InsideHollywood Newsletter #003

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~~~~ InsideHollywood.Info Newsletter ~~~~

An online information ezine dedicated to teaching you all about Hollywood and the Film and TV Entertainment Industry.

March 01, 2005
Issue #003

# PLEASE feel free to FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND! ---- They will love you even more!

If this was forwarded to you don't miss out on learning all about Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry. Visit to subscribe: http://www.insidehollywood.info/

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TOPICS IN THIS NEWSLETTER
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# Introduction
---- March delay
---- We need your help

# Designing a Career
---- The new words are "Background Check"

# Things of Interest
---- DV Expo 2005
---- NAB 2005

# FAQ / Q&A
---- Audio Lay down, lay back, assembly

# Tell us what you think
---- Make this newsletter even better by submitting questions
and what you think of this newsletter.

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INTRODUCTION
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Dear Subscriber,

We wanted to apologize for the delay in sending out the March newsletter. Some things came up in both our jobs that just did not give the time to do the newsletter. This will not be a frequent occurrence though. Thanks for your patience.

The eBook is almost done. Christiaan just needs to go through it one more type for formatting, etc.

Alicia was applying for a job at a major studio not to long ago. They asked her to visit HR first and fill out a very detailed application. "This is new" she thought, "I have not even interviewed for the job yet." Well what she found out was, that before you even get a job they will do a background check. She was surprised when she discovered that most companies now require you to have a background check before they hire you. So our main article this month includes some tips and advice she wanted to pass along to you.

We would also like to know what you want to find out about Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry, so please submit questions to us via our contact us page. Your questions will really help us provide content our subsciber's want.

So please join us and be a part of the family, moreover, let us share knowledge and information that can make us all good filmmakers.

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DESIGNING A CAREER
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# Subject: The new words are "Background Check"

What I found out is that this is now a common occurrence during your job search. The employers want to make sure they hire the right person and not someone who can cause trouble for the company. Now more than ever since our country is concerned about terrorism and corruption.

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the employer is required to get your permission before obtaining records. So, here is my famous do's and don'ts on background checks.

~ Make sure you complete the applications completely, and accurately.
~ Be honest, don't falsify and or exaggerate information.
~ If you have a police record, it is better to be forth right if they ask.
~ The way you word things can be important.
~ What ever is in the public records you need be honest if they ask you (eg. lawsuits, conflicts, bankruptcies, workers compensation).
~ They can and might do a credit check. So if this applies you you, order ahead and get a copy of your credit report. If there is, something wrong on the report, call and send a letter with an explanation and they will fix it. If you have an identity theft problem (See PRC Fact Sheet 6 on your credit reporting rights, http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs6-crdt.htm, and Fact Sheet 17a on identity theft, http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm for more information).
~ If you feel it is necessary, prepare for a background check. Either look at the yellow pages or go to an on-line service and see what they uncover for good or bad. If you feel there are mistakes, ask them how to remove them from your records. Remember, that these records are public. Ask to see a copy of your personnel file from your old job. Even if you do not work there anymore, state law might enable you to see your file. Under California law, you can access your file until at least a year from the last date of employment. And you are allowed to make copies of documents in your file that have your signature on them. (California Labor Code 432.)
~ Most applications will ask you for references. What I do is before I even go down to HR to fill out the forms, I decide who I will use as a reference and call them to make sure they will say great things about me that relates to the job. At the same time I get their full Name, Title, Address and Phone number.
~ Be organized. Have all the important paper work with you (eg. The above names of the references you will be putting down on the application, any important names and numbers that you know you will have to provide while filling out the application, additional copies of your resume.

# Laws on Background Checks

~ Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681, http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm
~ California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, California Civil Code 1786, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
~ California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act, California Civil Code 1785 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

Here is a great site that breaks down all your questions and what you need to know. It is called:

Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs16-bck.htm

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If you are looking where to send your resume to get jobs in the Film or TV Entertainment Industry or more tips and tricks, make sure to check out my upcoming eBook on how to find a Job in the Entertainment Industry - "Show you want to be in Show Biz?"

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THINGS OF INTEREST
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# DV Expo 2004

Christiaan and I attended the DV Expo that was held in Los Angeles recently. You should plan ahead for next years Expo so you could attend.

Here are some points of interest:

~ One booth specialized in individuals who would like to network with Indie filmmakers, actors, writers, and much more. It is a Los Angeles based group with over 28,000 members world wide. They have monthly meetings which are free with guest speakers, and screenings. Their website features LA resources, job listing, vendors, etc. - http://www.LAIndieClub.com

~ There were booths that dealt with training programs that I wanted to pass on to you. Moviola which deals with education, rentals, and sales. They have two offices one in Los Angeles, (323) 467-1116 and the other is in New York (212) 247-0972. Their courses includes training on Avid and/or Final Cut Pro, Adobe classes, Flash, and Maya. Go to their site for prices and more information - http://www.moviola.com

~ For Adobe software training there was a booth that was selling DVDs for After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, and much more. Their website has detailed information and prices - http://www.totaltraining.com

~ A company that was not there but I would highly recommend for training programs is a company called Video Symphony located in Burbank, California. They offer certificate programs that will provide job placement when you complete their programs as well as network connections. They also offer Financial Aid. For more information to all the services, prices, and FAQ go to http://www.videosymphony.com/index.html

# NAB 2005

Is the world's largest electronic media show. Each year it is held in Las Vegas at the convention center. The conference starts April 15 and the exhibits open on April 18.

Go to their web site for registration information and prices on the conference, as well as additional information.

http://www.nabshow.com

They will have over 235 sessions dealing with the state of the art electronics from radio to television. The elite team of manufactures from Artesia to Sony. I try to go every year and it is overwhelming for the first timers, but it will demonstrate all the new technologies.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS / QUESTION & ANSWER
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# Subject: Audio Lay down, lay back, assembly

~ Question: Could you explain some terms that I still don't understand - audio lay down, lay back, and audio assembly in sounding editing?

~ My Answer:

After you lock a show, you will then turn it over to the sound and music editors. When the sound editor receives the tapes from the on-line, the dialogue from their on-line is a scratch track that they put it into their system (Pro-tools). This process is called lay down. In clearer terms you are laying down the sound into the systems.

The sound editors will also be receiving the sound reels (DAT or Niagara formats) that were used on the set when they were shooting. They will also receive from the off-line system a list of all the code numbers that were scanned in the system that dealt with the sound takes. The sound editors will take that list and the tapes and proceed to do what is called an Audio assembly. This way they will start with the first generation of the sound element. They will lay this down to replace the scratch track and will now start building the dialogue and fix all dialogue problems that occur along the way.

When you are done mixing or dubbing the show and have also created your final color corrected titled and dirt fixes master. You will need to combine the sound to the picture. You can do this at the Post Production facility or as I do, you can do it at the sound facility. I like doing it at the sound facility because I don't want anyone touching the sound except for the sound mixers. Either way you would layback the sound to the tape, hence the term lay back.

For additional sound terms check out this site: http://www.dilettantesdictionary.com/index.php

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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
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We would love to hear what you think of this issue of the "InsideHollywood.Info" Newsletter. And of course, if you have any suggestions for upcoming issues that you'd like to share with us, please send those, too!

Please send us your questions so we can answer them in upcoming issues. Your questions will only make our newsletter better.

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That is it for this issue of the InsideHollywood.Info Newsletter. Until next time....