As mentioned earlier, cultural industries include a vast portfolio of different businesses, from film production to the printed paper. More recently, and with a continued and growing reference to globalisation, this portfolio has widened considerably and is now including crafts, design, folk art, architecture and even gastronomy. Although this is true, it largely depends on where you live in the world, or where you want to live as a creative worker.

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES

Initially, the world of creative industries was restricted to the usual four suspects of creativ-ity: the film industry, the music industry, television and the publishing world.

Let us start from the film industry. We mentioned Bob De Niro earlier, but what about other names such as Will Smith or George Lucas? They tend to get the big lights and the big money, but if you have ever remained seated at the end of a big movie, finishing your pop-corn while waiting for the crowd to go, you would have seen just how many people actually get involved in the making of any film. From executive producers to catering assistants, passing through make up artists and electricians, there are hundreds of different possibili-ties.

Music industry is also another popular one, and we have to thank programs such as the X Factor if being a singer is now more achievable than ever. But, considering how many people go in front of the judges and get turned away, that is not exactly the easiest route to make it into the music business. There are other opportunities to be had, from personal assistants to security guards to receptionists.

Television is perhaps the one giving all hopefuls a chance to dream big, particularly if we look at how down to earth and approachable certain soap stars seem to be. But if being in front of the camera is not quite your cup of tea, behind the camera might be an option: stu-dio assistants, camera operators and sound technicians work their magic to bring it all to-gether.

As for the publishing world, Bridget Jones was probably the most famous of its minions, responsible for “fanning in an out of the office with the press releases”, as her boss Daniel would very bluntly put it. She was most definitely not JK Rowling, but she was neverthe-less part of the industry.

THE NEW BREED OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Alongside the more traditional cultural industries, a whole new range of businesses and creative jobs are now coming under the same umbrella as the traditional ones.

Performing arts, such as theatre and dance, offer a further opportunity to shine for chore-ographers, costume designers and light technicians.

Advertising has also earned its well deserved place as a cultural industry. If you are a budding writer, a seasoned web designer or a marketing professional, advertising could be your first step to the next level in your career.

Arts and crafts are also now being considered part of creative industries. There is a con-tinued bid to promote local craftsmanship and bring it to the attention of the rest of the world, particularly where developing countries are concerned. To know more about these efforts and the countries they are aimed at, visit the UNESCO (the United Nations Educa-tional, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) webpage at portal.unesco.org. You will be able to get an overview of what is where and how you could achieve it.