Film Jobs Info» film industry

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

Set Finishing Dept.

Shoot — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:05:57 +0000

The Set Finishing department, sometimes referred to as ‘paint’, has the last bite of the apple from the Art department, before hand over to more ‘on-set’ orientated jobs like lighting. Calling the department ‘paint’ doesn’t really adequately describe the great range of tasks managed by this group of film jobs. Often there work time is squeezed down by delays and the builders not having completed the substructure. Finishers often tease the Construction Department by saying they ‘merely’ build the canvas upon which the finishers make the set!.

The finishers may create fake stone work from polystyrene, paint effects such as marble or wallpaper, ‘age’ down sets creating weathered timber from new or assist with props and scenic finishing and effects. In some countrys such as England the finishers or scenics fall under the control of the Construction department. This is also typical on smaller productions.

Their are various names for the Head of this Department, the ”Key Scenic’ or ‘Set Finishing Supervisor’, ‘Lead Scenic’ – as often the case it depends on the scale of the job. The term ‘Supervisor’ coming in on larger jobs where the role requires more management of a team of scenics, sculptors, painters and laborers, whereas on a smaller job the same expert would be more hands on and just call themselves ‘scenic’ or ‘key scenic’. Other jobs in this area are;

Key Scenic / Scenic Artist / Brush Hand / Painter / Rock and Foam / Laborer / Runner / Signwriter / Set Finisher / Sculptor / Carver / Paint Runner

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

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 /

Costume Dept.

Shoot — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:57:57 +0000

Well, what can I say?! In my experience one of the lowest paid and hardest working departments is the Wardrobe or Costume Department. The pay is comparable to similar jobs in the non-film world but this is much lower than some other areas of film work like ‘lighting’ or ‘grips’. In most regards the work is structured in the same way as a clothing factory with machinists and milliners, pattern makers and cutters and so on. If you love costumes though don’t be put off, because in making costumes for film you get to work on a much greater range and diversity of types of dress than you would in the ‘real world’. And if you get lucky you might do a private fitting for Orlando Bloom. Again there are ‘On-Set’ roles to develop into such as wrangling the outfits between shots, helping the ‘stars’ get costumed, and on-set repairs. On small jobs you will need to be capable of most of these jobs as you will make costumes, dress actors, repair costumes and so forth.

The Head of the Department is the Costume Designer or Wardrobe Supervisor, who has a hot line to the Director in most cases because typically the Production Designer will not have a Costume Design background. This means they will leave more of the decisionas and ideas for this area to the Costume Designer.

Armourist Best Casual Workroom /Breakdown (wardrobe) / Costume Supervisor / Costume Designer / Costume Designer Assistant / Cutter / Costume Buyer / Dyer / Extras Coordinator Wardrobe / Extras Casting Coordinator / Machinist / Milliner / Printer / Wardrobe Assistant

Greens Dept.

Shoot — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:54:23 +0000

Greens as the name implies deals with nature and plants, but could just as well be called ‘Browns’, as typically the work will involve huge artificial trees made of rubber bark or supplying quantities of dead leaves, driftwood or tussock, and always dirt, dirt, dirt. Jokes aside though, the work here is very challenging and would interest and landscaper or ‘green fingered’ person. Plants are often grown specifically for the shoot and so careful planning weeks in advance is required, when they are used in studio under the very hot lighting keeping them alive and fresh looking becomes a challenge.

When on location the greens department can be called on not just to prepare plants for the set, but behind the scenes they may be managing the protection of existing vegetation. In some countries, particularly in protected areas, film crews can do huge damage to the natural environment and it is becoming increasingly important to leave a location in the same state as when the crew arrived. Thus I have seen whole roads of tussock get removed to nurseries to create access roads, then after production the Greens people will return them exactly to their original sites.

Greensperson / Laborer / Landscaper / Runner /

Construction Dept.

Shoot — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:46:06 +0000

Get into Construction if you wish to build the physical sets and large props. A good fun industry for builders, but with long hours. Be prepared to work from unconventional plans, inconclusive plans where you will have to think creatively (time and constant changes mean plans are often just overviews) or just sketchs. One day you may be on a hill side building a Samurai village from pine and bamboo, the next in studio making repetitive MDF flattage.

Construction has a systematic approach to the shop floor, where it is possible to set out with a trade qualification, and work you way up from Hammer hand through Leading Hand and to Foreman, and Construction Manager. A good all round job with varied work and a nice balance of responsibility is mid way up the ladder leading your own team of several builders to complete your ‘own sets’, leaving hiring, pay and politics to the Art Directors and Construction Managers.

The ideal person who will progress and succeed within film construction is somebody who does not mind creatively working with designers, who often do not have a building or architectural background, helping them reach the outcomes they seek but without getting too pissed off at the constant changes and high or odd expectations. Constructively predicting problems and seeking efficient solutions that don’t compromise the look will always be appreciated by the Art Department designers, and will in the long term open the door to film jobs outside the construction department such as Art Director.

Carpenter / Construction Foreman / Crane Driver / Craft Services / Fitter or Fabricator / Furniture Maker / Hammerhand / Health and Safety Coordinator / Head Cutter / Laborer / Leading Hand / Onset Carpenter / Runner / Steel Fabricator / Sculptor / Welder / Set Finisher / Boat Builder

Live Movies and Interviews

Shoot — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:56:24 +0000

To inspire you, or if you just love to watch online movies here are some randomised student films and how to interviews from Reelgood Tv. Credits appear at the end of each screening.

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.

Film Production

Shoot — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:59:38 +0000

Under Construction