Navigating the RTF heirarchy

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8 weeks into the current semester I am slowly beginning to work out the fact that all the people along with me on campus who are RTF majors have formed their own, unique, inter-woven social group, all with in the larger setting of my college campus. The only requirement to be a part of this group is that you have to be RTF major. With in this group of RTF people are several different sub-groups of their own. Each with their own rules, standards, and leaders.

So far I've managed to hold my own, however this afternoon, the weather outside was going nuts, and because of my weather obession, I was unable to act like an NT and my true self came out into full view for all to see.

As a result, I managed to make a fool of myself infront of my news partner and two others when I made a verbal gaffe.

And I angered the engineer in the TV station when I hoped on his computer to look up a weather graphic.

That aside, this has been a rough day for me, and I hope I don't loose too many points in the social standings. The reason I mention this is becasue I've seen the dark side of the RTF heirarchy, the students on the bottom of the heirarchy are constantly ridiculed and made fun-of by those who are at the top of the heirarchy at various RTF social gatherings, whether it be during an editing session, or getting one of the studios ready for a taping, or at a convocation, or out in the parking lot behind the arts and communications building.

And the sad thing is that one of the students who leads these verbal lynch mob against the other students is one of the student managers of the radio station here on campus.

And I desperatly don't want to become one of those people who is ridiculed on a daily basis.

What does RTF stand for scoots? Sounds like a media studies thing.

RTF stands for Radio-Televison-Film.

All of us are Spielberg wanna-be's

Hey I used to be a director-wannabee. Among other things. So is it fun to be a RTF mayor?

I can see your delima. How obsessive can you
be about weather that makes you hide yourself
so desparately. You gave a example, and I
would think a simple(lying just the same) excuse
would have covered you.

I used to be a director wannabe too. I worked at a tv station for 8 years, did a BA Communicatons (Media/Film/Sociology) degree.

I'm afraid I failed to get very far in tv and the stress made me quit work, but hey I'm sure there's a few aspie directors around, Werner Herzog, David Lynch. I found filmmaking (student) excruciatingly boring and ended up doing the loner's major, writing. The only other major that didn't require teamwork was animation.

'8 weeks into the current semester I am slowly beginning to work out the fact that all the people along with me on campus who are RTF majors have formed their own, unique, inter-woven social group, all with in the larger setting of my college campus. The only requirement to be a part of this group is that you have to be RTF major. With in this group of RTF people are several different sub-groups of their own. Each with their own rules, standards, and leaders.'

Well on a film set or a tv station, it's EXTREMELY heirarchical, very like the army really, so it's all 'practicing'. It's also extremely expensive, in that 'time = money' sense. Since it's all team work, the social groups are to find teams to work with, (among other things) so...hmmm you can maybe try and be very good at what you do, whether it's lighting, camera or whatever...I think if you are seen as highly skilled in an area, people will seek you out, regardless of your social ablilities.

'So far I've managed to hold my own, however this afternoon, the weather outside was going nuts, and because of my weather obession, I was unable to act like an NT and my true self came out into full view for all to see. '

uhoh, lol.

'As a result, I managed to make a fool of myself infront of my news partner and two others when I made a verbal gaffe.'

mmhmmm.


'And I angered the engineer in the TV station when I hoped on his computer to look up a weather graphic.'


Would you like someone to hop on your computer? But hey, he's probably used to students doing stuff like that.

'That aside, this has been a rough day for me, and I hope I don't loose too many points in the social standings. The reason I mention this is becasue I've seen the dark side of the RTF heirarchy, the students on the bottom of the heirarchy are constantly ridiculed and made fun-of by those who are at the top of the heirarchy at various RTF social gatherings, whether it be during an editing session, or getting one of the studios ready for a taping, or at a convocation, or out in the parking lot behind the arts and communications building. '

ohhhh yeahhhhh baby, it is so BITCHY! So much BACKSTABBING! I used to leave the office with about 10 knives sticking out of my back, every day.


'And the sad thing is that one of the students who leads these verbal lynch mob against the other students is one of the student managers of the radio station here on campus. '

Well I'd avoid radio then, go for film/tv.

'And I desperatly don't want to become one of those people who is ridiculed on a daily basis.'

It does sound like a bad day, Scoots, but it's also typical behaviour (the others) for media people. I found it hard to avoid ridicule, media is ferociously competitive and someone rising thru the ranks is usually based on someone elses fall from grace. So....uh I dunno what to say, you may want to play the 'disability' card, or talk about people like david lynch (although he's a bit kinky) or other 'eccentric' film people. Or, like I said earlier just pick something and try and be very good at it, and others will seek you out.

Last edited by Postperson on 31 Mar 2005, 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I've seen that already in the job I have now at cable television that I've been working at since high school.

Back in 1997 when I was first trying to get my foot in the door, I found a TV studio to be a very unforgiving environment. I managed to get a part time job in a productions department working 4 hours a week. I found very quickly that a TV studio is a place where panic, paranoia, bad langauge, and vindictiveness is the rule of the day.

The other people working there were outright hostile to me in the beginning. They would get angry at me for just even looking at something they were doing or asking a question. It was as if I was tresspassing on their private property and I was a threat to their wellfare.

They wanted me to learn as little as possible so I wouldn't be a threat to their job.

I talked to one of my professors about this issue, she had worked in the buisness for a decade before she decided to become a professor. In her words it's a cut throat industry, and if your not union, everyday is essentially one long continueous job interview becasue your employeer will invariably have a job applications from other persons seeking your job who are just as, or more qualified than you, and who are willing to work for less money than what your making. So being perfect in your work is of the utmost importance.

I just hope I can pull it in the business.

Yes, there's always a horde of people out there who would kill to do your job. It was an exciting industry (which is why people want to be in it) and I had a lot of fun too...so anyway, put your armour on and get back in there. Good luck!