Sound Engineering is a Booming Field
Exclusive Interview of Rajeev Iyer, who owns a production house called Hear Pictures:
W
hat opportunities exist after studying sound engineering?
One can work with a radio or TV studio or a production house.
Why did you start your own studio, how is this different from working for a studio?
I always wanted to work on movies, for which I started my own production house. I started my career with an organisation called Media Artists in Chennai where I worked on several south Indian movies including Kamal Haasan starrer, Virumaandi.
Working on movies is rigorous and you have to put heart and soul for two to three months while an ad film takes only 10 days to complete.
You earned a diploma in sound engineering from an institute in Chennai. Some don't even do that and join a production house straight away to learn things hands-on. What is the ideal way to make a foray?
Yes, one ought to pursue formal education before entering the profession. Those who are not qualified face quite a tough time and have to slog for a long time for a paltry salary - sometimes as low as R3,000 - with studios in Mumbai. On the other hand, qualified sound engineers start with a salary of R15,000 to R20,000 per month.
What are the challenges involved in running your own production house?
While delivering quality work, you have to give due attention to client servicing, as well. But it offers a range of interesting assignments too. In a nine-to-five job, the work might get monotonous. But, when you run your own production house, the work is rejuvenating.
One day you work on a radio commercial, the second day it could be documentary movie while on other day, you will get a television commercial to work on.
You didn't go in for a business education. Instead, you followed your heart. Are you satisfied now?
Very much. This field is booming. Almost every other day, I get calls from aspiring professionals, who ask me the name of the institute I studied at and the scope in this profession. Not many are aware of the possibilities. Interest in sound engineering soared after Resul Pookutty, (noted sound editor and mixer) won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire.
Author: Vimal Chander Joshi (HT Horizons)
Date: 29th January, 2011
For further details about related courses and colleges please click below:
This account contains a repository of informative articles by external authors with domain expertise in various aspects of guiding students on how to go about pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in... Read Full Bio