Job roles in the TV & Film industries

The available job roles are many and varied in terms of both duties, responsibilities, length of time they will be required, types of contract and amounts they get paid.

Below are a selection of job roles that demonstrate this range and variety:

Runner 

Responsibilities: Are essential and varied but can be menial, such as making drinks for other people, cleaning up sets and green rooms and general administration such as photocopying.  However it can also be interesting, such as meeting and greeting important guests and TV/movie stars.

Runners can be involved in either the pre-production, actual production or pre-production.

Salary: Can be free of charge, e.g., on an internship, to gain experience and/or make contacts or can be hourly paid.

Video Editor

Using computer technology, TV editors mix video footage and add music, sound effects, and audio when necassary.

here is a job advert for a video editor role from mandy.com  

Salary: piece work and  fixed term

Paid £400 per video (3 days) Video editing needed for Higher Education marketing videos. 3 days' editing required per video, there are up to 10 available videos to allocate. The requirement includes a full edit cycle, including colour grade and sound design I'm looking for applicants who are Video Editors as their sole occupation, as opposed to Video Production all-rounders. You will have lots of corporate video production experience and will be proficient in the use of Adobe Premiere Pro. Please send examples of your work that are relevant to this job

Presenter / Script Editor

A presenter introduces/ hosts the program / public event, also some presenters double as an actor in some broadcasts. A Script editor is someone who writes a script for a  film, or broadcast. They prepare stories, plots instructions and dialogues. They also create the characters for the film etc. A script editor is very important as without a script editor there is no production.

Salary:

Paid £30,000 pa + car Duration: Permanent and Full time position  The Presenter Part: A broadcast presenter is the public face, or voice, of PSA programmes broadcast on the internet. Their role is always to entertain and inform their audiences by presenting in an accessible and engaging way. The Script Writer Part: You will be required to deliver scripts on time, in the specified format, and to the agreed length. Skills and knowledge • Excellent communication and presentation skills; • Performance skills with a good and clear voice; • Ability to generate original ideas; • Personable; • Motivation • Self-belief with a confident manner • A broad range of interests, including current affairs; • Good research and interviewing skills; • Confidence and the ability to sell yourself; • Excellent personal presentation • Excellent organisational and time management skills • The ability to take the initiative and make quick decisions • Team-working skills; • Creativity and problem-solving skills • Passport holder • Driving licence

Production Co-ordinator / Assistant Manager

 A producer will be needed as they play a vital role within the television and film industry. A producer will overses the whole project from start to finish to make sure that everything runs sommthly. They will also be involved of the marketing and distribution of the project. Producers work closely wth the director and some other production staff working on the set.

Description: To provide assistance and report back to the producer and project manager. Pay: £72 per day plus travel expenses and catering. Part Time: 2 days from 10am - 6pm each day

Camera Operator

                                      These are people that are professional camera operators and  physically control camera equipment both in studio and on location for film. 

The ideal candidate will be confident, and have hands on experience in camera, sound and lighting.

Part time - for 2 days from 9 to 5 each day.

Pay: £700 plus expenses (travel & refreshments).

Lead Rigger

The main responsibility of a lead rigger is to direct and coordinate the setting up and dismantling of all background sets and for their maintenance and repair if/as required, all in accordance with stringent health  safety requirements and with the project plan/schedule.

Key aspects of the role include to assess the work being done on rigs by others and provide relevant and accurate feedback where and when required in order to maintain quality of characters.

There is also an expectation for the Lead to be actively involved, in conjunction with the supervisor, in advancing the general work standards of the studio.

The role also requires close liaison with the rigging supervisor to assess upcoming project requirements and also other department leads to ensure character assets adhere to quality and technical specifications.

Pay: Depending on experience between £24,000 - £38,000

Contract: Fixed term

Fixed Term Contracts are used when a specific person or persons is/are required to perform a specified task within a specified time period.  For example, the completion of a script for a film or TV programme by a set finish date or covering for an employee who is on long-term sickness or maternity leave, e.g., a receptionist or administrator.

A freelance worker is a person who is self-employed and is not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. He/she may be a specialist area required for a film or TV programme, e.g., a graphic designer or photographer.

Hourly Rate contracts are generally used when the work involved may be spasmodic throughout the duration of a set project, for instance when an actor may only be required in a single scene or a few parts of the film.

Piece work: Is where a person is paid a lump sum for a specific task. For example, a sound editor may be paid for each individual piece of audio work.

Shift Work: Is where the job will entail more than the standard amount spent working, e.g., 24 hour surveillance of the set by trained security staff.