I work in the world of TV programming with reality, documentary & docudrama series work, lots of promos, some theatrical trailer work, and some independent film work. My current gig is as an in-house television mixer for an internationally distributed television network. Here, as in the total of my experience working in audio post, I am the sound "person" after production. That is to say, I record VO, I do occasional ADR, I do a ton of dialog editing, make a lot of sound design, run a large amount of mixing sessions with clients, and even occasionally help develop standard operating procedures for the department and quality control requirements for the company. I am the "go to" audio repair person as well as the creative contributor. But I know "on lot" and in large dub stage type environments this is not the case. And in truth, the team effort approach is what I find most attractive about these other forms of audio post.
While I have senior level status in my multiple hat wearing audio post documentary, docudrama, reality, independent film, promo, trailer, and ad campaign world, I find it unlikely that this status would transfer (nor would I want it to at this point) to a dramatic higher budget lot gig or studio backed program or feature. However, I feel after running a department, working in-house for a network, freelancing and putting in more than decade in the industry that I would not serve myself or my new company best by looking at intern opportunities and other base entry level positions. But perhaps, the approach is so different that I am wrong.
When moving from one type of audio post to another (mixer/sound designer in edutainment/reality television and independent film to a sound team working on high budgeted dramatic TV/film), what type of position should one seek in order to best serve themself, the project, and their fellow sound guys? Do I have to start over completely? What is an appropriate move?