Job roles in Film Production

Pre-production

Job Role
Screenwriter
Responsibilities
Screen writers write and develop screenplays for film and tv shows. This is done by creating
their own plan or adding to an existing one to make it into a screenplay. Screen writers
prepare their scripts in a way that will work on scene making sure that the screenplay shows
emotion and drama. Screenwriters work with producers,directors and actors to improve their
script and re-draft the script if needed. Screenwriters often work to tight deadlines.
Screenwriters normally work as freelancers. In film the Screenwriter produces 3 drafts of the
same screenplay the 3rd draft is known as the polish this version gets shown to the
producers or a film studio. If a screenplay is picked more Screenwriters may be brought on
the project and work with a development producer to get ready for production. Sometimes
the original screenwriter may be credited in the film but they may be replaced by another
screen writer.

Job Role
Casting assistant
Responsibilities
Casting assistants help with finding the right actor to fit certain roles in a film or tv show.
They are normally listed as a freelancer although they can be hired on a permanent basis
within busier casting offices. Casting directors are responsible to find an actor that fits the
role and is within the film productions budget.casting assistants help with this although their
role can vary depending on the budget and scale of the production. Casting assistant read
the script to help cast the right actor for the production. The casting assistant will call the
agents of actors that they think will fit the role of a character in the production. They will also
help out with screen tests operating the camera and general help with general office duties.
A casting assistant must have excellent computer skills as using computers is a large part of
the job.

Job Role
Producer
Responsibilities
Producers are at the heart of production. They often get involved in spotting creative
opportunities for a production. They are the overall decision makers. Directors will come up
with story ideas and hire writers and secure the scripts. This is known as optioning a script.
They also decide on the scale of the production and what the budget is going to be. They
also find investors that are able to fund the production. Furthermore producers spot
problems in the production process and quickly resolve them. They also find suitable
locations to film and hire staff to help with the production. Producers constantly communicate
with everyone to make sure that everything is running smoothly.
 Production

Job Role
Floor runner
Responsibilities
Floor runners are responsible to help in any way they can during a shoot; they provide food
and drink,run any errands that are needed,relay messages throughout the production team
and deliver things to set. Floor runners travel from base to set; they help cast members with
getting to the unit cars and the crew getting to the minibuses. They also deal with crowds by
controlling them to keep everyone safe and controlled. A floor runner has to be quick on their
feet to deal with certain situations and to be able to come up with solutions to solve
problems.

Job Role
Production coordinator
Responsibilities
A production coordinator is responsible for running the production office. They have to make
sure that the production process is going smoothly and there are as little problems as
possible. Production coordinators are in charge of what goes on with the phones,photocopier
and paperwork. Production coordinators start work during the pre production they set up the
production office they organise equipment and staff. They organise the travel and
accommodation for the cast and crew. They also provide shooting schedules. During
production Production coordinators are responsible for updating and distributing crew
lists,progress reports and script changes. As the shoot draws to a close Production
coordinators help the production manager to finish the production they close accounts with
suppliers and tie up any loose ends.

Job Role
Directors
Responsibilities
Directors lead the production; they are responsible for all of the creativity that is put into a
production. They are employed by the executive producer or producer who is in charge of
the production. Directors start with a script and work with the screen writers and it is not
uncommon for the director to be a screenwriter as well. They also work with casting directors
to find the right actors for the roles in the film or tv show. They also work with the director of
photography to develop a filming style. The director will also tell the actors what to do and
when to do it. The director is able to change a scene if they need to as it may fit the storyline
better. The director tells the camera crew where to position the cameras to get the best
angle for filming. A director will also instruct the wardrobe and lighting crews on what to do to
make sure that the production can be the best it can.

Post-production

Job Role
Editor
Responsibilities
The editor is responsible for editing together different clips to make a whole scene. Scene
tend not to be sent to the editors in order so sometimes editors can find themselves editing
different parts of a film at different times during the pre-production. The editor works closely
with the director to decide how the script is going to look. When filming starts the editors
make sure that the story is going the way it should. They check the scenes after every
recording to make sure that every scene is as it should be. During post production the editor
and director will work closely and select the best scenes that have been recorded for the
director's cut which will then be shown to to the producers and if it is good enough it will be
added to the film
Job Role
Subtitler
Responsibilities
The subtitler includes subtitles in film so they can be enjoyed by everyone. They translate
dialogue into different languages for audiences around the world. They translate
dialogue,music and sound so that the emotion and drama can be understood by all
audiences. To do their job a subtitler has to watch the whole movie from start to finish so that
they can put the correct subtitles in the correct places. After they have put the subtitles in
they must check for spelling mistakes and correct them before the film's release. They also
have to position the subtitles in the correct places making sure that they are not in the way of
any of the characters' faces. Subtitlers are usually hired by post production companies.
Job Role
Colourist
Responsibilities
A colourist is responsible for making each scene look visually appealing; they do this by
changing the colours in different scenes to make them more vibrant and to make them stand
out more. They work with the director and photography department to decide what the
colours are going to look like in each scene. Scenes are normally shot with a digital camera
in raw format which means information about a colour is captured but it is not shown until
colour is applied.the colourist has to perfect each scene so it looks the best as it can be to
help the film look more appealing. This is known as grading. When the colourist receives a
scene they colour it under the supervision of the director who is there to make sure that
everything is ok with how a scene looks.

Sources: https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/browse/film-and-tv-drama/
 Entry level jobs for film in media

Job Role
Post production Technical operator
Details
Location not specify and company not specified £9000 apprenticeship
Responsibilities and summary

● Work effectively as part of a team, supporting colleagues to deliver the clients final
vision
● Preserve and create video content
● Support creative colleagues in the editing suit
● Support creative colleagues in picture and sound finishing suits
● Perform quality control assessments and report on the technical qualities of the film
created
● Conform to Health and Safety policies

Source
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/post-production-
technical-operator/

Job Role
Content Creator

Details
Location is not specified company not specified £10000 apprenticeship
Responsibilities and summary

Duty 1 Plan and develop creative content in line with the brief and budget/costs.
Duty 2 Interpret the strategy and objectives of the brand and align these to the content.
Duty 3 Research, prepare and develop the media messaging to maximise audience
engagement.
Duty 4 Develop and create written content that can be used across a variety of media.
Duty 5 Create visual and audio content that can be used across a variety of media.
Duty 6 Store content securely and methodically to enable efficient access and retrieval.
Duty 7 Collaborate with colleagues and clients to plan and align content delivery with
business objectives.
Duty 8 Manage content online using appropriate tools and techniques.
Duty 9 Evaluate the effectiveness of the content produced against the original plan and
recommend improvements.
Duty 10 Undertake continuous professional development to keep up-to-date with trends
and technology.
Source
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/junior-content-
producer/

Job Role
Production assistant

Details
Location is not specified company not specified £9000 apprenticeship
Responsibilities and summary

Duty 1 Interpret a creative brief, scope, evaluate and develop production ideas.
Duty 2 Assist in the development of content and/or production assets.
Duty 3 Contribute to the production process, monitoring budgets and resources and
adapting to operational changes as required.
Duty 4 Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to plan and develop
productions.
Duty 5 Maintain production documentation and/or programme logs.
Duty 6 Research, identify and suggest resources, logistics and equipment taking into
consideration constraints.
Duty 7 Provide technical support to colleagues for audio and visual productions.
Duty 8 Edit production content to meet production requirements.
Duty 9 Reflect on the production and offer ideas for continuous improvement.
Duty 10 Review your own professional practice and keep up-to-date with trends and
technology.

Source
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/broadcast-production-
assistant/