ROLES IN THE TELEVISION & FILM INDUSTRY

MANAGEMENT ROLES• Management roles can be found within many different sectors of the media industry,

managing in any industry always involves leading a group of people to achieve a desired goal. It is the managers job in whatever sector that the desired task or goal is completed efficiently and to a high standard. However managers do not tend to control what happens on set, this is left to the Director(s)/Producer(s).

• Relevant Roles:

• -Account Managers

• -Catering Managers

• -Transport Managers

• -Production Managers

• -Casting Managers

• -Location Managers

• -Health & Safety Managers

• -Distribution Managers

PRODUCTION MANAGERS• Production managers carry out a range of roles while overseeing the project. Including the

management of the production budget, making sure the production runs smoothly for the producer and line producer, scheduling shoots and negotiating hire of equipment and crews.

• They’re responsible for all of the ‘below-the-line’ budget, which involves costs relating to the crew and all of the practicalities of running a production.

• During pre-production they will work with the producer(s), line producer(s) and first AD (assistant director) to prepare a provisional schedule and draft budgets.

• After they have agreed on a budget it is then necessary for the production manager to help the producers recruit crew and suppliers. Negotiating rates of pay and conditions of employment. Also arranging the renting and purchase of any production materials and supplies.

• Overseeing the search for locations is also the task of the production manager, signing releases and liaising with authorities and the police regarding permits. On small shoots they may also contact casting agencies and negotiate contracts.

• In production, production managers keep track of all bills and ensure that the team is working well. They control spending and do a lot of paperwork. While also liaising with the first AD to ensure the production schedule and budgets are on track.

CREATIVE ROLES• Creative members of the industry are responsible for setting the scene, making sure all aspects of the

project are realistic to the audience. They are pretty much responsible for making sure the film or show maintains the feel and mood that it has set out to achieve.

• Relevant Roles:• -Creative Director

• -Creative Casting

• -Hair & Make-up/Hairdressing

• -Creative Performers

• -Music Artists

• -Prop maker/Prop managers/Prop designers

• -Screenwriters/Script editors

• -Lighting/Light operators/Gaffers/Best boy

• -Creative Producer

• -Construction managers/Model makers

• -Costume Designers/Costume makers

• -Camera Operator/Assistant

HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTHair and makeup artists’ main roles are to create makeups and hairstyles to meet the set production requirements, to oversee all hair and makeup continuity throughout filming and to work to a makeup and hair designer’s brief.

Makeup and hair artists are employed throughout pre-production and production, they typically work on a freelance basis. Hair and makeup is key to the overall design and look of the production, hair and makeup can help portray social class, time periods and any other elements for the desired illusion.

Generally hair and makeup artists will be directed by hair and makeup designers who will provide them with detailed notes with breakdowns of the scenes and characters. These will sometimes include pictures to give the artists a better idea of what’s expected. They work on principal and supporting actors, usually tending to several actors (each) and being responsible for the continuity of their look.

Sometimes principal actors have their own personal hair and makeup artist. This artist will still receive a brief from the designers but will prepare their own script breakdown and research their own designs.

Hair and makeup artists typically take it upon themselves to check if the actors have any skin conditions, scalp conditions or allergies. If so these are dealt with sensitively and taken into consideration. Artists must also carry out risk assessments and develop their own procedures to minimalise and control risks. They also set and dress wigs and hairpieces, and work with facial hair and false pieces like beards/moustaches. Special effects makeup like grazes/cuts/bruises/bald scalps may also be utilised/performed when appropriate.

EDITORIAL ROLES• Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible and film that is used

to convey information via processes of correction, condensation, organisation and other alterations in various media. Editing is carried out with the intention of producing a correct and consistent final output. Keeping in touch and considering the desired style and mood decided by the producers and directors.

• Relevant Roles:• -Editor

• -Post Production Supervisor

• -Assistant Editor

• -Second assistant editor

• -Trainee Editor

• -Title Designer

EDITORThe job of the editor is to craft the daily rushes into a coherent whole. Ensuring that the story flows from beginning to end, carefully picking each shot and editing them into a series of scenes, which eventually will make up the final film/episode.

The editor works closely with the director, is recruited by the producer, and himself is responsible for the assistant editors and on bigger productions, second assistants and also trainees. An Editor is the head of the post production department.

He works closely with the director even before the shooting begins to decide how to maximise the potential of the project. They check the technical standards as well as emerging a sense of story.

Editors don’t always work with the footage in chronological order, this is because scenes are not always shot in sequence. Therefore the editor must have a good ability to maintain the storyline and flow despite sometimes having to work backwards or in an unorthodox order.

Similarly to pre production and production, when post production comes the editor still works closely with the director. Refining the assembly edit into the directors cut, this has to be approved by the producers, until they achieve a picture lock or a fine cut.

During the subsequent music, sound mixing and track laying process editors typically perform a supervisory role.

TECHNICAL ROLES• Technical roles involve making sure all technology in and around the set is functioning

and setup correctly. Including all cameras, lighting and sound equipment. They work closely with the directors. They are considered a vital part of the film and television process as technology is such a vital part of creating video (and audio) and is therefore vital to any project.

• Relevant Roles:• -Transmission Engineer/Vision Mixer (Studio/Broadcasting (Television))

• -Sound Mixer/Boom Operator (Sound production)

• -Sound Designer/Music Editor (Sound post production)

• -Camera Operator/Script Supervisor (Camera)

• -Lighting Operator/Best Boy (Lighting)

LIGHTING DIRECTORLighting Director is the most senior role in the lighting department. It’s their job to use the script or instructions from the production team to create the specific look required for each shot using different types of lighting.

Lighting adds an awful lot to the look of the video, making it a key creative and technical role. Lighting Directors work closely with the other members of the lighting department, including the Lighting Console Operator, Senior Electrician (or Gaffer) and the other electricians.

On single camera productions it is really only necessary to have one lighting operator, but on larger projects a Gaffer may be appointed to assist.

Lighting directors have to prepare extensively before recording days so that they’re fully ready and the lighting is perfect when it comes to the shoot. They read through the script thoroughly and often attend organised planning meetings with the Director(s) and all heads’ of departments, discussing in detail the logistics of the production.

Lighting Directors may also decided to prepare a lighting plan, this provides information about positioning/type and colour of the lights being used.

RESEARCH ROLES• Research roles in the industry generally involve searching for relevant or helpful

knowledge to the project in which the researcher is working on. Working closely with the directors to ensure they are looking in the right areas for the information that is needed for the other professionals to carry out their jobs better, and to ensure that the production is as accurate and well done as it can be.

• Relevant Roles:• -Research Manager/Assistant

• -Location Manager/Assistant/Researcher

• -Music/sound researchers/Supervisors

• -Casting director/assistant

• -Prop master

CASTING DIRECTORCasting Directors have the job of organising the casting (selection of actors) for all of the roles in a production. They do this by arranging and conducting interviews and auditions with potential cast, then following up by negotiating fees and contracts with the actors that end up getting the parts. They also work very closely with the Directors and Producers to help them understand what’s expected of them and what to look for in actors.

The Casting Director must take a number of things into consideration whilst judging potential actors:

-The Actors’ experience

-The Actors’ ability

-The Actors’ reputation

-The Actors’ availability

-The Actors’ box office appeal

Because of all these different variables it is extremely important that as a Casting Director you should have a great eye for acting talent and an intense amount of knowledge of what it takes to be a good actor.

On larger productions Casting Directors may be responsible for a group of Casting Assistants.

FINANCIAL ROLES• Finance is the science of funds management. The areas of finance are business,

personal and public. Finance often involves loaning, granting or saving money. Working with finance in the TV & Film industry would involve the management of the projects funds and making sure it is spent appropriately and efficiently.

• Relevant Roles:• -Finance Manager/Assistant

• -Sales Agent

• -Accounts/Manager/Assistant/Key assistant accounting

• -Publicity Manager/Assistant/Unit Publicist

ORGANISATIONAL ROLES• Organisational roles require a natural ability to manage people, objects or multiple

projects. They are generally responsible for making sure the project goes to plan and the deadline is met. They are also responsible of the positioning of people and items and ensure that everyone has a job to carry out on set or with the production.

• Relevant Roles:• -Transport Manager/Assistant/Captain

• -Location Manager/Assistant

• -Casting Director/Assistant

• -Unit Publicist/Stills photographer

ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES• Administration can be defined as the universal process of organizing people and

resources efficiently so as to direct activities toward common goals and objectives.

• Relevant Roles:• -Accounts Administration

• -Casting Administration

• -Health & Safety

• -Locations Administration

• -Transport & Catering