How can cross-training improve your Media Production skills?

Cross training is important in our days. Is the future of every job and we have to have multiple skills in order to be able to shape an opinion. In the case of media production, we can add different perspectives from different skills. Companies should train their people in many skills and invest on them.

I had retrain myself several times in my career by learning new skills or revisiting some related areas that were away from my professional scope but technology make them easier to learn, app development was one of them and I definitely agree on this. Technology is making unrelated fields get closer and that not is going to change, and sometimes try new areas give u a perspective on your currents task. Thru the years I have been doing 3D, Motion Graphics and lot of other exploring activities to gather knowledge, as a UX designer i learned to use bootstrap 3.1 and some basic coding to understand better the limitations and to provide a better service for my clients… I think this is winning approach not only in visual arts but everywhere

Deep skill expertise is great for an individual but fortunately media productions are almost never individualistic in nature. One must have a functional knowledge of other aspects of media production other than their own, purely to understand the larger scale and purpose of what they are creating. Working in silo is a thing of yesteryear’s. Collaborative media creations and processes which create a space for exchange of ideas, knowledge and skills make the most memorable products. There is no end to the journey of learning, so why must one arrest themselves in one path only.

Cross Training makes you a more well rounded professional. By learning all aspects of what goes into a production it gives you a better perspective as to what elements are needed needed when going into a final edit. It can give you more tools to work with so you always have maximum elements for your final product.

It's very important to cross train and learn new things especially when it pertains to media, as more and more skills are getting to become necessities in the industry. With the ever-changing climate of media, especially with the boom of AI, its imperative to at least become familiar with these changes and the skills needed to be prepared for when these essential skills go from recommended to required.

Hey there, I've been working in the media industry for over three decades. It all began with my Uncle Benny and a reel-to-reel recorder. Fast forward to today, and I'm juggling various roles, including being on-camera, writing, and more. But here's the thing - the media landscape is constantly evolving. There are always new technologies, platforms, you name it. So, my advice? Keep learning, keep honing your skills. Cross-training isn't just about acquiring new abilities, it's about staying adaptable in a rapidly changing field. When you can bring your creative vision to life, that's when you wield true power. So, go out there, diversify your skill set, and stay curious. That's the key to leaving your mark.

I think there's no wrong answer here, really. Whatever opportunity comes your way to learn something new, take it, even if it seems irrelevant to your chosen field. This is one way to help people think outside the box and can be a refreshing change of pace.

From my outlook, it is not so much about choosing the skills to cross train to, more that it is born out of necessity to learn a new piece of software or a new piece of kit (camera, etc) to do my job more effectively. The opportunities abound and are changing constantly, so it is more of a battle to have the knowledge and try to keep up with the pace of technology and change.

In my experience, trial by fire is one way to get the skills up quickly, for example - I have to develop a particular outcome and I don't have all the skills necessary to complete the task. I will start by asking colleagues, or if no-one can provide me the answer I need then turn to the internet, such as forums. The likelihood of someone already gaining the knowledge to complete a task very similar is highly likely. I also use LinkedIn Learning and sites like SkillShare, but there are many other sites to gain useful knowledge. Workshops are few and far between, but useful for information to bank on for future work.

One has to be careful to take on too much, while exploring other options. A good rule of thumb would be to learn one new thing at a time, while keeping your core skills and setting up a very flexible routine.

Balance is always about harmony and creating an outcome that satisfies the client. The key comes in determining how to budget for a particular task and take into consideration any cross training and new knowledge that may be required to complete the job at hand. I have had several instances in the past where feature creep becomes a problem and you can lose out on a job because there was too much involved. Experience always wins out and after a while you realise you need to adjust your timelines and productivity from the outset to cover yourself.

A good way to keep cross-training skills is to be part of groups related to those skills, to keep you abreast of what is going on and keep those skills in one's consciousness.

Delegate Delegate Delegate! If you found yourself reading this, theres a reason. Take it from me a 25 year expertly master of many skills -Director, Producer, Editor, Camera, Presenter, Journalist. And? Guess what? Time is your most valuable commodity. Stop wasting time on this skill & that skill. You have collaborators at your fingertips. You have linkedin for Access and Resources. Pick one thing & delegate the rest. Cultivate your leadership skills & check for Filmmakers Therapy Couch for more????

I've noticed two things, first, many think of 'production' work only about the technical aspects. There's also a common assumption that anyone can become a 'producer' without specific preparation, and I confirm that a filmmaking career can be learned by doing the work. However, It's important to know that you don't have to exclusively work on technical aspects to be part of a production project. There are various roles, including executive producer, field producer, line producer, and more, each with different responsibilities. So my suggestion will be that those interested in cross-training in media production should first decide whether they wish to focus on the technical, marketing, business, or content creation aspects of production