reducing the need for traditional entry-level roles. The script also touches on the challenges faced by aspiring professionals due to the industry's reset, the potential for new job creation, and the uncertainty about the future of work in these fields.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The traditional film and TV industry is facing challenges adapting to modern times, leading to a shift in work environments and opportunities.
• 🏢 Pre-pandemic, composer studio compounds were bustling with activity, offering valuable learning opportunities that have since diminished.
• 📉 The pandemic has accelerated the move to home studios and remote work, reducing the need for physical office spaces and in-person interactions.
• 🤖 The development of smart tools and AI is making certain tasks obsolete, reducing the need for entry-level positions and changing job requirements.
• 📚 The reduction in entry-level tasks has led to a decrease in internships and learning opportunities, impacting aspiring professionals' ability to gain on-the-job training.
• 💼 Budget constraints and the high cost of living in areas like Los Angeles have made it difficult for composers to justify full-time salaried employees.
• 📈 The demand for part-time freelance assistants has increased as a cost-effective alternative to full-time staff, reflecting a broader shift in the industry.
• 🚫 The industry is experiencing a reset, with many established professionals warning newcomers about the current lack of opportunities.
• 🌐 Remote work is becoming more common, but it also presents challenges for knowledge sharing and professional growth among team members.
• 🔄 The industry is in a state of flux, with many professionals leaving due to the uncertainty and changes, while others are adapting to new roles and technologies.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed in the script about the film and video game industry?

The main concern is that entry-level positions are disappearing due to industry changes, including the shift to remote work, automation, and the use of AI tools, which are making certain tasks obsolete.

How has the pandemic affected the traditional working environment in composer studios?

The pandemic has led to the closure of office spaces, forcing composers to build home studios and work remotely. This has reduced the need for physical office spaces and limited the learning opportunities that were once available in traditional studio compounds.

What impact has the shift to remote work had on the hiring practices in the film and TV industry?

With remote work becoming more prevalent, composers have become more selective about who they hire, often preferring part-time freelance assistants on a per-project basis rather than full-time employees, due to the need for trust and the reduced overhead costs.

What technological advancements are making certain roles in the industry obsolete?

Advancements such as stem printing, copyist work automation, and the use of tablets for music parts are reducing the need for traditional roles like assistants, copyists, and librarians.

How have delivery services like UberEats affected the need for studio runners?

The availability of delivery services has made it unnecessary to hire interns and runners for errands, as food and supplies can be ordered and delivered directly to the studio or home.

What is the current state of internships in the industry post-pandemic?

Many places have not resumed regular internships due to the time and resource investment required, and the reduced need for on-site assistance with the shift to remote work.

How are living costs in cities like Los Angeles affecting the number of full-time positions available?

The high cost of living in cities like Los Angeles means that many composers cannot afford to hire full-time assistants, leading to a preference for part-time or freelance workers.

What is the sentiment among industry veterans regarding the current job market for aspiring composers?

Industry veterans are warning aspiring composers that the job market is particularly tough right now, with many experienced professionals also struggling to find work.

What long-term problem is the industry facing with the shift to remote work and automation?

The industry is facing a potential loss of on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities for aspiring professionals, as remote work and automation reduce the need for in-person collaboration and learning.

What does the future hold for the film and TV industry according to the script?

The script suggests that the industry is in a period of reset, with many jobs disappearing or becoming limited. However, it also implies that new jobs and opportunities may emerge as the industry adapts to new technologies and ways of working.

How is the current situation affecting those who have been in the industry for a long time?

Even those who have been in the industry for 20-30 years are experiencing difficulties, with many being laid off or having reduced work due to the industry's struggles and the impact of the pandemic.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Changing Landscape of Entry-Level Positions in Film and Music Industries

The speaker contemplates the future of entry-level positions in the film and music industries, noting a shift in the traditional office environment. They recall the once bustling composer studio compounds in Los Angeles where learning opportunities were abundant. However, pre-pandemic changes saw these spaces becoming less populated with interns and assistants, as lead composers began to work remotely. The pandemic accelerated this trend, with composers opting for home studios and reducing overhead costs. This has limited the traditional learning opportunities and face-to-face interactions that were once common.

05:01

🚀 Automation and AI: The Impact on Entry-Level Jobs

The paragraph discusses how the development of automation tools and AI has made certain tasks obsolete, affecting entry-level positions. The speaker provides examples such as stem printing, which used to be a time-consuming task but is now streamlined with modern technology. Copyist work is also becoming less necessary as software can write parts automatically. The pandemic has expedited these changes, and even roles like studio runners are becoming less common due to delivery apps. The speaker notes that many studios have stopped offering internships post-pandemic, as they are no longer seen as necessary or cost-effective.

10:01

🏡 Remote Work and the Future of Full-Time Positions

This section delves into the impact of remote work on full-time positions, particularly for composers and their assistants. The speaker mentions that with rising living costs, fewer composers can afford full-time salaried employees. Instead, there's a shift towards part-time freelance assistants hired per project. The pandemic has made remote work more common, but it's often limited to trusted team members due to the sensitive nature of the work. The speaker also points out that many composers have become tech-savvy and no longer require full-time technical support, leading to a decrease in such positions.

15:03

🌐 The Industry Reset and the Challenge for Aspiring Professionals

The speaker reflects on the current state of the industry, describing it as a 'reset' with many established professionals facing reduced work opportunities. They express concern for aspiring composers and assistants, as the industry's struggles have led to fewer job openings and a more competitive environment. The speaker discusses the challenges of learning and networking in a remote work setting, suggesting that the traditional on-the-job training and mentorship are at risk. They also mention the potential long-term impact on the industry, with many experienced professionals considering leaving due to the current downturn.

20:04

🔄 Industry Shifts and the Unknown Future

In the final paragraph, the speaker contemplates the broader implications of the industry's current shifts. They acknowledge the uncertainty and the difficulty in predicting the future, especially for those just starting out. The speaker suggests that while the industry is facing challenges, it also presents an opportunity for innovation and the creation of new roles. They express hope for a resurgence of indie film studios and game developers and a new, more sustainable way of working in the industry. The speaker concludes by inviting thoughts and opinions from colleagues on the ongoing changes and the potential future of the industry.

Keywords

💡Entry Level Positions

Entry level positions refer to jobs that are typically the first step in a career and require minimal experience. In the video, the speaker discusses the decline in these positions in the film and music industries, noting that changes in technology and work environments have reduced the need for traditional entry-level roles. The script mentions that these positions are 'dying' and that internships, which are a common form of entry-level opportunity, have not resumed post-pandemic.

💡Pandemic Impact

The pandemic impact refers to the effects of COVID-19 on various industries, including changes in work practices and economic downturns. The script highlights how the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work and increased reliance on automation, which in turn reduced the need for traditional office spaces and entry-level staff in the film and music industries.

💡Automation Tools

Automation tools are software or systems that perform tasks automatically, reducing the need for human labor. The video discusses how these tools have become more prevalent, making certain tasks obsolete for assistants. For example, the script mentions stem printing, which used to require manual effort but now can be done quickly with modern software.

💡Remote Work

Remote work refers to employees working from locations other than a central office, typically from home. The script discusses the increase in remote work due to the pandemic and how it has affected the need for physical office spaces and entry-level positions. It also touches on the trust required for remote work and the challenges it poses for learning and collaboration.

💡Film and TV Industry

The film and TV industry involves the production and distribution of films and television shows. The video script discusses how this industry has been particularly affected by the pandemic and technological changes, leading to a reduction in traditional entry-level positions and a shift in work practices.

💡Music Industry

The music industry encompasses the businesses involved in the production, distribution, and sale of music. The script highlights the changes in this industry, including the decline of bustling composer studios and the rise of home studios, which have reduced the need for on-site staff and entry-level positions.

💡AI Tools

AI tools, or artificial intelligence tools, are software applications that use AI to perform tasks or provide insights. The video script suggests that the development of AI tools has accelerated due to the pandemic, potentially leading to further reductions in entry-level positions as more tasks become automated.

💡Smart Technology

Smart technology refers to devices or systems that use advanced technology to perform tasks more efficiently. The script mentions smart tools in the context of the music industry, where they have replaced the need for manual tasks, such as printing stems or managing music libraries.

💡On-Premises Work

On-premises work refers to working at a physical location, such as an office or studio. The video contrasts on-premises work with remote work, discussing how the shift to remote work has affected the need for physical spaces and entry-level positions that were traditionally based in these locations.

💡Freelance Work

Freelance work involves working as an independent contractor rather than as a full-time employee. The script discusses the increase in freelance work in the film and music industries, with composers and other professionals being hired on a per-project basis rather than as full-time staff.

💡Industry Reset

An industry reset refers to a significant change or upheaval in an industry that forces a reevaluation of practices and structures. The video suggests that the film and music industries are currently undergoing a reset due to the pandemic and technological advancements, leading to uncertainty about the future of certain jobs and roles.

Highlights

The film and video game industries are experiencing significant changes, particularly affecting entry-level positions.

Traditional office spaces in the film and TV industry are struggling to adapt to modern times.

The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards remote work and the use of smart tools, reducing the need for physical office spaces.

The film industry's shift from bustling composer studio compounds to remote work has limited learning opportunities for assistants and interns.

Automation and AI are making certain tasks obsolete, reducing the need for entry-level positions.

Offline bouncing and other technological advancements have streamlined processes, decreasing the time and manpower required for tasks.

The role of copyists and librarians is diminishing due to software advancements that automate part preparation and score adjustments.

The convenience of app-based services has reduced the need for studio runners and interns to perform errands.

Budget constraints and rising living costs have led to a decrease in full-time positions, with more reliance on part-time and freelance workers.

The pandemic has made studios more selective about who they hire, prioritizing trust and security in a remote work context.

The industry is in a state of reset, with many established professionals also facing unemployment.

Guilds and unions are warning aspiring professionals about the current lack of opportunities in the industry.

Remote work's rise might hinder on-the-job training and networking opportunities for aspiring professionals.

The industry's shift towards digital and smart technology is forcing professionals to adapt or risk being left behind.

The current industry downturn is leading to layoffs and a decrease in available work, affecting even established composers.

The industry is at a crossroads, with many professionals unsure of the future and the potential for new job creation.

The changes in the industry are creating a challenging atmosphere, with many professionals leaving due to the uncertainty and lack of work.

Transcripts

are entry level positions dying it's

something I've been asking myself for a

while now and something I've been

discussing with colleagues and we

haven't really reached a consensus but

it's

undeniable that the industry is changing

both film industry and video game

industry but film and TV a lot more so

because they are old mediums that have

not quite yet adapted to the modern

times and they kind of having a hard

time this isn't going to be some think

piece about AI because frankly I don't

think I'm qualified to talk about that I

I don't work in that industry and I

don't really know what's happening

behind closed doors there so I don't

really feel comfortable giving my

opinion on any of that cuz I genuinely

don't know but this doesn't necessarily

just have something to do with smart

tools and AI it's something that started

before the pandemic I want to say see

when I came to Los Angeles there were

all these composer Studio compounds that

were like bustling office spaces where

people from all kinds of departments

would go in and out there would be

recording sessions there would be busy

composers assistants interns it was a

whole system you would work together and

there would be you know next to

recording sessions also mixing sessions

and stuff like that you'd have lunch and

dinner together you would have drink

together you would have Christmas

parties together it would very much be

like a traditional office space in that

sense with lots of learning

opportunities by looking other people

over the shoulder for example um I would

in those types of spaces very often if

there was a mixing session going on I

would you know sit down and just ask

them if I can watch for a bit and ask

questions you know or I would ask my

colleagues hey could you when you go

home tonight

leave your doors unlocked I'll lock them

when I leave i' just love to look at

your templates because I'm struggling

with something over here and I'd love to

see how you're doing it you know you

would just help each other out and fill

in each other's knowledge and skill gaps

but already pre pandemic I want to say

2016

2017 I noticed a shift that was

happening where a lot of those uh

compounds and a lot of those larger

Studios where a lot of different

composers were renting out spaces were

largely filled with assistants and

interns while the lead composer would

work elsewhere and just come in for

sessions or for important meetings and

such so this already kind of limited the

learning opportunities but it was still

there um you just got less face- tof

face time with your boss but then during

the pandemic a lot of composers could

not go into into those spaces their

assistants could not go into those

spaces because office spaces were closed

and

so they had no choice but to build their

home Studios and they built really nice

home Studios and obviously they saw all

the benefits of work from home that we

all saw so now they would either have

their team on their own premises at home

or they would still keep an outside

space for just you know one or two

people to work from because film studios

have regulations about security if you

don't work directly on the film studio

lot but you work from an outside

third-party space it has to have certain

security so some composers working on on

the really big stuff they would still

keep you know an outside space for their

assistants to work from but not a lot of

them because Studio rent is really

expensive in La people are paying paying

thousands per month for a small dark

room and so they realized you know what

we could build something way cheaper

somewhere else and subsidize a different

workspace and then we don't have to pay

for this really expensive space just

because it's in a compound that is you

know treated and that has all these

other amenities we could just have that

elsewhere um for cheap because a lot of

those composer Studios have massive

overhead so this would reduce the

overhead by quite a lot and it would be

more convenient for everybody but as a

result a lot of those formerly

bustling uh composer compounds have been

left pretty dead at this point but with

composers working more and more from

home they've also become a little

pickier about who they hire and who they

let in because effectively you're now

visiting the composer's home so H there

has to be a basis of TR rust but what I

also think is that the pandemic has sped

up the development of automation tools

Smart Tools AI tools that now make a lot

of tasks for assistance obsolete for

example stem printing um on older setups

it used to be that cuas would be

hardwired into Protools and it would be

a completely different rig and then you

would print stems in real time directly

into protos it was a really slow process

there was a reason for it I mean

computer processing power sample

libraries offline bouncing not being

reliable at the time but this was 15 20

years ago I was still doing it for some

composers that still had this old setup

but modern composers don't do that

anymore um at this point offline

bouncing is very reliable and you don't

have to like have a separate computer

playing picture anymore and all this

stuff it's it's just not necessary with

the kinds of computers that we have

available so now a job that used to take

say a

week um or where multiple people would

have to do shift work to print stems

around the clock that same process now

takes at best a day if not less another

example is copyist work it used to be

back in the day you needed a ton of

people to hand copy parts then software

already came in and is writing the parts

in the background so now you just need

people you know double-checking the page

breaks and transpositions and stuff like

that but we're just one step away from

uh there being a tool that does that

automatically I mean it's it's not going

to be that hard to make that little jump

and then copyists will become obsolete

it's already a lot less than it used

used to be I mean you used to need way

more people and way more time now you

can do it with one person in a day or

two the same goes for librarians for

example we already had the first

sessions where the players were using

iPads or other tablets which a makes

page turns way

easier because you don't have to

physically turn a page you just swipe

but also um if the conductor or composer

want to make any changes they can do it

right in the score and then it

automatically appears in all the parts

in real time so that's going to be the

process in the future which means all

the printing and librarian work the

taping the you making the books and

doing all that printing on physical

medium it's going to go away but so

overall you just need less people in a

lot of areas already to do the same

amount of work likewise when I got into

town I don't think Uber andyt were a

thing and all those delivery services

weren't a thing um so a lot of Studios

still had interns and Runners to run

errands but now especially again

accelerated by the pandemic we have so

many apps that can deliver food you can

order things overnight that you need for

the

studio there isn't really a need for

runners anymore it's actually more

expensive to have someone

to pay someone fulltime to run errands

for you and do menial tasks than it is

to just use an app and just pay for the

service when you need it what I'm seeing

is that a lot of the entrylevel tasks

are going away and with it entry level

positions I've just checked in with a

bunch of places that had regular

internships going that would just you

know rotate interns every 6 weeks or

every 3 months I just checked in and

they all said they after the pandemic

they never started those internships

back up because it's a Time suck for the

studio and kind of a waste if you don't

need the people I mean what are you

going to do just have them sit around

you know it's kind of they just didn't

see the need to have that again and so

they just never started any of those

internships back up also remember that

budgets aren't necessarily getting

higher so the amount of full-time

positions is already dwindling most

working film composers live in expensive

areas like Los Angeles and London and

here in La the average rent for a

one-bedroom apartment is I think at this

point $2,000 a month plus utilities plus

food plus everything that's quite a lot

of money so if you want a full-time

assistant with Rising living costs and

you want to compensate them

appropriately that's a pretty big chunk

of money so there's a very small amount

of composers that can still justify

having full-time salaried employees that

are there all year round and um that are

on payroll what you have a lot more

these days are part-time freelance

assistants that are hired on a per

project basis but in general um things

are looking pretty dire because first we

had the pandemic slowing things down

then things started picking up again

then we had massive strikes last year

and to this day things have not really

picked up again add to that all the

video game layoffs and cancellations and

then you have a lot of established

composers who still might have work but

who don't have so much work that they

need full-time assistance now has remote

work gotten more popular a little bit um

mostly for trusted team members because

we handle a lot of sensitive information

so a lot of composers won't just

willy-nilly

um hire remote workers in other

locations or um hire people they don't

know but if it's a trusted long-term

team member then yes there might be a

lot more leeway for remote work but you

definitely need trust you need to know

that the person who is receiving files

sending files storing files especially

picture files is responsible and they

know how to do things they know how to

be secure so that is usually reserved

for people that you already know now if

you're a tech or someone else who does

something that needs to be done on the

premises then of course remote work is

not really an option but I also have to

say that there aren't that many

composers that need a full-time tech on

site um first of all because a lot of

them have given up their outside spaces

but also because the modern more modern

younger composers have really

streamlined their setups they have

simplified things and they're Tech savey

enough to solve a lot of problems

themselves so there isn't really a need

for full-time tech for most

composers um I mean techs are also

expensive to begin with but there isn't

really a reason like you could hire

someone to set things up for you

once but then after that you don't

really need someone all the time now one

of the problems here is of course that

there's an increasing number of aspiring

composers who want to be full-time

assistants but those positions are

actually decreasing where you used to

need three assistants now you only need

one to get the same amount of work done

because so much of the process can now

be automated and it's only going to get

worse with a AI tools coming up I

already mentioned printing stems for

example I mean cuas now has all these

batch functions where basically if your

routing is good you only have to press a

button um the only reason why you still

need to sit there is because you need to

close the session and open the next

session select the tracks and hit the

button but how hard is it going to be to

create some AI assistant tool that can

do that for you while you're asleep

long-term problem that I've also

discussed with colleagues that we might

be facing and this might be across

Industries as well as remote work

becomes more popular um is that if

you're not on the premises in a sort of

office space with your colleagues then

how do you learn from them this might

become a big issue in a lot of areas

going forward because a lot of aspiring

professionals are not going to get the

same uh on the job training that we got

there's something invaluable about

being in the same building as your

colleagues being able to look over their

shoulder ask questions really get to

know them also on a personal level you

know really Network

properly uh and not superficially

getting recommended by those colleagues

over time to work at other places as

well or um generally just getting a foot

in the door like it's so much harder to

have your team grow with you as well if

I change something in my template then

that doesn't automatically get

translated to other people's templates

if you're an in-house assistant working

from the same rig then you can you know

see all the changes that your boss is

making you can see how they improve you

can see how they grow and how they do

things when I learn something new my

other team members don't learn that same

thing because they're not on my rig in

my template if I'm learning new mixing

techniques they don't automatically

learn that either if I use different

sample libraries all of a sudden they

don't know that nothing really

translates unless you go through the

trouble of really cloning the setup I

think talking to Executives and also

composer colleagues it feels like the

entire industry is in a reset right now

which is unfortunate for those just

starting out and trying to get a foot in

the door I mean the guilds and unions

are saying that even among their

veterans only 20% I think they said last

time were working and they were actually

warning uh aspiring people across

departments they were warning them not

to come here at the moment because

there's there's nothing for them here

here and I don't really know what to

tell aspiring composers either that are

coming here right now because I'm like

it's such a different environment now

than it was when I started out

and the past two years have been

particularly rough for this industry I

I'm one of the few lucky ones that had

consistent work um and that has not been

impacted by the video game layoffs but

so many of my friends and colleagues

have been impacted by that but anybody

who's been here for 20 30 years and has

been consistently working in the

industry is saying it's never ever been

this bad before and maybe this will

result in um indie film studios and

indie game developers popping up left

and right uh I certainly hope so but

right now it is so hard to get anything

made especially while the big guys are

kind of struggling and also pausing

I'm not entirely sure what they're

waiting for but it seems like they're

waiting out something here probably the

recession that we're in that nobody

wants to admit that we're in obviously

the cheap Co money is gone you know a

lot of places had over hired a lot of

places Studios over produced content and

are just scaling back massively things

are changing so much currently in the

way that we do things and also in the

way that we will be doing things going

forward so much so that a lot of people

are actually leaving the industry now

because they haven't been working since

March last year which is now what one

and a half years and so they just can't

sustain themselves anymore and wait this

thing out whatever this thing is I do

think it's safe to say that a lot of

jobs will no longer exist or will only

exist in limited numbers the only good

thing of of course is whenever an

industry changes so much it does create

new jobs different jobs that previously

did not exist so I guess it's going to

be a question of who can pivot into that

new era who can wait this thing out and

who on the other hand is going to get

left behind I suppose much like it

happened in the early 2000s when the

world went digital which forced a lot of

people out of being active in this

industry because they just really wanted

to stick to the old way of doing things

and they were essentially pushed

out um because they didn't adapt to the

new way of doing things where am I going

with this I don't

know it's just something that's been on

my mind um because it's been weird here

I will say that I mean it's also been

weird in the video game industry it's

been weird in the film and TV industry

you can feel it all over town cuz la is

built around the film and television

industry very much the entire

infrastructure is built around this

industry and when that industry is

hurting a lot of adjacent Industries are

hurting as well

so it's been a strange

atmosphere with all the layoffs or

Freelancers being out of work um even

you know established composers not

really having anything to do their teams

being laid off or you know just being

put on leave basically their usual

additional writers you know not having

anything to do the orchestrator music

prep services not being busy it's quite

depressing to basically hear everybody

say the same thing like I I remember

someone from uh one of the music prep

Services said it's not even been this

bad during

Co

so I don't know I don't know where we're

going with this it very much feels like

the studios or this entire industry is

trying to figure

out how to adapt to the new times how to

implement smart

technology and figuring out who they're

going to need in the future who they're

not going to need in the future what

kinds of new jobs are there who needs to

be trained for those new jobs it just

feels like everything is Shifting right

now and nobody really knows what to to

do about it nobody really knows how to

move forward nobody nobody knows where

we're going with this so it's going to

be interesting to see where we're going

to come out because something's

happening something's changing right now

and I hope it's going to be exciting

when things pick up again and we figure

out a new way of doing things cuz the

way it has been over the past 5 to 10

years was not really sustainable to

begin with so uh something has to change

anyway that's all I wanted to say um I

would love to hear from my colleagues as

well I would love to hear uh their

thoughts on uh on what's going on and

what they think where we're going cuz

it's going to be interesting