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Frequently Asked Questions...if this does not answer your questions, please give us a call and we will be happy to answer them for you.

How long is the finished resume tapes?
This depends on your area of specialization such as news, sports, weather or entertainment.  The average DVD or media link runs 4 to 8 minutes long.  Nearly all the DVDs will begin with a well thought out montage that will dissolve between various shots of your on-air skills.  Followed by the rest of your work.   Your DVD will contain all the elements that News Directors are looking for, when it comes to making a hiring decision in your field.

What is the success rate in talent getting a job after they get their tape together?
We have talent working in large to small markets across the country.  Some get a job within days, weeks or a month after they get their DVD out.  Some it can take months to find that perfect position.  Your success depends on your talents, drive and desire to make it in the television industry.  While we have a very high success rate for on-air talent, it really comes down to you and your job search.

What if I have some material from college, internship or a previous job.  Can we add that to the resume tape?
Yes!  I recommend it.  Showing off previous work is suggested.  But make sure the work makes your look good and not bad.  Sometime previous work is old and dated.  And when you add it to a new tape, it can look bad.  Have the material you want to add on a mini-dv tape, DVC pro tape, flash drive or DVD.  Bring it with you and we will add it.  There is no extra charge for this.

What do News Directors think of a resume tape made by a service such as American Broadcast Talent?
The answer to that is simple.  They love it!  Look at all of our clients that are employed around the country.  News Directors need to see how you look, sound and perform on camera.  They need to see how you write, shoot and edit materials.  Whether you made you tape at college, home, previous job or at a resume tape service does not matter.  It's you skills and talents that will get you the job and how professional you handle yourself on the tape.

Why should I use American Broadcast Talent as compared to any other related resume tape company or photographer?
I am not going to hold back on this answer. :)  We are the best!  Just look at our samples compared to any other service.  There is no close comparison in terms of quality.  We have been doing resume DVDs and media links since 2001.  We also have over 20 years of experience working on-air in television.  We know first hand what it is like being talent at a television station.  We are not a former news director, former photographer, editor that has been out of the businesses for years.  We work in television and know our industry.  Most importantly, our clients get jobs.  However, we will not talk bad about any other resume tape service.  If you like some other service, look at their samples, and make your own choice.  Some services survive by only trash talking other resume tape services.  We will not do that about anyone.

Will I have to run my own teleprompter and will I be left alone during my resume tape session?
We never make your run your own teleprompter (that is insane).  We have a professional to do that for you.  Also, we will never leave you alone (never) to listen to scanners, find stories, edit, etc.  We will always be with you during your session assisting you with everything to create the perfect resume DVD.  Some resume tape services actually leave you along during your stay and make you run your own teleprompter.  Ask them before you make a reservation.

Could I just not make my own resume tape from scratch?
I do think it is possible that you could make your own resume DVD at home.  But here is what you would need.  You need professional camera gear including a wireless mic.  If you don't know how to shoot, then you would have to hire a professional to do it for you.  This can cost up to $1000.00 per day just for shooting.  You will also need editing equipment to edit your stories.  You need stories to go cover, stand-up locations.  Do you have access to a professional news set with great lighting?  If your a reporter, weatherman or a entertainment reporter, what about a green screen?  If your a sportscaster, do you have access to game highlights and soundbites?  Then on top of all that, do you really know what a great resume tape should look like?  You get the picture here.  Making your own tape can be done, but you need the equipment, expertise and stories to make a resume tape that can really get you a job.

It seems expensive to get a resume tape produced.
That depends at how you are looking at this.  College was expensive but you need college in order to someday get a job.  You also need a resume tape in order to get an on-air job at a television station.  Compared to your education a resume DVD is very inexpensive.  You might be able to find a photographer or another service to do your resume tape.  But if their work is not good, then what will you do with a lousy tape?  Make sure to check our samples and the samples of anyone that you would have do your DVD.  Sometimes you get what you pay for in life.  We may cost more, but you will walk away with a professional DVD that can actually help you find a job in television.

Is my current resume tape good enough to get me a job?
This is simple question to answer.  Look at some of our samples and compare your work to our work.  Does it honestly look the same?  Remember, you are going up against DVDs that look like our samples.  If you have been sending out tapes with little results, then you probably know the answer regarding your current DVD.  It's also possible that your material is good but presented poorly or edited poorly.  We can help you with that.  Feel free to send us a copy of your current resume reel and we will happy to take a look at no charge.

If I am looking for a News Reporter or News Anchor position,  should I include a "celebrity interview" on my resume reel?
Unless you are applying for an Entertainment Reporter position, stay away from celebrity interviews.  Celebrity interviews or stories don't mean much to a News Director in Iowa or Michigan. In fact, it will probably hurt you.  Yes it's cool to interview Will Smith, but local news is not about feature stories on a daily basis (I wish it was...but its not).  If you don't believe me, call a News Director.  Your DVD should feature mainly hard news stories and local stories.  One light or feature type story on a tape is ok, but really not necessary.

After I make my deposit, then what?
After you place your deposit, we will send you a packet of information about your upcoming session.  Do not make a plane reservation until your reserve a spot with us first.  Once your spot is reserved, we will send you all the details regarding your session including your hotel stay, airport shuttle and other pertinent details.  We will also send you clothing recommendations (you will be changing outfits).  You will also be writing most of your own resume DVD..  You will be able to work with some of  your stand-ups and anchoring materials ahead of time. 

How long does it take to do a resume tape session?
We do everything in one day.  Most shoots take 7-8 hours (there are exceptions).  Because we have things planned ahead of time, we are very organized with your time.  We know how long it's going to take us to train you, perform make-up and shoot your resume DVD.  For nearly all sessions, we have you stay over night at a hotel so you are rested before recording your materials.

Once I am done with my session, Will I have my resume tape in hand?
I would be concerned with anyone that produces a resume DVD and then hands it to you the same day.  Think about it...how good of a tape can it be if it is shot, edited, produced and finished in one day?  If you did a DVD on your own, would you really finish it in one or two days?  Of course not!  You would meticulously work on it over a period of time.  Don't you want to make sure that everything is perfect?  Such as editing, color correction, supers, dissolves, flow, etc.  American Talent spends hours and hours working on your DVD.  We want to sure everything is perfect.  American Talent can have your DVD within one week after shooting the material.

What clothing should I bring?
We will advise you about this after you make your deposit.  You will be bringing a variety of outfits (professional suits) to make changes while you make your DVD.  You will be shooting in Florida so we have great weather to work with.  No snow or cold to deal with.

What about make-up?
We provide both men and women with access to a make-up artist?  We work with the best make-up people in Orlando, Florida.  Please ask us about our hair and make-up services.  A separate fee will apply.

Where do we stay when we attend American Broadcast Talent?
No need to worry about a hotel.  When you come to Florida, we provide your hotel stay.  You will be staying in Orlando, Florida.  We will take care of your reservations for you.    You will be right next to area restaurants with a wide variety of food choices all within walking distance.  The hotel will provide free airport transfers so you don't have to rent a car.   

Can I drive to the workshop?
Many that attend drive to the workshop.  We have people drive from as far away as Los Angeles and New York.

Can I extend my visit into a vacation?
Some of our students turn the trip into a mini vacation.  Some enjoy the area beaches and nearby theme parks.  It's really up to you.

How do I make extra copies of my resume tape?
We will give you a digital master copy of your resume DVD.  We will also give you 10 copies of the actual resume DVD.  You can take your master to a dubbing house or have us make you additional copies.  American Talent can also convert your resume DVD into a media link so News Directors can watch you demo over a computer.