What is a Production Manager?
Production Managers work across the production, overseeing the general running of the production and working with the producer and other senior members of staff. Production Managers are responsible for all things business and finance, this means that budgetary know-how is essential.

These budgeting skills transcend all areas of production. Indeed the duties of a Production manager are numerous, so it can often be hard to pinpoint the skills that you need. Fret not, in this post we have outlined some of the key responsibilities of this role, the skills you’ll need and the routes in.

Pre-production
During pre-production the Production Manager will meet with senior staff members to ascertain budgetary requirements for a production. These costs may include the cost of hiring the crew, equipment, sets and additional locations. Part of the Production Manager’s role may include negotiating rates of pay, location costs, risk assessments and logistical issues as and when they arise.

Often the Production Manager will be responsible for hiring the below the line crew. Below the line refers to the separation of production costs between the cast and production team (above the line) and Script Writers, Producers and so on (below the line). Thus, negotiation skills are essential for a Production Manager for keeping contractual costs down and dealing with potential issues as they arise.

In estimating the budgetary requirements of the Production, it is essential to be knowledgeable in industry and union rates, as this will enable you to accurately forecast costs. Further, during pre-production they are responsible for resolving visa and filming permits, arranging travel should the production need to film abroad and organising insurance.

Production
Responsibilities during production will include ensuring that filming takes place on schedule, managing the production budget and ensuring that the production operates in line with health and safety regulations and risk assessments previously carried out. It will be important to constantly monitor the production budget, ensuring additional costs are kept to a minimum as many productions work to tight budgets. During production, the Production Manager will report into the Producer and update on all progress.

Key Skills

• Highly organised
• Able to work as part of a team
• Good at taking direction from others
• Able to manage a team
• Good numerical abilities and business skills
• Good negotiator
• Able to remain calm under pressure
• Excellent communication skills

Hear from industry experts on the key skills you will need to succeed in this career here.

How to Become a Production Manager
Although formal qualifications are not always a requirement for this role, a wealth of experience is an absolute must-have. Before you enter this role you would have worked in a number of TV and/or film productions,  you’ll need to understand the production process and have connections across the industry. Usually, Production Managers start out as Runners or Production Secretaries.

With some hard work and graft you can hope to progress higher through the ranks, this will mean ensuring you have a strong reputation in the industry and of course a wealth of skills developed from your time as a Production manager. Usually next steps include progressing to Assistant Production Manager or Production Coordinator.

However, qualifications can be an asset when trying to become a Production Manager. For instance, a degree in accountancy or a related field would give you many of the foundational skills which are a necessity in this role. The National Film and Television School offers a diploma in Production Management for Film and Television, which looks to provide students with specialist knowledge and hands-on experience. You can find out more about the course here.

According to the National Careers Service you could also look to gain a qualification from college. You could look to obtain a Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production or a Diploma in Film and Television Production. If you are looking to dive straight in you could look to take an apprenticeship with as a Broadcast Production Assistant. Find out more about these qualifications here.

According to PayScale, the average salary for a Production Manager working in film/TV is £33,832, with salaries ranging from £19,950-£45,025 as of 2019. Of course, this pay scale will vary depending on your experience and location.

Become a Production Manager Today!
If you are ready for the next step in your career, why not take a look at the latest Production Manager vacancies on our jobs board? You can view our latest vacancies here.