What is a Media Production Manager?

by Ian Linton
Media production managers work behind the scenes in film, television,
radio and video. They play a key role in program production by organizing
schedules, budgets and people. Production managers are involved at
each stage of a program, from initial planning, estimating and scheduling,
through filming or recording, and on to final budget and production
reports.

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Production Scheduling
Qualifications

To do the job successfully and ensure that everything runs smoothly, production managers must have solid
experience in all aspects of the business. While a formal qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree, can be valuable,
experience in the practical aspects of production, such as lighting, filming, recording and editing, are more important,
according to media career organization Creative Skillset. Media Match notes that accountancy qualifications may be
important because of the importance of budget management.

Experience

Production managers come from a variety of backgrounds in the media industry. Some have worked as floor
managers in a film or television studio, or as location managers on outdoor shoots. Some have a background as
script supervisors or production assistants. Those with accounting qualifications may have worked as production
accountants. Wide-ranging experience is essential as production managers have to understand practical
requirements and costs so they can develop realistic schedules and budgets.

Pre-production

Careful pre-production planning is the foundation for successful programs. Production managers review finished
scripts or program ideas and draw up initial schedules and budget estimates. They assess the resources needed for
the program, including actors or presenters, locations or studio facilities, props, crews and equipment. When they
have finalized estimates, they obtain budget approval and arrange to book all the resources.

Production

During production, they provide the producer and director with daily schedules that detail all aspects of each day’s
filming or recording. They ensure that production remains on schedule and make any changes due to unforeseen
circumstances, such as illness of a presenter or weather problems on outdoor shoots. They also check that
production complies with copyright laws and any union agreements.

Administration
In addition to their budgeting and scheduling responsibilities, media production managers handle a number of
important administrative tasks. They prepare and negotiate contracts with crew members and actors. They obtain
permission to use music, images or content that is subject to copyright laws. They ensure that the production team
complies with health and safety regulations.

Pay and Outlook

The median annual wage of producers and directors, including production managers, was $68,440 in May 2010,
according to the BLS. In the motion picture and video industry, the median figure was $92,820, while those working in
radio and television earned a median annual salary of $54,120. The BLS expects employment in this sector to grow by
11 percent between 2010 and 2020, while opportunities for self-employed production managers is expected to grow
by 16 percent over the same period.

2016 Salary Information for Producers and Directors

Producers and directors earned a median annual salary of $70,950 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. On the low end, producers and directors earned a 25th percentile salary of $46,660, meaning 75 percent
earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $112,820, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016,
134,700 people were employed in the U.S. as producers and directors.
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About the Author

Based in the United Kingdom, Ian Linton has been a professional writer since 1990. His articles on marketing,
technology and distance running have appeared in magazines such as “Marketing” and “Runner's World.” Linton has
also authored more than 20 published books and is a copywriter for global companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in
history and economics from Bristol University.

Photo Credits
Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

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