Beth Higgins

JOB ROLES IN THE MEDIA

CATEGORISED JOB ROLES

Job sector Job Role

Management CastingLocation

Props dept.

Creative ProducerDirectionArt Dept.CameraCostume

ScriptHair and Make-upMusicPerformance

Editorial (post – production)

Editing and Post Production

Technical CameraLighting

Financial Accounts

Administrative Distribution

Key Term Meaning

Shift work Shift work a pattern of work which is designed to include all 24 hours of the day. People on shift work are often required to rotate their shifts regularly, for e.g. one month they may work 12pm-8pm and the next, 8pm-4am.

Fixed term A fixed term contract is a contract of employment that expires on a specified date decided prior to the signing of the contract.

Office hours Office hours is simply the amount of hours a specific work place is open.

Freelance A freelance worker is self employed and does not have continuous employment, but is employed for specific projects.

Hourly rates Employees who work on an hourly rate are paid a set amount for the amount of hours they work, and any overtime they do, allows for extra pay according to the number of hours extra they work.

Piece work Piece work is paid according to the quantity of products created for a certain project.

KEY TERMS

• Casting Director• Casting Assistant

MANAGEMENT: CASTING

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• Unit Manager• Location Manager• Assistant Location Manager

MANAGEMENT: LOCATION

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• The Properties Dept.• Property Master• Prop Maker• Armourer• Greensman• Props Storeman• Dressing Props• Standby Props

MANAGEMENT: PROPS DEPT.

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The role of a producer is to transform storyline ideas, into the next big blockbusters, making sure there is a profit made. There is a lot of pressure on the producer’s shoulders as they are the ones who have to create an environment in which the cast and crew working on the project can work as creatively and effectively as possible. The producer plays a role in every stage of the film’s creation:

Development – responsible for coming up with the baseline of the story, as well as finding the script writer and the rights needed in order to create the film (if the film is a remake of a classic, a storyline from a book etc.)

Pre-Production – responsible for assisting the executive producer in raising funds for the project. They also work closely with other creative members of the team e.g. directors, cinematographer etc.

Production – In charge of approving all changes during the project, e.g. script changes, budgets etc.

Post-Production – Involved closely in the distribution and financial aspects once the film is made.

A good producer has aspects such as being a good: businessman, negotiator, motivator etc. No specific qualifications are needed to become a producer. Although many colleges do provide courses in film producing, it is hard to provide anyone with every skill needed in becoming a film producer. They need experience and persuasion in order to convince financers that their money will end up making a profit if they invest in the said project.

CREATIVE: PRODUCER“NOT ONLY HANDLING THE FINANCIAL SIDE BUT ALSO THE

CREATIVE DRIVE BEHIND IT”

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Similar to the writer sometimes approaching the producer with an idea, this can apply to the director, however the

majority of the time, it is the producer who will approach the director once they have their ideas. It is often in the

best interest for the producer to look for a director who is well known as this will help to attract the interest of better writers and chances for financing of the film as people will know if they like previous films directed by said director

and will happily have input on a similar film. Every director has an agent who will be in charge of their professional

lives and these agents take a percentage cut of whatever the producer offers the director.

CREATIVE: DIRECTOR“PRODUCER NEEDS TO SECURE DIRECTOR

WITH GOOD REPUTATION”

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• Art Dept. Overview• Production Designer• Art Director• Supervising Art Director (Assistant, Standby)• Set Director• Production Buyer (Assistant)• Concept Artist• Graphic Artist• Storyboard Artist• Draughtsman (Junior)

CREATIVE: ART DEPT.

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• Camera Dept. Overview• Director of Photography• Script Supervisor• Camera Operator•1st & 2nd Camera• Steadicam Operator• Ariel Director of Photography• Ariel Camera Pilot (Assistant)• Marine and Diving Camera Crew• Grip • Crane Operator• Video Assistant Operator

CREATIVE: CAMERA

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• Costume Designer (Assistant)• Wardrobe Supervisor• Costume Supervisor • Costume Maker • Costume Daily

CREATIVE: COSTUME

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• Screenwriter• Development Executive• Script Editor• Script Reader

CREATIVE: SCRIPT

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• Chief Make up artist• Chief Hairdresser• Prosthetics• Hair Dresser (Assistant)• Make Up Artist (Assistant)• Trainee

CREATIVE: MAKE UP DEPT.

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• Composer• Music Supervisor

CREATIVE: MUSIC

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• Performers Overview• Actors • Agent• Variety Artist• Choreographer (Assistant)• Singer• Puppeteer• Stunt Performer

CREATIVE: PERFORMANCE

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• Editor (Assistant and 2nd)• Post Production Supervisor• Titles Designer

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION

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• Director of Photography• Gaffer • Best Boy• Lighting Technician • Moving Light Operator• Practical Light Technician • Console Operator• Genny Operator

TECHNICAL: LIGHTING

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• Production Accountant• Financial Controller• Key Assistant Accountant (Assistant, Trainee)

FINANCIAL: ACCOUNTS

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• Distributor• Marketing and Publicity Manager• Publicist• Marketing Assistant• Sales Agent

ADMINISTRATIVE: DISTRIBUTION

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A casting director is in charge of casting all the roles for a production. This involves them working closely with the Producer and the Director to gain an understanding of the requirements needed for each character, The casting director arranges and directs all interviews with possible cast members.

A new and up to date knowledge of upcoming talent is needed to be a casting director as it is important to know the type of actors that audiences are wanted to watch at the time. They are also responsible drawing up the contracts with the cast members agents. Therefore negotiation is a key skill needed in the role of casting director.

Qualifications needed:

Often a casting director will have a degree in some form of the this area including the Arts, English, Media etc. however no specific qualifications are actually needed. Often casting directors begin as trainees at talent agencies.

CASTING DIRECTOR

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A location manager is in charge of finding suitable locations for filming as well as negotiating prices etc. with the land owners of their chosen location. They are also responsible for tackling issues which may affect surrounding land owners such as noise etc. After shooting the footage, the location manager is in charge of making sure that the specific location is left in the way it was before filming commenced.

Qualifications needed:

No official qualifications are needed to become a location manager however much experience is required. This means that many location managers begin their career lives as runners, and work their way to where they want to be.

A key factor to becoming a location manager is a high knowledge of health and safety as well as full drivers licence, as they are required to find locations.

LOCATION MANAGER

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Any project including firearms have to involve an Armourer, without them, it would be illegal for the firearms to be handled. They are in charge of transporting and storing the fire arms involved in the film. The Armourer is in charge of the safety of the crew when handling the fire arms, and they make the decision as to whether the cast which are expected to use the fire arms are competent enough. The Armoured is involved closely with the director and the producer in discussing the script and researching what kind of fire arms would be appropriate to use according to the genre/ era of the film. They also work closely with the police on terms of informing them if any fire arms are going to be used outdoors during the filming.

During filming, the Armourer will work with the director of photography to discuss which camera angles would be the best to use with the minimum risk of injury.

Comprehensive training in the use of firearms is essential to take up the job role of an armourer. Permits and certificates are also required to prove that the armourer is allowed to be in possession of the fire arms.

ARMOURER

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A graphic artist creates any prop which includes graphic items such as money, newspapers etc. It has to be done in a way where the audience cannot tell that the items are not genuine, therefore the graphic artist has to make a clever reproduction. Graphic artists are often hired on the basis of reputation - often hired through the set decorator it helps for the graphic artist to have made an impression on the set decorator in the past.

Being a graphic artist involves having a lot of skill but the job is sporadic (occasional). Graphic artists work on a freelance basis – charging for their services by the hour rather than a fixed salary.

GRAPHIC ARTIST

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Qualification’s needed:

• HSE Commercial Diving Certificate Part 4

Job Role:

The marine and diving crew are in charge of the safety of all crew during filming in the water. The underwater director of photography/ underwater camera operator takes up the role of the head of the marine crew. The marine crew not only work with the others in the water, but also in planning the scenes which will take place, including storyboarding with the Visual Effects Supervisor and the Stunt Co-ordinators.

Work Load:

The work load of the marine crew is physically demanding and involves long foreign trips away from home.

Building up to becoming part of a Marine Diving Crew:

• Begin in junior positions and possible the 2nd Assistant Camera.

MARINE AND DIVING CAMERA CREW

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Ususally employed on larger budget productions, a wardrobe supervisor begins their work in the short time before filming begins. A wardrobe supervisor is in charge of many of the costume workers and is also responsible for making sure that all equipment needed for the wardrobe is in correct working order, as well as transporting the costumes to make sure they are where they are needed and when. Organisation and managerial skills are important in the role of a wardrobe supervisor, as well as planning and scheduling skills. Sometimes wardrobe supervisors are also in charge of the budget for the costume department therefore skills in money management are also needed.

Sometimes a wardrobe supervisor is expected to draw up a risk assessment to make sure that none of their crew are injured using the machinery to create the costumes.

Wardrobe supervisors must need good linguistic skills as they may be required to travel to different countries for the particular film they are working on.

Qualifications needed:

Qualifications in fashion design are not essential but often preferable. Experience gained from working in other such areas is a relevant factor. Often a wardrobe supervisor will work their way up from other roles such as costume trainees. Due to the job involving travel, a full EU passport is needed.

WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

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A screen writer plays a major role in the development of creating a film. They are in charge of researching the suggested story as well as developing and writing the narrative before presenting it to the Executives. This means that the screenwriters have a large influence over the emotional impact of the specific screenplay.

Often screen writers are freelance workers and either pitch their own ideas to producers in the hope of them being further developed, or are hired by producers to make their visions come alive.

The difference between the amount of screenplays written and those actually made into films is very larger and there are very few screenwriters who make enough to live off this job alone.

A screenwriter is responsible for providing blue prints of a film and must make the plans alive so that when pitching the ideas, cinematicall imagery is created in their minds.

Qualifications needed:

There is no formal training needed to become a screenwriter however there are a number of courses available to people interested in the job. Producers will not accept screenplays if they are not written in a certain way so it is a good idea to develop your skills through one of these courses.

SCREENWRITER

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Prosthetic artists are required on many different forms of projects including film, music videos, documentaries, dramas etc. Their job requires forming bodily props made from materials such as silicone, gelatin etc. – any material which can form a disfigurement to the actors.

Prosthetic artists can be hired throughout the entire time of a production or can be hired temporarily as Dailies. A prosthetic artists usually works on a freelance basis and spends many hours away from home.

A prosthetics job is to meet with the make up dept. pre production and discuss briefs of specific designs they are to follow. Some of the times the briefs they are given have been rushed and are very basic, and the prosthetic artist is allowed to use their imagination to interpret their own ideas – providing it fits in with the brief. A prosthetic artist often works from home however in larger productions, there is often a specific area build on set.

Qualifications needed:

Many prosthetic artists are self trained however there are courses available in the form of BA degrees, and other vocational courses. A prosthetic artists will always needed to updated portfolio – made up from photographs of their work - for any job to provide an example of the kind of things they are used to.

PROSTHETICS

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A composer is required to write the music for a project, according to the directors needs. The composer needs to write music which creates the correct atmosphere for the film as well as emphasizing emotions. A composer oversees the whole process from writing the music, guiding the orchestra and post production.

Music written by a composer is required to be original. A composer is required to be able to write music in different styles, appropriate for the genre of the film they are writing for.

They need to be able to have the creative insight which allows them to create the directors ideas into reality. They also need to be able to work with the newest technologies to create the best pieces.

Qualifications needed:

Often some form of music qualification is needed to become a composer however many projects simply require talent and compassion to make amazing pieces of music. Some courses are available specifically for Composing for Film and Television, allowing people to work on film sets with orchestras.

COMPOSER

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Puppeteers are required in filming to make inanimate objects perform similarly to actors. Many different kinds of puppets are used by a puppeteer including: hand puppets, stringed puppets or even life sized puppets. Puppeteers are required to work in different environments, often poor ones either above or below the stage. Puppeteers are sometimes required to work under water with life sized puppets. When working with animatronics – the puppeteers are required to work with the special effects team. This benefits both parties as they can learn each others strengths and weaknesses.

Qualifications needed:

Some drama schools offer puppeteer courses to allow basic disciplines such as knowledge of script performance, ability of using physicality to create life in puppet etc.

PUPPETEER

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A title designer is responsible for creating the opening credits for the film, any captions occurring during the film such as times, locations etc. as well as the closing credits which often involve the scrolling screen containing the casts names, the producer etc. They are required to research into the correct types of fonts available to match the type of genre of the film. They also decide on the colouring of the font, as well as the background behind the writing.

A title designer often works on a freelance basis, often in their own homes or studios. A title designer is not usually needed until the end of the editing process, where they will then sit with the director and editor and discuss the ideas which will influence the way the titles will be created.

Qualifications needed:

Often title designers are art school graduates who have studied for film illustration or graphic design. College courses provide the opportunity for building a portfolio which is necessary for such a competitive business.

TITLES DESIGNER

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Gaffers are in charge of operating the electrical work for a production as well as leading the technicians who set up the lighting equipment. Gaffers are involved in working closely with the Director of Photography in order to create an understanding of the image they are trying to produce.

Health and safety is a key responsibility of the Gaffer. They are involved in creating a risk assessment and checking all the electrical equipment. They are also involved in budgeting and choosing the best type of equipment for the filming.

Qualifications needed:

All gaffers are required to have be a fully trained electrician and many have a degree in electrical engineering. Gaffers are required to attend many tarde shows to keep their knowledge of equipment up to date.

GAFFER

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In production, there are two types of financial controllers, depending on the type of project.

On reasonable sized projects, either an experienced production accountant of qualified accountant is hired to be the financial controller.

On larger projects, freelance senior production accountants are hired as the financial controllers.

The main responsibilities of a financial controller are controlling the accounts, taxes and financial analysis for all the areas if the production.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

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