I’m Gonna Be a Producer

Yes, you read that correctly. I’m finally putting my college degree to good use (so stop worrying Dad) and accepting a job in the TV field. Officially I will be the Special Projects Producer for Dish Network’s Blockbuster Movie Channel. My new job starts at the end of the month.

So a little background, a long, long time ago (2 years) I did some temp work for a guy named Scott who hosted a TV show with celebrity interviews about upcoming movies. He also worked at Dish Network and hosted their On-Demand “what’s coming” show. I don’t know why he picked me (okay I do) out of all of the applicants, but he did. And he liked me (for some reason) and thought I did a good job. After I finished my work from him he kept me around as a babysitter/driver for his kids which was nice (since I was broke). He even got me an interview at Dish Network for a Marketing position back in 2010. That never panned out, but we kept in touch.

So I’d been working at my ski job for a while and one day out of the blue Scott calls and says he needs to talk to me. He presents me with the opportunity to join his team in creating original content for the brand new Blockbuster movie channel. He wants me, flat-out. Needless to say I’m flattered. Here’s a person I met a few years ago that I made a big enough impression on that he remembers me and chooses me to be on his team. Amazing. Mind-blowing even.

After a lot of consideration, a few computer assessments, an interview, a drug test, and a hassle in getting my college transcripts, I finally got a job offer. And after even more time considering, making pro/con lists, and getting advice from family, I accepted.

So what is this position exactly? Well besides the fact that it’s brand new and doesn’t have anything to go by, it’s a writer, researcher, and maybe editor position. We’ll be producing behind-the-scenes and on-location content, I’ll oversee studio and location filming. There was a hint that I could eventually get in to interviewing. And of course some travel (yes!).

So with the big (huge) change that awaits me there are a few other factors I get to start looking at. First off, where I’m currently living I’m looking at an hour commute to work. Now this may be no big deal for you Houstonians who commute every day, but I’ve been spoiled with no commute for several years now. Even in Austin I was at work in 20 minutes during rush hour. An hour…time to buy some books on tape. So a move will be necessary before summer.

Then there is the whole cultural aspect. Dish Network is a huge company, and very corporate. They require business casual (no more jeans *sad*), they require you to badge in by 9am or you get a demerit, and they only have 5 holidays in the whole year.

The announcement went out earlier this week to my current office that I was leaving. There was a lot of mixed emotion. A lot of people were genuinely happy for me and excited for my new opportunity. Others I think are happy but they keep making jokes about me quitting. And then there are a very few who took a while to process the idea and were very quiet about it. I will admit I was a little scared to tell the office, as I didn’t know how they would react, but the overall positive vibe has made me much more emotional about leaving than I expected to be.

So that is my big, new life change. Thanks to everyone for their support and congratulations. I’ll have more information/details after I’ve started and I promise I’ll let you know what’s happening. It’s scary and exciting all at the same time, and a great way to start of 2012 and my 25th year.

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~ by lifeofapostgrad on January 12, 2012.