Looking for work in all the wrong places (LA->NYC Move)

February 10, 2006 9:13 AM

So I have a friend, okay my boyfriend, who I convinced to move to NYC from LA. Problem is, he left a job in media post-production technology for, well, me and nothing. Now we don't quite know where to even start looking for places that would find his skills useful in NYC. The movie and TV industry seem to all be based elsewhere. Can the Hivemind help?

Out in LA, he worked on the I/O and data wrangling end of companies like Sony and Digitial Domain with some movement to the creative side of the world. What I'd love to help him with lists of industries or companies or even places to look. Help me help him stay and work in New York.

posted by PissOnYourParade to work & money (11 comments total)

I know this is totally obvious as hell, but have you tried the obvious as hell? Monster.com? CareerBuilder? Craigslist for New York?

You might also try Dice.com which has a much more technical bent, but since you mentioned "Data Wrangling" I thought it might have a job or two that he'd be interested in.

Finally, a google for New York media careers yielded a place called MediaBistro which seems to have media news and job listings (some in NY).
posted by twiggy at 9:22 AM on February 10, 2006

Get a portfolio online as soon as possible, get blogging and promote like mad. If he works hard on getting a name for himself, I'm certain good things will come.

Post-production is about polishing raw materials into an excellent form, and I've always been very passionate about how significant it is. If he communicates this passion out (before and after examples), the work will certainly come.

Best of luck! :D
posted by rc55 at 9:27 AM on February 10, 2006

I can't really help with specifics, but I suggest you keep looking/asking because it is definitely out there.

Oxygen and Food Network and I think one other have production facilities in Chelsea Market, to give just one example.

All the broadcast networks have major facilities in town, movies and single camera TV shows are shot there and there is plenty of post production too.

Actually, if you shoot me his resume, I might know a few people who could suggest where he should be looking/networking.
posted by Good Brain at 9:29 AM on February 10, 2006

I worked as an intern for an excellent, small post-production company in New York, Post Typhoon Sky, a few years ago. From what little information about the industry I gathered, it seems that that industry (among others, of course) struggled after the September 11th attacks in New York. I'm no longer in New York or that industry, so I don't know if this is still the case. However, I know that post-production-related work definitely exists in New York, so continue looking.
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 9:30 AM on February 10, 2006

HBO is located on Long Island. It'd be a commute, but I'm betting they have some things that would be right up his alley.
posted by thanotopsis at 10:19 AM on February 10, 2006

Make sure that everyone back in LA (or elsewhere) who knows and respects his work knows that he's looking for a job in NYC. That way if they hear/know anything, they can make the connection.
posted by winston at 11:27 AM on February 10, 2006

What about advertising? There were a lot of transfer companies I worked with back in the 90s that could probably use his skills, also edit houses. But if he doesn't know anyone, he might have some problems getting his foot in the door. Does he have any friends back west who might know someone in NYC?
posted by astruc at 12:17 PM on February 10, 2006

There may not be as much as LA, but there is a lot in NYC. Try checking with some of the post houses. I work in TV right now and we've been cutting at Postworks for about two years now. They seem like they're constantly expanding.
Mandy.com has a lot of media jobs in NYC too. Good luck.
posted by bgale at 1:16 PM on February 10, 2006

HBO is located on Long Island. It'd be a commute, but I'm betting they have some things that would be right up his alley.

HBO also has two facilities in Manhattan, one of which is packed with gear and edit suites and such. I got a high-speed tour of it a few months ago -- HBO Studio Productions. I think the other facility is just a HQ building for the suits.

Funny, I thought New York was swarming with film/video/post shops.
posted by intermod at 7:52 PM on February 10, 2006

The Mill, if its still open in NYC, was one of the leading fx shops for commercials/etc.
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:53 AM on February 11, 2006

Try Mandy.

Also, production companies like Lion's Gate and Time Warner (HBO) post jobs online. Spend sometime looking up those websites.
posted by scazza at 8:22 PM on February 11, 2006