Workplace reviews and discussion: 無限映像製作有限公司

The only advantage is probably that the colleagues get along fairly well.

Probably because we have a common enemy, haha.

Also, meals are provided when you go out on assignments, which can save quite a bit of money.

You often get to see celebrities and concerts.

However, if that is why you joined, you will be driven out very quickly.

If you want to learn about equipment and experience the ecosystem of the television industry,

this is indeed a good place. They often buy the latest equipment.

But if you are thinking of making it a long-term job,

think it through carefully, haha.

It is best to learn all the technical skills during your first one or two years,

build up your network, and then look for an opportunity to change jobs. XD

[Salary]:

Starting salary: NT$28,000, plus NT$2,000 for perfect attendance.

After the three-month probation period: +NT$3,000. If your abilities are deemed insufficient, they may let you go early.

[Working hours]:

Irregular.

When there are no assignments: 09:30–17:30 (including a one-hour meal break).

That is fewer than the nine hours, including meals, at a typical company.

The price is that the boss will keep using this point to pressure you,

making it impossible for you to ask for a raise or negotiate for benefits.

You may also be asked to attend meetings with hardware vendors on your days off (about one hour).

When there is an assignment: irregular, depending on the event or program schedule.

Basically, 10 hours minimum—

and recording in-studio programs for 12 hours is also common.

The record was recording some bizarre music program for 26 consecutive hours before finally returning to the company, haha.

[Overtime pay]

With such long working hours, overtime pay must be substantial too, right?

Oh, you are thinking too much. Basically, overtime pay is almost the same as having none.

The boss's calculation: 10 hours counts as one shift.

11–13 hours counts as 1.5 shifts.

14–16 hours counts as two shifts.

Even if you work 10 hours and 59 minutes, it still counts as only one shift, haha.

The total number of shifts in a month has to exceed 20 before overtime is calculated, haha.

And it is calculated using the basic hourly wage, XD.

If you receive overtime pay that month, it means you had an enormous number of shifts that month.

You may even end up not getting all eight days off (you will be compensated with money), haha.

You can use the extra money you earn later to see a doctor, haha.

[Days off]:

In the early days, you would not find out until that evening whether you had to work the next day or what time you had to start.

Later, once there was a work schedule, you would know when your days off were a week in advance.

But you still could not schedule anything ahead of time,

because you might suddenly be required to work, haha.

The boss would tell you that this is simply how the industry works.

If you are not prepared for that, then do not come, okay?

And paid annual leave is a fantasy.

The boss would ask you not to schedule leave during busy periods.

If you wanted to get married, they would even tell you to hold the banquet during the off-season, haha.

Also, because unused annual leave at the end of the leave year must be paid out to you (at the basic hourly wage),

the boss does not want to pay, so when your annual leave is about to expire,

he will “persuade” you to use it up quickly, okay? Haha.

[Job duties]:

Basically, regardless of what position you applied for,

you become a camera assistant as soon as you join.

You do every damn odd job.

Before you become familiar with your colleagues, you need to be proactive and enthusiastic about helping out,

otherwise you can easily get a bad reputation.

When there are no assignments, you do a pile of odd jobs:

maintaining equipment, washing cars, driving the boss to meetings, and sweeping the floor.

Then there is a junior manager at the company who seems to have been bitten by a fly or something,

because he sleeps all day—even during work.

When there are assignments, you set up cameras, run cables, and install GoPros.

Sometimes you have to climb high, so if you are afraid of heights, do not come.

During events, you help the camera operators manage and route cables.

Some of the external camera operators have “very special” personalities.

Be careful, haha.

As for when you can be promoted from assistant to camera operator,

it depends on your personal fortune and your ability to curry favor.

There are plenty of people who displeased the boss and remained frozen out for four or five years without being able to become camera operators.