Your guide to the multi-faceted entertainment industry
Here’s a question for you.
What are the top three jobs that come to mind when you hear the words “entertainment industry”?
Let’s see what made up your final cut. Music producer? Director? Or maybe a world-famous Hollywood actor/actress has entered the mix.
Of course, these are all popular roles. But the truth is that the entertainment industry is huge, much bigger than we think.
And bringing a vision to life requires many talents and skills, each a crucial cog in a well-oiled machine.
This is why the LA Film School is more than just a film school. And why, over the past 25 years, we have expanded our offerings to include degrees in the following areas:
- Animation
- Audio production
- Leisure industry
- Movie
- Graphic design
- Media communication
- Music production
- Writing for film and television.
(You can view our full list of programs here).
Whether you’re drawn to the stage or behind the scenes, believe us when we say there’s a place for you in this high-profile industry.
But how do you decide which role is best for you?
In this blog post, we pull back the curtain on the big reveal: the world of entertainment and media, how it all connects, and the skills needed to build a successful business in Hollywood.
What better way to show you that than to highlight some of the most famous success stories of our time?
First and foremost, a creation that pushed the boundaries of film technology, setting the bar high across the entire industry.
1. Avatar
Three Oscars. Twice nominated for Grammy Awards.
The highest grossing film in history.
James Cameron’s “Avatar” is a true force of nature and a testament to the power of collaboration within the industry.
So how did James Cameron and his team create the vibrant and expansive world of Pandora? (Besides the fact that they got one of the biggest movie budgets of all time).
One word: talent. And in large quantities.
Here is just an overview of the roles and responsibilities that came into play:
PRE-PRODUCTION
- Screenplay writing
To create Avatar’s complex narrative, a team of talented screenwriters was recruited.They were responsible for scripting spellbinding story arcs, intelligent dialogue and, of course, the unique “Na’vi” language (which involved leading a team of expert linguists).
- Character and setting design
When you’re creating a culture of a believable alien world, you need designers who know their stuff.Artists (with the help of experts in fields such as botany and anthropology) designed Pandora’s creatures, environments, and characters, both digital and physical.
- Costume design
Feathers, bones, unique stones.Head costume designer – Deborah L. Scott – and her team ensured that every item of clothing or accessory worn by the Na’vi had cultural significance, reflecting their skills, status or roles within the tribe.
PRODUCTION
- Cinematography
Only one of the Oscars won was for Best Cinematography – and that’s no surprise.Combining the virtual world with live action, cinematographer Mauri Fiore used lighting, camera angles and movement (including underwater shots with a revolutionary 3D camera) to realize this vision.
- Sound design
“Clarity is king.” That’s what James Cameron was thinking when it came to the sound for Avatar.From explosion noises to creature sounds to dramatic pauses, the sound design team worked with thousands of individual tracks to create Pandora’s aural landscape.
POST-PRODUCTION
- Visual effects (VFX)
To bring the world of Pandora to life, Cameron teamed up with Weta Digital (the VFX team created by Peter Jackson during the filming of Lord of the Rings).In total, Weta Digital created more than 800 computer-generated characters and 1,800 visual effects with detailed CG settings.
- Editing
To make the final cut of the film, digital artists must integrate both live-action and CGI sequences.They used techniques like 3D conversion (and more) to create a realistic and fully immersive experience.
- Musical composition
James Horner (who previously worked with Cameron on Titanic) composed a sensational score that fits perfectly with the film’s visuals and landscapes.He worked closely with ethnomusicologist Wanda Bryant to create a musical culture for the alien race (with a theme song recorded by British singer Leona Lewis).
2. Game of Thrones Games (2011-2019)
Originally a cult book phenomenon, this iconic fantasy television series created by David Benioff and DB Weiss has taken the world by storm.
And given the show’s large cast, complex storytelling, and detailed world it takes place in…as they say, it takes a village.
PRE-PRODUCTION
- Foundry
The show has a lot diverse characters, making the casting a key player in the success of the series.And with “imagined” languages like Dothraki and Valyrian, linguist David. J Peterson was brought on board to help with the adoption and spread of these languages, adding depth and authenticity to the show.
- Location search
Depicting the worlds of Westeros and Essos made finding locations and securing them a large part of pre-production.Game of Thrones filming locations eventually spread across the world, taking place in countries like Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, Spain, and Morocco.
- Manufacturing of accessories
Given the medieval theme that runs through the show, many props were needed such as weapons (the famous Valyrian steel swords for example), armor, maps, scrolls and dragon eggs.The list goes on.
PRODUCTION
- Direction
During its eight seasons, several directors were involved with the series (with David Benioff and DB Weiss serving as lead directors for key episodes).These immense talents had major responsibility for translating the script into action, guiding the actors’ performance and overseeing all creative aspects of the production to ensure the ambitious vision was realized.
- Special effects (SFX)
“Special effects as a department brings chaos and mayhem.” This was stated by special effects supervisor Sam Conway.Dealing with effects such as gas, water, wind, smoke, pyrotechnics, engineering and blood – we’re sure was the holy grail for any special effects technician working on Game of Thrones.
- Stunt coordination
The series saw complex stunts at play: fight sequences, horseback riding and large-scale battle scenes.The stunt coordinator’s job was to oversee the planning and execution of these things, ensuring the safety of the cast and crew. It is not an easy task. Especially when working with various animals such as squirrels, crows and arctic wolves.
POST-PRODUCTION
- Visual effects (VFX)
Remember when Rhaegal first breathes fire or the Night King directs his intense gaze?Add to that dragons, giants riding mammoths, and armies in battle: the VFX team had to use CGI to create these fantastical scenes. But they also had to make sure they were connected to the emotion of each viewer, to create the all-important moments of shivers, jaws and tears of joy.
- Sound editing
From the clash of swords to the roar of dragons, the sound editors were responsible for selecting, editing and mixing all sound elements in the series, ensuring that the audio quality was top-notch and complemented the visuals perfectly. - Social Media Marketing
The Games of Thrones TV series came at the end of the “golden age of television” and the dawn of the social media era – airing just six months after Instagram arrived on the App Store.Social media marketing has become an essential platform for starting conversations and spreading the word, which is perhaps why Game of Thrones is considered the most covered show on television.
3. Minecraft (2011)
What started as a solo project has become a global phenomenon with a vast network of loyal players across the globe.
Developed by Mojang Studios, Minecraft is a benchmark in the video game industry, known for its open-world design, sandbox gameplay, and blocky, pixelated graphics.
PRE-PRODUCTION
- The design of the game
Game designers are responsible for imagining and tweaking Minecraft’s gameplay, from cool new items users can craft to sneaky skeletons that appear in the dark.Their goal is to make sure there is always something new and fun to explore.
- Programming
The programmers behind the curtain make sure to constantly expand and refine the game’s codebase, diving into the code and ensuring the game runs as smoothly as possible. Not a bug in sight. - Art of the game
Even in a world made of blocks, visuals matter.Minecraft artists keep things fresh, playing with new textures and skins, making sure players’ adventures always have that signature “block-y” charm, whether they’re building a castle or fleeing creepers.
PRODUCTION
POST-PRODUCTION
The entertainment industry: dynamic, varied and largely interconnected.
You know what they say: it takes a village.
And these roles are just a small taste of what’s needed to bring a vision to life.
But remember that in the entertainment and media industries, every role is a lead role.
Just take a look at our alumni and their success stories.
See you next time.
Love,
GenMovi.