Film Jobs Info» assistant

Production Dept.

Shoot — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:49:23 +0000

The Production Department is the glue and the fluid, the engine and the facilitating of any film production, the centre upon which all else depends.

Unit Production Manager / Production Supervisor / Production Co-Ordinator / Assistant Production Co-Ordinator / Accomodation Manager / Accomodation Assistant / Production Secretary / Receptionist / Driver/PA / Producer / Production Runner / Production Assistant / Associate Producer / Production Manager / Producers Assistant / Travel Assitant / IT Support / Administration Assistant / Distribution Clerk / Accounts Liason

Production Assistant

Shoot — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:01:00 +0000

This is the entry level position for the Production side of film making, particularly suitable for those interested in film who are not ‘creatives’. The first distinction to be aware of is between ‘runner’ and ‘assistant’ because, although often these jobs are the same, it is often useful to negotiate when you are hired that you wish to be the assistant and NOT the runner. In fact their is a good case to argue that the Production should hire a ‘Production Runner’ as an assistant to the ‘Production Assistant’ for reasons of efficienca and often they do on bigger jobs. Since the runner is often absent on errands and an ideal ‘assistant’ needs to be on hand within the Production offices.

Whilst the lowest paid within Production, and long hours make this job a hard one it is ideal for those willing to ‘do their time’, since film jobs are contracts and don’t last for ever the best advice is to keep your head down, be pleasant and fun and work very hard. From there you get to make contacts, meet lots of important people and to learn about what other roles and jobs within the department that you would like to progress to. This job title can be used for a broad range of roles – not just as described here – for example I have heard of duties that include child minder to the Producer.

On a day-to-day basis the kinds of things a Production Assistant does might seem menial; filing, photocopying, using phones, data entry, delivering of call-sheets and per-diems, script copying and compiling, office cleaning, meeting preparation – on other days you may be asked to perform stop gap duties on-set such as extras co-ordination or driving actors to locations. If you love movies and have graduated from a film studies course (rather than a film production course) this is a good place to start, alternatively you may have no professional film training, instead desire to develop a career as an office skills/managerial expert – well why not do the same things you would in other companies but within the fascinating are of film production. Perhaps the only reason would be the freelance nature of the work, that is the fact you end up between jobs out of work… but for me this just means nice long holidays! Certainly you will get to move all around the studios, meet and witness the whole process of film production and be constantly inspired and challenged!

Tips:

One of the key skills for this job is to be able to accept crticism even when it is not deserved, often as Production Assistant you will be taking directions from very stressed people with a lot of responsibilty resting on them. If they snap at you because you got a detail wrong you need to be able to not take it personally and to remain calm and efficient – this will stand you in good stead as robust enough to work in stressful postions yourself one day.

Attention to detail: keeping accurate notes of your own expenditure and information management is critical, but additionally staying focussed and attentive to discussions you over hear or are involved with so that you can be a second memory for you immediate superiors. Film Production is a fluid and constantly changing field, decisions are made revised and reversed on the move, and it is easy for a very busy production manager to forget small details. If you can stay attuned to what is happening around you rather than succumbing to chatting about your weeknd, or planning your evening then you will be an ideal Production Assistant.

To increase you chances of being hired over the competition; demonstrate that you have coped well with pressure in past challenges or jobs, learn how to use spreadsheets, know how to prepare basic notices or posters eg Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, do a basic accounting course or teach yourself some software, get a heavy vehicle licsense, do a basic workplace Health and Saftey course appropriate to your country and its laws, join a film club and/or read up on basic film terminology so you understand what you are hearing e.g. ‘call-sheet’, when you are within at the production asking about employment opportunties and Production Assistant Jobs.

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PLEASE HELP DEVELOP THIS FREE INFO SITE: If you work in this film job or have further details I could add to this job description, or if you just wish to comment please use the ‘leave a reply’ space at the very bottom of this page.

Thanks Admin

Property Dept.

Shoot — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:03:07 +0000

Props is short for Properties and refers to ‘hand props’ those small enough to be held, and ‘stage props’ which is objects and dressings more at a furniture scale. Props department takes care of the purchase, manufacture and ‘dressing’ (positioning into set) of props. Props includes all fixtures and hangings such as light switches and curtains, and typically is a huge logistical exercise. The smallest set can demand a huge number of items for its complete dressing and larger outdoor sets can require container loads of props! On top of managing the movement of these, often they require careful return to owners they were hired from, or disposal by sale after the film has been shot. In addition there is continuity to worry about. During the scene actors may move items, which need to be exactly the same locations the for ongoing ‘takes’, some of which may occur on following days or even months later in the case of ‘pick-ups’. The props department is always VERY busy, but the work is some of the most creative and satisfying of all film jobs, and includes On-set and Off-set jobs.

The Head of this Department is the Props Master or Props Supervisor with the Set Dressers the next in seniority as they take resposibility for the look, taking direction from the Production Designer, Art Directors and Props Master. Other jobs which support these people in the prepartion of props for the set, and in the on-set management and adaptation of proprs are;

Boat Builder / Furniture Maker Mold Maker Props Buyer / Props Maker Set Dresser Standby Assistant / Standby Props Sculptor /

Greensperson

Shoot — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:43:49 +0000

The greensperson, traditionally referred to as the ‘greensman’, is the standard position in the Greens department or possibly the only position on a smaller job where greens is part of construction. Key aspects of greensman film jobs are extensive use and manufacture of artificial plants and keeping greenery alive on concrete studio floors under powerful lighting and the threat of the crews tramping all over the plants.

On larger jobs the development of a nursery might be required or the growth and sourcing of crops months in advance. When working on The Last Samurai in New Zealand, the greensperson’s had to plan well in advance for the supply of traditional Japanese apple blossoms and wheat for making thatched rooves. On another production large fields of corn were required for indoor use on a raised platform, and on another fully mature trees are sourced, felled and cast as moulds for the construction of artificial forests indoors over steel armatures. Work can include making swamps, caring for potted plants, moving dirt or supplying drift wood.

The greensperson will typically oversee labourers and assist and consult with other film jobs such as sculptors (who may be carving in polystyrene fake branches) an steel fabricators who are making substructure for a huge tree and require guidance on the proper twists and turns to look authentic.

When on location work may involve the adaptation of existing landscapes or the dressing with greenery of buildings. It may require the removal of planting and care until the restoration so that the location is left in the condition it was found in. A greensman film job is varied and involves more than just greenery, the work extends to other landscape elements such as fences, or road sanding and the ‘greening out’ of unwanted visual elements, particularly on period films – for example a modern satellite dish on an 18th century cottage which will have to be disguised.

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Thanks Admin

Art Department Jobs

Shoot — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:23:20 +0000

The Art Department is often the largest single department of the production, there are many options… it depends what kind of film job you want! The Art Department Manager, Production Designer and Supervising Art Director oversee the team of creative people that includes the sub departments of Greens, Construction, Costume, Set Finishing (Paint) and Props. On smaller productions all these jobs would be included within the art department and all the staff would be based ‘in house’ because there might only be 2-3 Construction and 2 Props people so that their desks can all fit within the one office. On huge productions like King Kong where the art department as a whole reached 300+ people, these form their own sections but they ultimately remain under the leadership of the Art Department. On such jobs the Art Department tends to house just the design roles and art directors whilst all these other departments form their own workspaces and inner structures.

For example on a smaller job the construction crews pay and employment might solely be managed between the Art Dept. Manager and Accounts (or the Art Dept Coordinator if there is no accounts). As the scale of the operation grows Construction will hire their own coordinator or payroll administrator to cope with the huge number of labourers and so on.

The following are the jobs found most typically within the core Art Department all working closely with the Art Director and Production Designer;

Art Department Manager / Art Director / Assistant Art Director / Art Dept. Assistant

Art Dept. Coordinator / Art Dept. Runner / Draftsperson / Graphic Artist

Production Designer / Props Buyer / Researcher / Picture Vehicle Technician

Set Designer / Set Dresser / Story Board Artist / Supervising Art Director

See Also: Greens, Construction, Costume, Set Finishing (Paint), Props.