Transcript Jobs in Film Production

Prepared By Craig Cooper
Business and Technology
Teacher
Trabuco Hills High School
Production Location
Santa Monica
Municipal Airport
March 24,2009
“Airport Owners and Pilots
Association” (commercial title)
Featuring actor:
Harrison Ford
Producer:
Marla Friedler
Commercial produced by Marla
Friedler
Professor Chapman
University Dodge
College Film and
Media Arts
CEO Blue Tango
Productions
Focus
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There are many departments involved in
film production and post-production. This
presentation will focus on the film
production and technical positions that can
be prepared for in high school.
Departments
The film production
departments are:
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Production (producer and
assistants involved in
logistics of the shoot)
Camera (director and all
the camera assistants)
Sound (Sound mixer and
all sound assistants)
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Grip & Electric (gaffer and
all the electrical and grip
assistants)
Art (production designer
and all the art assistants)
Wardrobe (stylist and all
the wardrobe assistants)
Hair & Make-up (hair and
make-up professionals
and their assistants)
Production Department Professionals
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Producer
Production Manager
Production Coordinator
Assistant Directors
Script Supervisor
Location Manager/Scout
Production Assistants
Following are the entry-level jobs in the Production Department:
Production Coordinator
This person works under the production manager and producer
and is the liaison between them and the production
assistants. This person also is responsible for putting
together the production books, which contains all the relevant
crew and vendor information.
Skills needed: Computer skills (word, excel), Good
communications skills
Possibilities for advancement: career track to producer position
Work environment: Some office/ some set
Personality needed: Organized, self start
Salary: $200-$400/day
Second Assistant Director/ 2nd AD
Responsible to the 1st AD for preparing and distributing the daily
paperwork, call sheets, production reports, contract, etc. This
individual sees to it that the cast and crew is in the right place at the
right time, maintains the schedule for each shooting day, and selects
positions and directs movements of the extras.
Skills needed: Computer skills (word, excel) with specific knowledge of
all the specific forms used in production (call sheets, shoot
schedules, etc.)
Possibilities for advancement: Career track to 1st AD or Director
Work environment: On set
Personality needed: Organized, people oriented
Salary: $200-$500/day
Script Supervisor
Maintains an accurate shooting script. Details all information related to
each take, including length of shot, scene, and take number, camera
placement, and printable takes, as well as any notations on
dialogue, action, props, set dressing, wardrobe, make-up, and hair
in order to provide continuity during shooting and to facilitate editing.
Skills needed: Detail-oriented, knowledge of camera and directional
terms
Possibility of advancement: Possibly could become and editor
Work environment: On set
Personality needed: ability to take direction and self start
Salary: $300-$600/day
Production Assistant
A production assistant is an entry-level position within the film
industry. This position is responsible for assisting the
producers and the production staff with all aspects of
production. They answer phones, schedule meetings, copy
scripts, and deliver scripts.
Skills needed: Good communication and phone skills, general
knowledge of film production
Possibilities for advancement: Any position on a crew
Work environment: Some office/ Some set
Personality needed: ability to take direction and self start
Salary: $100-$250/day
Camera Department Professionals
Director
 Director of Photography
 Cinematographer
 1st AC
 2nd AC
 Film Loader
 Camera Production Assistant
 DIT (Digital Imaging Technician)
Following are the entry-level jobs in the Camera Department
that can be taught in high school classes such as
photography and film/video production:
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Second Assistant Camera
(Clapper Loader)
The second assistant camera (2nd AC) operated the clapperboard at the
beginning of each take and loads the raw film stock into the camera
magazines between takes, if there is no additional specifically
designated film loader. The 2nd AC is also in charge of overseeing
the meticulously kept notebooks that records when the film stock is
received, used, and sent to the lab for processing.
Skills needed: Technical knowledge of how to use a clapboard,
technical knowledge of how to record notes on the film canisters.
This can be taught in film/video production classes offered at
Trabuco Hills High School
Possibilities for advancement: can move up the ladder in the camera
department
Work environment: On set
Personality needed: Independent worker
Salary:$200-$300/day
Camera Production Assistant
Usually a trainee in the camera department, the camera PA
assists the crew with menial details while learning the trade
of the camera assistant, operator, or cinematographer.
Skills needed: Ability to assist where needed. General
knowledge of how the camera department works
Possibilities for advancement: Anywhere in the camera
department
Work environment: On set
Personality needed: Detail oriented
Salary: $200/day
Sound Department Professionals
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Mixer
Boomer Operator
Sound Technician
These are the entry-level jobs in the Sound Department that can
be taught in high school:
Boom Operator
The boom operator is an assistant to the production sound mixer,
responsible for microphone placement and movement during the
filming. The boom operator uses a boom pole, a long, special piece
of equipment made from light aluminum or carbon fiber, which
allows precise positioning of the microphone above or below the
actors, just out of the camera’s frame.
Skills needed: General knowledge of how to hold and/or hide
microphones
Possibilities for advancement: Sound mixer
Work environment: On set
Personality needed: Ability to stay quiet and focused
Salary: $200-$300/day
Sound Technician
The sound technician basically pulls cables, but often acting as
an additional boom operator when required. Not all films
employ a sound technician, but the increasing complexities of
location sound recording in modern film have made the job
more prevalent. This role is sometimes credited as “cable
man” or “python wrangler”.
Skills needed: General knowledge of how the sound department
works
Possibilities for advancement: Sound Mixer
Personality needed: Ability to stay quiet and focused
Salary: $150-$250/day
Grip and Electric Professionals
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Gaffer
Best Boy Electric
Key Grip
Best Boy Grip
Dolly Grip
These are the entry-level jobs in the Grip/Electric Department
that can be taught in high school:
Dolly Grip
The grip in charge of operating the camera dolly is called the
dolly grip. He/she places, levels, and moves the dolly track,
then pushes and pulls the dolly and usually a camera
operator and camera assistant as riders.
Skills needed: Ability to move dolly smoothly
Possibilities for advancement: Gaffer or Key Grip
Work environment: On Set
Personality needed: Ability to stay focused
Salary: $200-$300/day
Positives and Negatives Aspects of
Film Production Jobs
Positive
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It is a lot of fun
You will work in a highly creative environment
It is considered a “glamorous” job
Negative
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No job security
You will always be looking for your next job
Outlook
What is the job outlook for these positions?
The job outlook is poor in a down economy but good it an up economy.
Also, your chances for work differ whether you are employed with an
advertising agency or a free lancer.
Working for an ad agency will bring you steady employment.
Working as an independent contractor (free lancer) will force you to
track down work constantly with Producers, directors and smaller
advertising agencies.
Reflection
What lessons were learned about the
experience?
Working in film production is exciting, fast paced and ever changing.
You are always at different locations working with different talent.
Education and training for these jobs can be obtained in high school.
However, one must be concerned about the consistency of jobs when
both the economy is weak and film production jobs are moved out of
State in an effort by the film companies to save money.
Summary
Han Solo says…
Get training at school in
film/video classes.
Connect with producers and
directors to get work.
The motion
picture/commerical industry
isn’t easy but can be very fun
and rewarding!