UNDERSTANDING THE T.V. AND FILM

INDUSTRYJOB ROLES IN THE INDUSTRY

• Development - the writing, packaging and financing of film ideas and scripts.• Production - the process of setting up and shooting every scene in a film.• Post Production - where all these shots are assembled, treated and mixed into a finished product.• Distribution - the process of selling this product to audiences, via the cinemas, retailers and rental firms.• Exhibition - the cinemas which screen the film for the general public.

The Film Industry Divides Itself Into Five Sectors:

• There are literally hundreds of different jobs in the UK film industry, each one requiring a unique combination of specialist skills.

• The majority of these roles are found within the film production sector, and production crews are divided into standard departmental hierarchies.

• Each department has definite tasks and allotted objectives at particular stages in the production process.

The first decision that faces anyone wanting to work in film production is actually: which department do I want to work in?

Accounts, Art Department, Camera, Casting, Construction, Costume, Direction, Distribution, Editing and Post Production,

Exhibition, Hair and Make-up, Lighting, Locations, Music, Performing, Sound Post Production, Sound Production, Production

Office, Props, Script, Publicity, Transport.

These are Just Some of The Roles

Pre-Production

The business of filmmaking starts and finishes with the work of the Producers and of the Production Department. Without the strenuous

efforts of these dynamic individuals there would be no films and no film industry. It is their role to foster a protected environment in which creative

individuals can be brought together, and in which their talents may be cultivated.

Production Department

• Executive Producer

• Co-Producer

• Line Producer

• Production Co-ordinator

• Assistant Production Co-ordinator

• Producer

• Associate Producer

• Producers Assistant

• Production Manager

• Production Runner or Production Assistant

Film Production is a complex business which effectively requires the setting up, running, and closing-down of a substantially sized organisation, solely for the purpose of producing a single film.

Therefore, those who work in the Production Department must be highly motivated, multi-tasking individuals, who have the creative

vision, the business acumen, and the single-minded determination to do whatever it takes to see that the film is made to the best of

everyone’s abilities.

Production

Within the film industry, the Direction department is a subset of a larger occupational group referred to as 'Production'.

Film Director

The Director is the driving creative force in a film's production, and acts as the crucial link between the production, technical

and creative teams.

• Screenwriter

• First Assistant Director

• Second Assistant Director

• Third Assistant Director

• Script Supervisor*

• Runner or Floor Runner

Perhaps the best known role within the Direction department is that of Director, the person who is ultimately responsible for the creative vision and overall style of a feature film. Within this department, the Director is also supported by a number of Assistant Directors, who ensure that the Director's artistic ambitions are achieved during the filming process by

providing logistical, organisational and time-management support.

Other roles in the Direction department include the Script Supervisor* (who oversees the continuity and editability of each sequence as it is shot). The

most junior role is that of Runner, which encompasses a wide range of general support duties, and which is also conventionally accepted as the entry-level position within not only the Direction department, but within

the film Production sector as a whole.

Good cinematography involves the creation of beautiful and/or arresting images on screen; it can also tell us more about a

character or a location than any amount of dialogue or music. Shot composition, camera movement and the way a Director of

Photography (DoP) chooses to manipulate light and shade, all combine to create each film's unique photographic signature.

Camera

Script Supervisor*, 1st Assistant Camera, Camera Trainee, Aerial Director of Photography, Aerial Camera Assistant, Grip, Video Assist Operator, Director

of Photography, Camera Operator, 1st Assistant Camera, 2nd Assistant Camera, Loaded, Digital Imaging

Technician (DIT), Data Wrangler, Steadicam Operator, Motion Control Operator, Video Split/Assist Operator

A great deal of thought, preparation and hard work is involved in moving and operating cameras in ways that enhance, and do not detract from, what is happening on screen. Camera crews work with extremely delicate, expensive equipment and are amongst the most highly skilled

practitioners on any film crew. They work closely together to create seemingly invisible camera moves.

Post Production is the term for the final stage in film making in which the raw material (shot by the Camera crew and recorded by the

Production Sound crew) is edited together to form the completed film.

Post Production

• Post Production Supervisor

• Titles Designer

• Editor

• Assistant Editor

• 2nd Assistant Editor

Post Production is the term for the final stage in film making in which the raw material (shot by the Camera crew and recorded by the

Production Sound crew) is edited together to form the completed film. The processes involved in Post Production include: picture editing, sound editing, composing and recording the score, music editing, adding visual special effects, adding audio sound effects such as

Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR), Foley (Post-synchronised sound effects), sound design, sound mixing, colour grading, titles

design, and negative cutting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fIxjM0Qzrs

How to get a Job?

The Big Players for Employment

• The large organisations in film are the screen agencies and the British Film Institute (BFI). However, most people work for production companies such as Pathé UK, BBC

Films and DNA Films. The Film Distributors' Association has details of film distribution companies. One of the big players in film production is Pinewood Studios Group, which includes Pinewood, Shepperton and Teddington Studios. In animation, big

players include Aardman, Blue Zoo and The Moving Picture Company.

Resources for Work Experience/Internship OpportunitiesVInspired http://www.vinspired.com Volunteer opportunities for 16-25 year olds

4talent http://4talent.channel4.com A number of exciting initiatives for those with no experience to learn more about Channel 4 and the media industry

Broadcast graduate http://www.broadcastgraduate.com Graduate vacancy site for the media, broadcasting and creative industries. Internship and graduate positions in several areas, from production to more technical roles. Also, case studies and careers advice.

Production Base http://www.theknowledgeonline.com This site contains listings and contact details for organisations and companies involved in the broadcasting, television, video and commercial production industry. There is also a diary which lists film festivals and other relevant events and their weblinks and an industry contacts list featuring both UK and international companies.

Working Title Action http://www.workingtitlefilms.com/action Working Title Films' ACTION! Programme invites talented individuals seeking a career in film to apply for one-year internships at their London office working with their creative development and production teams.

General Careers Info & Networking Opportunities British Board of Film Classification

• BBFC: http://www.bbfc.co.uk An independent, non-governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/ DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.

• IMDB: http://www.imdb.com An international database of films.

• My First job In Film: http://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/development This site is designed to be used by the entire UK Film Industry to promote themselves to the best new talent

• Shooting People: http://www.shootingpeople.org The international networking organisation dedicated to the support and promotion of independent filmmaking.

• Your creative future: http://www.yourcreativefuture.org.uk This site provides information on a range of creative occupations and industries. By following the link for the area of interest you can access details on what it's like to work in, interviews with professionals and a list of useful links, books or magazines.

• UK Film Council http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org Government-backed lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. Mainly useful for background information on the industry.

• Bfihttp://bfi.org.uk/ The British Film Institute promotes the funding, making and distribution of British films in the UK. Gives information on films made in Britain and works with the lottery to promote and fund new film makers.

• British Council Arts http://film.britishcouncil.org/ The British Council Film Department promotes contemporary and innovative UK film to audiences around the world, working in both lead and supporting roles on showcases, workshops, festivals, conferences, tours, residences and virtual projects

• Skillset Film http://www.skillset.org/film A new film website for everyone working or wanting to work in the UK film industry Documentary Filmmakers Group http://www.thedfg.org National organisation working to promote documentary filmmaking talent and innovation in the UK.

Being self-employed or working as a freelancer is a common thing in the media industry. However, it can be difficult to become established, as the sector is

competitive and you have to be prepared to deal with changes in the industry. According to Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media about a quarter

of freelancers have too much work, while most 'get by' and a small proportion struggle to get any work at all. Networking is crucial in this line of work and may mean the difference between being a successful freelancer or being out of work.

You can gain initial experience through work placements, competitions, undertaking a qualification with an in-built period of work experience and

developing your own portfolio relevant to the area of work you wish to enter. Subsequent work is dependent on ability and contacts.

Self Employed

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