DVD vs VHS

[Stiffler]

What do news directors prefer for resume tapes now a days?

[cloudman]

I'm looking too, I was recently told VHS. Good Luck

[Union Label]

The way I look at it, do you really want to work for a place where the ND does not have a DVD player in his or her office?

[McCovey Cove Returns]

I've come across a few postings every now and then asking for a resume tape on BETA! That usually raises the red flag. That said, I send whatever the job posting asks for. If they want a DVD, they'll get a DVD. VHS? VHS it is. I've heard a few too many stories about DVDs playing in one person's player but not working in another person's player to take a risk and send something other than what's specified. Which means they get what they asked for and more often than not, that's VHS.

Side Note: I would be alarmed if a TV station doesn't have a DVD Player and a TiVo.

[Sir Dropham Pants]

Most ads say send tape. VHS has been the standard for years, I would suspect an ND wanting DVD would specify "send a disc" instead of send a tape. Or I at least hope they would.

[Roy Hobbs]

You don't want your DVD sitting on the side getting covered over with consultant's letters on hot news blonds while the ND runs the VHS tapes effortlessly in the office tape player, and more importantly, the conference room or office of the GM.

This is one of the few situations where I advise sending exactly what the ad wants, unless the ad calls for a resume only.

In most cases that's just...hmmm...what's the word..gosh...I'll think of something appropriate when it comes to news director and HR ads...

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[Basically A Nice Guy]

I have seen the future of the resume tape and it is YouTube. Because there's no need for tape.

Is anybody besides me using YouTube as an electronic resume tape? It's easy to upload your stories and or newscast segments. Then just email the link to dozens of news directors. There's no extra dubbing. There's zero postage. It's easier for the news director too. He or she doesn't need to shuffle through the tape to find different segments ro stories. And he or she doesn't have a stack of tapes on the desk for each opening.

I have seen the future.

[cloudman]

Your thoughts on emailing shows and resume ?

[adam & doctor drew]

Originally posted by Basically A Nice Guy:
I have seen the future of the resume tape and it is YouTube. Because there's no need for tape.

Is anybody besides me using YouTube as an electronic resume tape? It's easy to upload your stories and or newscast segments. Then just email the link to dozens of news directors. There's no extra dubbing. There's zero postage. It's easier for the news director too. He or she doesn't need to shuffle through the tape to find different segments ro stories. And he or she doesn't have a stack of tapes on the desk for each opening.

I have seen the future.and I have seen the past.

it's THIS SAME POST, which was first posted months ago.

[JoinUsForCake]

When in doubt, go Laserdisc.
http://www.rewindmuseum.com/images3/laserdisc.gif

[The Thrill]

THAT'LL solve the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray debate. ;)

[Entropy]

I would think VHS.

[amp]

The problem with DVD is that half the time I get one as a resume reel, it won't play in half the DVD players we have.

If you do send a DVD, set it up just like a tape resume reel. Best stuff first. I really don't care that you can set up a cool looking DVD menu.

Basic rule of thumb: Make it EASY for news directors (or for me, chief photogs) to look at your reel. If you make it hard, it goes in the can!

[TAFKA wacowx]

Another problem with DVDs is that they take longer to load...to boot, if you will. You can load in a VHS tape and be playing it within 3 seconds, but with DVDs it takes closer to 20 seconds before it's ready to play generally, IF it plays. Those 20-second load times add up and this is perhaps or will perhaps be, the MAJOR reason holding back widespread use of DVD as medium for your 'reel'. We may see a migration straight from VHS to online.

Whatever you do IF you send a DVD, make it autoplay and don't force someone to have to navigate a menu.

As for online info. I wouldn't use it as your main resume that you would send out to job openings. By all means, I highly recommend using is a storage device for your 'reel' and sending out e-mails to various markets announcing your availability, but when it comes to a known opening, send a VHS tape or DVD IF it is requested/allowed. In fact, I guarantee that if a news director is interested in your online 'reel', he or she will then ask for a VHS version...mainly so he or she can 'walk it in' to the GM or other people who might be invloved in the hiring process.

[phil413]

how about an artist's rendition?

[Buck T. Trend]

Originally posted by Basically A Nice Guy:
I have seen the future of the resume tape and it is YouTube. Because there's no need for tape.

Is anybody besides me using YouTube as an electronic resume tape? It's easy to upload your stories and or newscast segments. Then just email the link to dozens of news directors. There's no extra dubbing. There's zero postage. It's easier for the news director too. He or she doesn't need to shuffle through the tape to find different segments ro stories. And he or she doesn't have a stack of tapes on the desk for each opening.

I have seen the future.Sorry, Nice Guy. YouTube is NOT the future of demo reels, not now, and probably not ever.

First of all, do you really want to advertise to your current ND that you're looking for a new job? They can find your reel on YouTube just as easily as your prospective new boss.

Second, not all stations (or NDs) have super-fast T1 connections to access the Internet. In fact, some are still using (gasp!) dial-up. Do you want to take that chance?

Third, have you seen the quality of video on YouTube? VHS isn't great, but Internet video has a LONG way to go before it reaches even THAT (low) standard.

Be safe... send a VHS tape, unless they specifically state "or DVD."

[thebrain]

MII or 3/4"

[Entropy]

Has anyone sent out a tape and gotten an email a few days later, telling you to go to their website to fill out an application online? I figure it's just an EOE thing...nothing to get excited about.

[Irony]

Flip book?

[the original buttongod]

Originally posted by thebrain:
MII or 3/4"nah...don't use those...go for the 1" reel !!

[Roy Hobbs]

Please...2-inch is the only sure sign of resume videotape quality.

[Stormtracker_Tony]

Anyone interested in converting VHS tapes over to Digital Format, send me a PM..I've got some things you may be interested in..

[east coast producer]

Ditto here! I can take your VHS to DVD or put it online. :) And I can do it FAR better than my bud stormtracker. smile.gif

I can even provide online examples of custom-built sites if ya'll like. :)

On a totally unrelated note -- new news media forum! http://forum.rollcue.tv/tool/mb/rollcue

[Stormtracker_Tony]

oh really? and how much you charge for this service? ;)

P.S. I also was referring to trying to get rid of an extra TV/VCR to Computer USB adapter where people could make their own

[Mr.TV]

Originally posted by Roy Hobbs:
Please...2-inch is the only sure sign of resume videotape quality.How many here have ever heard of 2"? If I mention 16mm film at work it is amazing the confused looks I get. No, no I am not an old fart.

[WalMartNation]

Originally posted by Stiffler:
What do news directors prefer for resume tapes now a days?ND's prefer what the job posting says to send. If it says send your VHS... then do so... if it says VHS, Beta, or DVD... then you have choices. If it doesn't give you multiple choices... then send the selected format listed in the job posting. It's that simple.