How To Become a Logger

What is a Logger?
A Logger is an individual who is responsible for transcribing and logging all the footage from a production.

What is the Job?
The role of Logger will involve logging hours of footage from production, and this can happen either live or during the edit. This process creates a concise document for the Editor or other production staff which enables them to pick out key parts from the filming process quickly. It is the Logger’s responsibility to write summarised notes on what is happening in each scene, picking out the cast, topics and other relevant information within each shot. This is all recorded along with dates and time-codes.

Their duties will include watching live or pre-recorded footage, and reading scripts to find the key information that needs to be assigned to it. They will pick out themes, topics, characters, or talking points that have been highlighted by the Producers or Directors. Loggers are usually employed either during production or in post-production. Their role is highly important as their summaries save the Editor a huge amount of time.

How To Become a Post Production Supervisor

What is a Post Production Supervisor?
A Post Production Supervisor is an individual (or a team) that helps a Producer achieve as much as possible in the edit process without going over the set budget.

What is the Job?
The Post Production supervisor oversees all aspects of the post production process. The role of the Post Production Supervisor will vary depending on the type of production and the budget.

Their main job is to provide an overall picture of what can be realistically achieved in post production.

Their role will also include making sure the Producers are aware of all of the creative and financial considerations of post production before work on the film starts.

Duties may include helping with employing staff for the edit, and supplying accurate information for the cost reports for the Production Accountant.

A Post Production Supervisor will work on production until all elements needed for the completion of the film are complete, including music and effects.

How To Become a Pipeline TD

How To Become a Pipeline Technical Director

What is a Pipeline TD?
Pipeline Technical Directors (TDs) make sure a VFX project runs smoothly by identifying and fixing problems as they arise. This is done by making sure each department has the software tools that they need to complete their part of the project to the best standard possible.

What is the Job?
The role of a Pipeline TD will involve working closely with the rest of the pipeline team. It involves the responsibility for developing and maintaining departmental tools used for animation, VFX and other projects. Specific responsibilities will include writing and modifying computer code to solve problems related to art or productivity, acting as a liaison for communicating technical issues to Production, R&D and IT, testing and debugging tools and processes to ensure stability, and educating Artists on how to work with the pipeline and department tools.

A Pipeline TD will work with a range of people, including 3D Animators, Riggers, Modellers, Lighters, and Compositors. They communicate with VFX Artists across the team to understand their needs. If the project that they are working on isn’t running smoothly, then it is the Pipeline TD’s responsibility to identify what kind of tools need to be developed to fix the issues.

How To Become an Archive Producer

What is an Archive Producer?
Archive Producers are a key part of the production team, employed especially for working on archive-based films. Many productions will use footage that has been filmed by someone else, and the Archive Producer’s job is to source this content, and secure permission for it to be used in the production.

What is the Job?
The role of Archive Producer will vary from set to set, depending on the film that is being made. Sometimes studios can ask for individuals with specialist knowledge of particular subject, so you may not be able to work on every production.

The role of Archive Producer will involve working with Producers and Editors to determine the archive content needed, as well as managing all selected archival materials. In addition to this, Archive Producers may be responsible for working with Assistant Editors and Associate Producers in the management of archival elements for Editors.

An Archive Producer has similar duties to an Archive Researcher, but with more responsibility.

How To Become a Casting Assistant Producer

What is a Casting Assistant Producer?
A Casting Assistant Producer (Casting AP for short) is an individual who assists in the casting of actors or other contributors for film and TV productions.

What is the job?
The role of Casting Assistant Producer involves assisting with the process of finding actors for a film or TV drama, or on the factual side, contributors or interviewees who will be featured.

When working on drama, comedy or entertainment productions, it is the job of a Casting Assistant Producer to help Producers and Directors to cast actors that fit the character brief, who have the relevant skills and experience, and who are available for filming. It’s also important to ensure that the actor’s fees aren’t over the production’s budget. The role of a Casting Assistant Producer will vary depending on the size and budget of the production that they assisting on.

One of the main duties that a Casting Assistant Producer does is reading the script and creating a list of possible actors for any roles. It is then their job to call agents and check for actors’ availability and whether they would be interested in the role. In addition to this, a Casting Assistant Producer will help out with screen tests, operating the camera and providing other help throughout casting sessions.

How To Become an Ingest Operator

What is an Ingest Operator?
An Ingest Operator is an individual who is responsible for managing, accessing and importing data ready for use by Editors.

What is the job?
The role of Ingest Operator involves ingesting a high volume of video rushes in a wide range of different formats from memory cards, cameras, hard drives and various online storage systems. Data ingestion is the process of accessing and importing media ready for immediate use, or for storage in a database for future use. It is their responsibility to transcode media into editable formats and the correct frame rates for the production. Overall, their role is to organise projects for Editors, which can involve setting up project files and syncing camera footage and audio. Their primary duty is to facilitate the timely ingest of media in preparation for edit.

The role requires a solid technical understanding and strong organisational skills. As well as the above duties, you may also be required to compile post-production paperwork and may be asked to assist the edit on certain projects. On top of this, you may be required to undertake other tasks such as general administrative duties.

How To Become a Post Production Runner

What is a Post Production Runner?
A Post Production Runner is an individual who is on hand to help out in the edit suites and around the building at a post production facility. They help out with all aspects of post production.

What is the Job?
Post production facilities are the places where film and TV dramas are edited. They can be independent companies or part of a large studio. Post-production companies often employ Runners to take care of the most basic daily tasks in their facilities, to ensure that operations run smoothly. In exchange, Runners have the opportunity to get the industry experience that they need to progress to more advanced roles.

Post Production Runners, as mentioned, will do a lot of basic tasks, from cleaning, to making tea and arranging meals. They also sometimes work on reception, answering the phone and ensuring that guests and clients feel welcome.

In addition to this, Post Production Runners will often have administrative duties, which can vary from labelling files, filing notes, printing, photocopying and distributing material. They are also often in charge of delivering and collecting packages.

How To Become a Prop Master

What is a Prop Master?
A Prop Master is part of a team of people who run the property department, which is responsible for making, storing and transporting the props used on a TV or film production.

What is the job?
The role of Prop Master usually begins a few weeks before shooting begins. As a team, or individually, they will work with Production Designers, Set Decorators, and Art Directors to decide which props are needed for each scene of a production. They will work through the location, genre, period and culture of the film to decide on the right props to use.

Following this, the Prop Master will carry out research and create a properties list which will detail the props that are to be hired, and the props that are to be created. For the properties that are going to be hired, the Prop Master will make a note of the locations of these props. Additionally, Prop Masters are also responsible for recruiting Carpenters, Artists and Prop Makers when props need to be made for a production.

How To Become a Producer/Director

How To Become a Producer-Director

What is a Producer/Director?
The role of Producer/Director, essentially takes the role of director, and the role of producer, and combines them into one position. As a Producer/Director, you will be involved throughout all phases of production from inception to completion. You will initiate, coordinate, supervise and manage the creation and production of movies, television shows, commercial videos and other productions.

What is the Job?
The role of Producer/Director is one of the highest-level jobs within the film and TV industry. It’s undoubtedly a stressful job, and so only a select few can really succeed at the role. It’s reserved for those individuals who can cope with the pressure of being in charge of everything and taking responsibility for anything that goes wrong.

How To Become a Render Wrangler

What is a Render Wrangler?
A Render Wrangler is responsible for monitoring and controlling the rendering process within the production of computer animation. They can work on animation and VFX projects from the pre-visualisation stage until the project is delivered for compositing.

What is the job?
The role of Render Wrangler involves controlling the rendering process for a few computers or sometimes hundreds of machines, depending on the environment you are working in. Render Wranglers monitor the computers to ensure that input and output of data across various file systems flows smoothly, as well as initiating data movement to allocate disk space in an efficient way.

As a Render Wrangler, you will have to communicate with various artists across different departments. When artists submit completed data for rendering, the render wrangler prioritises work and allocates machines. From here, they will monitor those machines to ensure that there are no technical or computer problems that could impact the success of the final output.

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