“I would not have my job right now had it not been for Humber’s Post Production program.”

Life after graduation is something students always dream of–finding your dream job immediately once you step foot out of your college doors. But, alas, life doesn’t always work out as planned. If you find yourself wanting to expand your skills and boost your employability to the next level, a graduate program may be right for you.

Although undergraduate programs offer a wealth of knowledge, they’re generally theory-based. Post-graduate certificates give you hands-on, practical experience so you can actually get your dream job after you leave.

Luckily, Humber offers a variety of post-graduate certificate programs to hone-in on the skills in fields you’re passionate about. I sat down with Anna Miltenburg and Samantha Rousseau, two current students in the Post-Production graduate program, to learn about their experience at Humber and attending EditCon 2020.

Check out all they had to say here:

The Post-Production program

From practical courses to internships, the Post-Production program is tailored to give you real-life skills and work experience. This program runs for three semesters and features a bounty of knowledge on the film industry and everything that goes into post-production editing.

Some interesting courses include film and sound editing, classes that teach you about logistics in all departments of post-production, and business courses that prepare you for actually going out into the film industry. These courses offer you opportunities to connect with different industry professionals, which is so important for broadening your connections.

Gaining the practical skills

Sam: Reflecting on what inspired her to pursue this certificate program following graduation from Queen’s University, Sam explained, “I knew a couple of other girls that had done this program who were a year ahead of me. I reached out to one of them to ask what they thought of it and her exact words were, ‘I would not have my job right now had it not been for Humber’s Post Production program.'”

As with many students, finding jobs immediately following graduation can be a hassle, but honing in on the practical skills gained in college can help you stand out from other candidates.

What you learn from taking this program is something you can’t just learn online, “You learn the proper way to organize the material we handle in this field,” Sam said. “You can learn how to use the program, but it’s how to organize everything that is not easily available online. When you’re going into the industry, they want to know that you’re able to properly manage things.”

Anna: Anna did her undergrad at Western University. Although she loved the program, she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do career-wise. After taking a year off, she found the Post-Production program and learned that Humber’s program is very highly-regarded.

Now, being enrolled in this certificate program, Anna has gained knowledge on a variety of programs to give her a step-up in the real world. She explained, “Coming in, I really didn’t know much about the programs and software we needed to use. Now, I feel more confident using and implementing those skills.”

Why they attended EditCon 2020

EditCon is a day-long conference hosted by the Canadian Cinema Editors–an association that recognizes the professional, educational, and cultural triumphs in the film and editing industry. This year, EditCon came back for its third consecutive year to bring industry professionals to speak to a group of eager individuals.

The 2020 conference consisted of panels on the editing of reality TV programs such as The Amazing Race, popular comedy shows such as Schitt’s Creek, and dramatic films like Genesis. Notable panelists also included Humber’s very own professor, Lara Johnston.

Sam: “There were a variety of panels, but the panel that piqued my interest was the comedy one because I want to go into that stream of film editing. They talked about what it takes to be a comedy editor. Anyone can do it, but there are specific elements that go into comedy editing. There was also a panel that one of my professors did about the film that she was a head editor on.”

“It was really cool being in a room with people who have been in the industry for so many years. They have a fountain of knowledge to share, and you get the opportunity to speak to them afterward. When you’re in a field where everyone is so like-minded it’s exciting—you feel like you’re in the cool kids club.”

Anna: “The biggest reason I wanted to attend was because of the industry professionals that would be speaking at the conference. It was great listening to them because we got to learn about the actual careers that are available in the city and what Canadian trends people are following. They also had panels about reality TV and a comedy panel that talked about shows like Schitt’s Creek. One of the panelists was actually our professor, Lara Johnston; it was interesting to see her speak on the film industry.”

Key takeaways

Sam’s key takeaways from the conference?

• Practice, practice, practice.
• Try your best.
• Keep putting yourself out there.
• With Canadian media being at the top of its game right now, take that inspiration and choose what you really want to go into.

What Anna learned from attending EditCon?

• Get to know the different shows being worked on in Toronto.
• Network and learn from the attendees who have gone for many years.
• Take all the advice you can get—it helps a lot.

Final advice for students interested in the post-production program

Sam: “Take this program if you are interested in post-production. Don’t be too hard on yourself if it’s taking you a while to learn the software. I had some experience already coming into the program, but you’re here to learn and make mistakes. If you make a mistake or it feels like it’s taking a while to understand, just keep trying.”

“If you’re interested in the conference, just come, be ready to listen, and soak up all the information that’s available there.”

Anna: “If you’re interested in editing or post-production, it’s definitely a good way to learn more on all the components that go into post-production. You get to learn the overarching themes in post-production from knowledgeable people.”

Whether you have a knack for editing or simply would like to learn more, the Post-Production program may be right for you. Is editing not your thing? Do research on fields and programs that may interest you so you can hone-in on the skills you already have.

Want to land your dream job? Check out other ways to boost your employability as a student!

Looking for more career advice? Check out Humber’s Career Advising Services.

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