Job Roles in Film Production

Pre-production

Job Role: Casting Director

Responsibilities: Casting Directors are hired to seek actors which will fit the
characters behaviour and persona as if they were the actual person in real life. In
order to do this the Casting Directors need to meet with the rest of the producers and
directors to skim and read through the script in order to get a feel for what they need
to look for in the characters that will be involved in the film. For the actor to get the
role of the film, the Casting Director needs to look for someone who looks fit for the
role and understand the skills of acting. In order to do this Casting Directors are sent
to auditions, given headshots, demos and reels of previous work. Once the Casting
Directors chose a lineup of actors they think fit the film description, they come
together with the producers and directors and together they come up with the final
decision.

Job Role: Producer

Responsibilities: Producers are known as the main part of a film and are the
overall decision makers of the content. Producers come up with the story ideas, have
rights to secure all scripts and hire writers for the film that is in the making.
Producers determine how much they should spend on a budget and the scale of the
film and they also finance from investors, studios and distributors. A producer has to
be good at: have extended knowledge of creative processes of making a film which
revolves around editing, screenwriting and directing, story telling, commercial
awareness, leadership and organisational skills. The producers work with everyone
involved in the production process of the film.

Job Role: Screenwriter

Responsibilities: Screenwriters develop the and write the screenplays for films/ tv
shows. They prepare scripts which is a way where the actors are able to vision the
settings, emotions and how it could possibly look whilst filming and once produced.
They work with producers and directors to make sure the script is up to everyone's
standard on how it should eb and that everyone is happy with the final result.
Screenwriters can be seen as freelancers as in film screenwriters initially develop a
couple of drafts of a singular screenplay and the final draft is inevitably the one that
is presented to the producers and directors of the film studio. However in other
cases, a screenwriter may be brought in to create a screenplay using just their
imagination. Once their screenplay has been pitched to the studio, more
screenwriters may possibly be brought in to work with a development producer in
order for it to be processed and ready for production. However if this case were to
appear, any new screenwriter has to share the credit that they receive with the
original screenwriter so they get an equal amount of credit for their work.
Screenwriters work with the development producers.

Production

Job: Director
Responsibilities: Directors hold the lead responsibility for the production of the film.
They hold the creative leads throughout the whole process from pre production to
post production. A director has the job to imagine the script in a visual form.
Directors can work with different people throughout the production of the film, they
can work with people like: producers, screenwriters, director of photography,
assistant director, production design, editors, casting director and first assistant
director. They work with a casting director in order to select the actors, start to
decide on the filming style and have discussions about camera shots and angles
with the director of photography. Directors also guide other crew members of
production like lighting, wardrobe and even makeup supervisors. Directors need to
make sure that the actors are up to speed with what they are filming in order to get
the best result. They have to ensure all technical elements are in place and are
correct in order for the film to be taken correctly and to get the scene filmed.

Job: Production Coordinator

Responsibilities: Production coordinator is in charge of the production office. They
handle the photocopies/ photocopier, paperwork and phones. Production
Coordinator start their work during the pre production, they set up the production
office,organising equipment, supplies and staff. They also handle and control the
travel,accommodation, work permits and visa for the member of the filming crew
which is on set. Production Coordinators also assign shooting schedules, scripts and
cast lists. Production Coordinates oversee daily progress reports, script changes and
updating and distributing the crew lists to each of the cast members. Production
Coordinators mainly work with the line producers whilst on set and the production
managers. They communicate with all the heads of each department and the
production department.

Job: Production Runner

Responsibilities: A production runner is the basis of the production team. They
copy all paperwork and distribute all copies to the crew mates, these paperworks
include: call sheets, sides, scripts, health and also safety notices. The production
runner does general office jobs which include filing paperwork, answering the phone
and entering the data. The grabs the essentials for all the crew members whilst
working things like stationary, snacks and caffeinated drinks.Production runners are
freelancers on the set of a film. A production runner needs to: listen carefully, keep
calm under pressure, have common sense and good initiative, multitask, observe the
things that are happening, reliability and excellent communication skills.
 Post-Production

Job: Editor
Responsibilities: In the role of an editor, they put together the different pictures as
they come in from the set of the film/ tv show. The editor's job includes taking scenes
from random parts of the film and editing them part by part in order to create the
correct order of the scene. Editors start their work in the pre-production, by working
closely with the directors of the film. Once the film is classified as wrapped this is
when the editors get together with other editors in order to spend hours editing and
correcting certain parts in various scenes. Once these things have been completed,
editors work closely with the directors to work out and assemble the last information
and editing bits into a directors cut and this has to be approved by the producers of
the film set. Once approval from the producers is given, this would be known as the
final cut. Once producers approve of the editing of the scenes and everything is up to
their standards, music and sounds are added to the mix and this is up to the editors.
An editor needs to have the skills which are: story telling, visual awareness, using
editing software, communication and must have attention to detail. There are
multiple departments that editors work with these departments include:

● First assistant editor

● Second assistant editor, third assistant editor and edit assistants
● Supervising sound editor
● Dialogue/ ADR editor
● Colourist
● Visual effects supervisor
● Post production runner

Job: Colourist
Responsibilities: A colourist devotes to the mood and different variety of colours
throughout a film by defining which colour palettes are to be used throughout.
Colourists are able to add to the look of the colours by changing the brightness and
chromas which is known as the colour. Most films and tv shows are filmed on digital
cameras which means it is raw formatted meaning the colour is captured on the data
and could only be seen once up until the colour is then applied. However if it was
being shot on film, then the film was processed at a lab and scanned from a digital
workflow. Once this process has happened, it is then all up to the colourist. Once the
colourist receives all the files to edit they then therefore have to vision the colour line
with the director and the director of photography.They then have to match the shots
with the different saturations and lighting so no one stands out in the different
sequences throughout the production. A colourist has to have the skills of: an
understanding of colour, knowledge of film and digital process, knowledge of film
production, using software, communication and attention to detail.

Job: Post Production Supervisor

Responsibilities: The role of a post production supervisor is to help producers
achieve whatever they can in the budget which is given without going over it in the
editing process. Post production supervisors help hire the different variety of staff for
the editing, these will be roles such as sound editors and title designers. In order to
not go over the given budget, post production supervisors work closely with the
production assistant as they go over cost reports. Post production supervisors
usually continue working on the set until all materials have been completed for the
film to be delivered. In order to be a post production supervisor, you need to :
understand the process in detail and stay up to date, budgeting, multitasking,
problem solving and communication as you need to persuade producers of the
variety of creative possibilities and limitations of what can be done. The post
production supervisor works closely with a range of staff involved in film making,
these include: Post Production Coordinator, Bookings Coordinator, Receptionist,
Junior engineer or engineer assistant, library assistant and post production runner.

Entry Level Jobs

Job Role: Content Creator

Summary: This occupation is found in employers across all sectors. It is a role that
can be found in both creative and non-creative industries. This can be in any
business creating content to engage with its audience.
Employers can vary in size from micro businesses to multinationals. The occupation
is found in a very broad range of businesses, ranging from public, private and third
sector employers. This may include charities, social media employers, digital
agencies and broadcasters. The broad purpose of the occupation is to develop and
create written and audio visual content that can be used across a variety of platforms
and media. This may include social media, broadcast or in print. A content creator
works briefly. They research, prepare and develop the messaging to maximise
audience engagement. They capture the strategy and objectives of the brand and
needs of the customer, client or business.The content they create can be used as
part of media, advertising, documenting and marketing campaigns. They simplify and
tailor a message to the audience to suit the purpose. These can be used across
different platforms and channels. An interest in technology and creating content is a
must. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range
of internal and external stakeholders throughout the end-to-end content creation
process.
Typically, they are likely to interact with clients, marketing and digital teams,
production teams, budget holders, contributors, artists and end users. An employee
in this occupation will be responsible for delivering high quality content on time and
on budget that meets the brief. They need to be aware of the legal and regulatory
framework and take this into account throughout the content development process.A
content creator would need to take into account ethical considerations and wider
organisational policies. A content creator would typically report to a senior colleague
within their functional area. They are required to keep up to date with new
technologies, platform developments and consumer trends.

Source: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/junior-
content-producer/

Job Role: Junior Animator

Summary: Animation is the process of displaying still images in a rapid sequence to
create the illusion of movement. The animation the Junior Animator is required to
create may vary and can include dialogue or non-dialogue. These images can be
created using various process including: hand drawn, computer generated, or
pictures of 3D objects. The broad purpose of the Junior Animator’s role is to create
animated assets and content, by producing the motions, gestures, expressions and
performance of two or three dimensional characters and inanimate objects.
This is a junior level role, in their daily work, an employee in this occupation works
closely with the Animator, Animation Lead, Supervisor and Director, along with
clients and team members. They must be able to take direction and feedback, in
order to create the actions of their animated character, according to the story and the
director's wishes. To support this, they must also be able to interpret a storyboard
and any character layout/scene planning that has been done in advance.An
employee in this occupation will be responsible for animating characters or scenes.
The junior animator should have an excellent knowledge of timing and spacing within
the story being animated and have excellent drawing skills. Using model sheets, and
any given reference material, they will be able to visualise the
character/object/creature in any number of poses, and stage the
character/object/creature effectively according to the layout/scene plan.

Junior Animators must also know and understand how characters develop, and their
role in that development, the principles of anatomy and how these affect movement,
shot construction and composition, shot breakdown and continuity. They must also
be aware of the brand guidelines, design or subject matter of the animation being
created.They are a highly creative individual who must be able to focus on their own
work for long periods, but also be able to work in collaboration within a team. The
Junior Animator should understand their place within the production workflow
process, and be able to organise their animation files and filing system accordingly.
They should be able to use the equipment required of a given project, learn and
keep up-to-date with animation software, and be able to use traditional techniques
such as hand drawn as required. They should be able to export their work for review,
and to work within a given schedule. This role may include out of hours or irregular
working patterns when collaborating on international projects.

Source: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/junior-
animator/

Job Role: Junior VFX artist (generalist)

Summary: This occupation is found in the British and International visual effects
(VFX) industries, providing digital content for film, television, advertising, corporate
and immersive reality industries. VFX companies and studios vary in size and the
number of employees they have, and are described as small, medium or large
companies. They are to be found across England and the UK. The output and remit
of a VFX studio is varied, and they will produce work for a range of clients across
advertising, film, television and immersive reality. Some studios specialise in one
area, particularly feature films which is the largest area of the industry.
VFX is the term used to describe any imagery created, altered, or enhanced for
moving media. This involves the integration of live-action footage and computer
generated (CG) imagery to create images, which look realistic but would be
dangerous, costly, or simply impossible to capture during live-action shooting such
as explosions, car crashes or flooding of cities. The broad purpose of the occupation
is to select and use relevant 3D software to create visually engaging motion
graphics, animations or images (assets). This sometimes involves working with two-
or three-dimensional models. The animations and graphics they create are
stylistically consistent and enhance the visual style of their work. In some cases, a
sequence might be entirely computer generated with no live action background
elements.
The Junior VFX Artist (Generalist) needs a thorough understanding of 3D camera
principles such as lenses, distortion and parallax.The Junior VFX Artist (Generalist)
work out the coordinates and the movement of the physical camera and/or objects in
a live action shot; they must be able to track cameras and objects quickly and
effectively.
The Junior VFX Artist (Generalist) need to be able to deliver work within established
project targets and timelines, and to the high-quality standards of their company and
clients. They may also support and advise other artists with their tracking tasks. They
may also be required to work on visualising complex scenes in a 3D animation (pre-
viz, the 3D equivalent of a storyboard) before moving on to the more detailed parts of
the process. The motion files/assets created (camera, object or body track) need to
be integrated into the VFX workflow pipeline and within the organisational
requirements for organising, storing and retrieving assets. In their daily work, an
employee in this occupation interacts with engineers, designers and team leads,
other visual effects teams, their supervisor and/or the client. This is a junior level
role, and the line management and reporting structure of the team will vary according
to the size of the employer. They must be able to take direction and feedback, in
order to create the effects required, according to the story being created, the
VFX/CG Supervisor and the Director's wishes. An employee in this occupation will
be responsible for:
• managing their own workload with the VFX production team and/or their lead,
generating the required work on time, to meet the brief of the supervisor/client,
• attending dailies/review sessions in order to gain feedback on their work and
respond appropriately to that feedback,
• working within the particular workflow pipeline/toolset of the company that they are
working for
• working effectively in collaboration with clients, colleagues, partners and suppliers
in the VFX industry to ensure that the CG elements are seamlessly incorporated into
the shot
• using innovative approaches to solve problems and ensure VFX assets are
delivered in line with production requirements

The Junior VFX Artist (Generalist) should understand their place within the
production workflow process and the importance of this and being able to organise
their VFX outputs using appropriate storage processes and systems; it is usually a
studio based role.

Source: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/junior-
vfx-artist-generalist/
Job Role: Junior 2D artist
Summary:
Level 4

Visual effects (VFX) is the term used to describe any imagery created, altered, or
enhanced for moving media. They involve the integration of live-action footage and
computer generated imagery to create images, which look realistic but would be
dangerous, costly, or simply impossible to capture during live-action shooting.Junior
2D artists are responsible for assisting the senior visual effects artists by preparing
elements for use in the final VFX shot. This will include:

-creating mattes (masking areas of the live action footage) by roto-scoping

(tracing around objects in the frames) and keying (isolating areas of
blue/green screen in the live action footage) to allow all elements of the scene
to be layered convincingly by a compositor
-removing erroneous objects within the live action footage, such as
camera/lighting equipment and safety stunt wires and rigs
-producing simple composites (combining live action elements and computer
generated imagery to create a shot that looks as if it was captured at the
same time by a single camera). These simple composites could be for
editorial purposes for test screenings of the film and will be replaced by an
experienced compositor or they could be used in the final film for simple VFX
shots.

Junior 2D artists utilise artistic knowledge in areas such as composition and colour in
addition to accepted industry standard compositing software and operating systems.
They are expected to work well within a team and to be good communicators and
problem solvers.

Upon successful completion of their apprenticeship the individual will typically

progress to become a compositor and may eventually become a 2D or VFX
Supervisor. Junior 2D artists will typically be employed by a range of small to large
post-production companies servicing the British and International Film, Television
and Commercial industries. They will usually be based in an office environment
working on television commercials, television series and feature films.

Source: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/junior-
2d-artist-visual-effects/

Job Role: Broadcast And Media Systems Technical Operator

Summary:
A Broadcast and Media Systems Technical Operator supports the delivery of
broadcast and communication services; these could be television or radio
programmes, podcasts, and internet streaming services, pay-per-view or
downloadable content. They will work within a team reporting to the Team
Leader/Shift Leader, providing support to both Production Crew and Broadcast and
Media Systems Technicians and Engineers, to ensure studio and web broadcast
services and transmissions are consistently maintained without impact to live
broadcasts.
Their workplace could be located in a broadcast or operations centre, as part of
TV/Radio studio operations, or, on an Outside Broadcast operation, at customer
premises, or outdoors on transmission sites. They will need to ensure that working
environments and areas are safe from hazards and that specific risks are identified
and reported, and that the required equipment is safe to use both on site and off site.

They will typically work for a production company, broadcaster or media services
supplier, or a broadcast equipment supplier/manufacturer. Due to the nature of the
role, they may be required to work unsocial hours.

Key duties for the Broadcast and Media Systems Technical Operator role
include:

-Being able to use industry specific software tools and broadcast equipment;

-Managing media and file assets, ensuring the integrity and security of file based
content from cyber attacks; ensuring all assets are safe and secure.

-Preparing the technical assembly and setting up for broadcast and communications;
such as adding subtitles or audio descriptions to programmes, or preparing and
operating in studio environments. This may include assessing/receiving audio, video
and data contributions from external sources via satellite, e.g. another studio or
interviewees home, or from internal sources such as studios and edit stations; and
the manipulation of the audio and video content to meet broadcast specifications;

-Fault finding and problem solving, and knowing when, how and who to escalate
faults to as required;

-Monitoring and maintaining consistent transmission/broadcast in line with Service

Level Agreements or organisational targets.

Source: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/
broadcast-and-media-systems-technical-operator/