Job Roles

1. Runner 

To be a runner is a junior role within the production company, they are to be general assistant, working under the direction of the producer and other production staff. These can be for both TV and film production.

Responsibilities that this type of role includes are;

· Making tea

· Transport of script and any sort of hire equipment

· Taking down messages

· Looking after any guests

· Making sure that everything is ready and in place for shoots

The types of skills and qualifications that are required to enter this type of career route are;

· Able to work calmly while under pressure

· Team working skills

· Excellent management and organisational skills

· Ability to think on your feet

· Physical stamina

· Excellent communication

This type of role pays £15,500 a year ranging from £6.50 to £8.80 an hour, with conditions that can be stressful. Runners work on a freelance basis and are then employees on full-time or even short-term contracts. Working hour depend because broadcasting is a 24hour operation and can often make the runners working six days a week during production. This could be working through nights, weekends and also public holidays.

2. Editor

The job of an editor is to have the responsibility for assembling the raw recorded material into a finished product that is suitable for broadcasting, for both film and TV. The material that could be included is camera footage, sound effects, special effects, dialogue and graphics. This post-production role will push your skills and determine the quality and the delivery of the final product.

The responsibilities that this type of role includes are;
Assembling all raw footage onto preparation for inputting into the computer
Digitally cutting the files to put together the sequence of the film and deciding what is usable

· Creating a 'rough cut' (or assembly edit) of the programme/film

· Reordering and tweaking the content to ensure the logical sequencing and smooth running of the film/video.

It is not required that to have a degree to be a film or video editor, but they need to be able to show commitment and a lot of determination to get into the industry. The types of skills and qualifications that are required to enter this type of career route are;

· Know the software's Avid or Final Cut Pro

· To have patience and concentration

· The ability to work under pressure and to deadlines

· Verbal and written communication skills

This type of role pays from £18,000 to £25,000 as a starting salary with conditions that can be stressful if deadlines are not met. It is also freelance basis, and you would be working on short-term contracts for post-production studios, television companies and corporate employers. Work placement would be permanent, with working hours will be around the standard office hours, but can possibly vary depending on the production.

3. Director

The job of a director is to have the responsibilities for the overall creative interpretation of a script, this is with taking all into account the budgetary and physical constraints for the production.

The responsibilities that this type of role consist of are;

· Adapting scripts when needed

· Translating and interpreting the script

· Organising rehearsals

· Attending production meetings with the set designers

· Holding auditions for the productions

· Helping to publicise the production by giving interviews and leading discussions

The types of skills and qualifications that are required to enter this type of career route are;

· Graduate degree in one of the following

- English literature, drama and theatre, languages, humanities

· Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills

· Team working and time management skills

· Awareness and understanding of technical issues

· To solve problems creatively and practically

· Dedication and enthusiasm

This type of role pays a little over £903 per week. With conditions that can be highly stressful and frustrating, but at the same time can also be rather rewarding. The employment to this job role is usually on a freelance or fixed-term contract biased. The working hours will be similar to long working office hours.

4. Production manager

The production Manager role is to be involved with the planning, coordination and producing a television programme. This role is mainly associated with working within television rather than film. Each duties that this role holds with vary each time from production to production, however they consist of some of the same responsibilities.

The types of responsibilities that this role consists of are;

· Issuing the scripts

· Dealing with the travelling and accommodation bookings for the cast and crew

· Sorting paperwork and any enquiries

· Assisting with the actors and the crew

The types of skills and qualifications that this role requires are;

· To have sound administration and organisational skills

· Ability to cope with last minute changes

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

· To remain calm while under pressure with problem solving

This type of role pays around £14,000 to £16,000 for a starting out salary. The conditions of this type of role can be really demanding, unpredictable and can impact on your life style, with potential of a fair amount of travelling. It is a contracted work placement. The working hours can be irregular, long because of the travelling. Because of this work shifts can go through to the weekend, depending on the production.

5. Location manager

The role of a location manager is to make all of the practical arrangements for film, television or photographic shots that are taking place outside of the studio. Research, identify and organising access to appropriate sites is needed by the location managers as they are made in a wide range of places.

The types of responsibilities that this role requires are;

· Assessing the story boards to understand the location that is required

· Discuss the projects with the director

· Organising permission for access, with location authorities

· Research the location for any disruptions that may cause problems when recording

· Using more than two different sources for the research

The type of skills and qualifications that this role require are;

· Having excellent communication skills

· Ability to solve problems, and to think laterally

· Flexibility and stamina in order to work long hours while under pressure

· Health and safety regulations to be known

This type of roles pay varies widely, this is because it depending on the persons experience and the reputation within the industry to what the type of production is going on. The condition that come with this role is a lot of pressure, in order to get things done by a certain deadlines. It is also a full time temporary contracted work placement as the work is just as freelancers. The working hours for this role can be really long. This is because most of the time these are the people who arrive at the film location or set, first and are then the last to leave which can be long and unsocial.

6. DoP (Director of Photography)

The role of the director of photography is to be taking photographs with a motion picture camera. The decisions they make in order to take the photographs are all regarding lighting, film stock, shot selection, camera operation and other elements. Duties and responsibilities include the work they do before, during and after film production. this type of role is mostly worked alongside with film productions.

The responsibilities that is role require are:

· Making technical decisions related to the image

· Achieving artistic decisions

· Accuracy

· Knowledge of photography and media studies together

The types of skills and qualifications that the role requires are;

· Knowledge of camera equipment

· Industry experience

· Flexible to adapt ideas instantly

· Creative

· Have excellent communication skills

· Have an artistic vision in seeing things

This type of role pays can be allowing them to be earning anything up to and then higher than £48,700. The conditions are stressful at times, but mainly with the accuracy of the images that are to be taken. The work placement for this line of work is constant as it is one of the many major creative roles within the industry, with working hours that go straight through the week and sometimes to the weekend if more time is needed in order to be able to meet the deadlines.

7. Camera operator (studio or portable single)

The role of a camera operator is to be working with digital, electronic and film cameras and produces pictures for the directors. This is done by combining the use of complex technology with creative visual skills. This can be used for television but is mostly used within the producing of films.

The responsibilities of the camera operator are;

· Assembling and setting up the equipment prior to filming,

Tripods, monitors, lighting, cables, leads, headphones, cameras, microphones, etc.

· Advice offering to how the scene should be shot the best

· Planning each shot

· Finding solution to any technique problems efficiently

· Able to drive the crew, actors and various bit of equipment to and from the location.

The types of skills that are needed to be a camera operator are;

· Creativity

· Patience

· Attention to the detail

· Flexibility

· Teamwork

· Ability to work under pressure

· To be able to perform with the camera movements accurately

· To know how to frame and compose shots

· Having knowledge of the sound that needs to be going into the scene

This role often works on a freelance basis, with payments ranging between £210 to £510 working on a 10 day hour contract to make a programme or documentary. The type of conditions that come with this role is stress. This will be because of having to work to tight deadlines, and long waits between shots and repeating 'takes' to have the perfect shots. Woking hours for this are generally quiet long, from 12 to 14 hours a day.. This is also unpredictable and can include evening, weekends and maybe even night shoots.

8. Sound Recordist

The role of a sound recordist is to assemble, operate and to be able to maintain the technical equipment used to record, amplify, mix, enhance or reproduce sound.

The type of responsibly that this role takes on are:

· Recording the sound onto a digital audio tape or hard disk for the records

· Synchronising audio

· Re-recording audio

· Mixing the balance of speech , effects and music together

· Creating altering sound effects for the use of films

The types of qualifications and skills that this requires are;

· Knowledge of music and sound technology

· Sound engineering

· Media production

· Skills to record and edit in studio

· Working for equipment manufacturers

This type of role pays around £16,000 to £18,000 when in an established studio or television and radio studio. The conditions for the role can become stressful at times, s it can involve extensive travel and long periods away from home. It is also a short contracted work placement, for each of the productions that are going on at the time. The average working hours for the sound team is 10 hours, working to the tight deadlines to ensure that the creative process is not then interrupted by anything.

9. Sound assistant
The role of a sound assistant is to begin their career as a trainee of sound and then work there way up to the big sound specialist.

The responsibilities that this role holds are;

· Assist the sound recordist when needed

· Operate the boom and other smaller sound equipment

· Re-record dubbing mixer

· Help with sound effects

· Sound, dialogue and music editor

The skills and qualifications that are needed are;

· To have GCSE and/or A-Levels that have beneficial subjects to the job

· good sense of timing and swift reactions

· Excellent aural skills

· Attention to detail

This type of role pays £16,000 to start with. The conditions here are a lot less stressful than what the sound recordist would be going through. However it can still be stressful having to work to the deadlines efficiently. It is also a contracted work placement while the person is still in the training area. The working hours are still quiet long, being around 10 or more hours.

10. Producer

The role of a producer is to oversee each project from conception to completion and may also be involved within the marketing and distribution process of the completed item. They play an integral role within the television, film and video industries.

The responsibilities that this holds are;

· Fund raising

· Reading, researching ideas and finished scripts

· Commissioning writers

· Controlling the budget

· Holding regular meeting with the director to discuss the current affairs happening within the production

· Acting as a sounding board for the director

The skills and qualifications that are needed for this are;

· Confidence in own ability

· Strong communication and people skills

· creative

· leadership

· A strong head for figures

· Strong resource management skills

· Presentation and pitching skills

This type of role pays around £18,000 to £25,000. The conditions are going to be potentially stressful, as you will need to be highly motivated to succeed. The working hours are going to be long and irregular, with most of your time being spent offices or even meetings.

Bibliography

1. http://www.televisual.com/blog-detail/Who-earns-what-in-TV_bid-261.html
2. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/