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

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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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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Drawings need to be artistic and communicative more than in architecture work because often they are used as concept approval drawings and because they are used by many differnet trades noty just builders. For example the sculpters may refer to the drawings for brick  style and detailing.

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The Boom Operator, as you can see in this image, operates the sound boom. Often doubling as assistant to the Sound Mixer this is an entry level role into the sound department and also to post production jobs.

Restrictions of the location, background noise, dialogue specifics and wether actors are moving, framing of shot by camera and the movement of the camera all need to be considered by the Boom Operator. Strong steady arms are required for this film job – the restrictions of boom length and cables back to the recording gear are all important to a good boom ‘swing’ as well as continuous concentration. Imagine the frustration of the director when half way through a take the day-dreaming Boom Operator does not respond quickly when the actor moves, or worse allows the boom to droop into shot!

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Information is divided into the categories you see on the top menu bar;

About:

This page you are reading now. All about the site and its aims and philosophy.

Film Production:

This area aims to cover how a film is put together, the different relationships between the people who work on a film and the day-to-day workplace culture within the film industry. The area focuses on the larger issues and groupings that influence film creation and production rather than the individual roles, such as the politics between departments within a ‘shoot’. It will also discuss film schools and production companies.

Film Jobs:

This section covers each job and discusses its individual merits and challenges, the relationships between jobs and the pathways for career development.

Departments:

The same jobs are discussed as with the Film Job section above but in this case the jobs are located within their respective departments and the departments are also looked at; such as lighting, editing, camera, art, production, post production.

Television:

Whilst the site approaches film from the perspective of ‘cinema’, that is making feature films, most of the discussions will have close relevance to TV and industries that utilise film such as games and advertising. This section will develop and study the differences found in television employment.

Writers:

About the main site author, filmographies and biographies of other contributors.

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