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.

How To Become a Stop Motion Animator

What is a Stop Motion Animator?
A Stop Motion Animator is an individual who uses a filmmaking technique called Stop Motion, in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames.

What is the job?
The role of Stop Motion Animator involves using models, puppets or clay to create animated films, television commercials, and branded entertainment. They combine the art of photography with narrative skill, as well as the ability to manipulate lighting and calculate angles to create stop motion animation without digitally manipulation.

A Stop Motion Animator will build the animation by taking pictures of objects and scenes in different positions. When these pictures are put together, it appears as if the object is moving on its own within the scene. This unusual approach makes it a compelling kind of animation, quite different from a hand drawn cartoon or computer-generated animation, and the technique has been used in some of the most successful animation projects ever produced.

How To Become an Art Department Co-ordinator

How To Become an Art Department Coordinator

What is an Art Department Co-ordinator?
Art Department Co-ordinators provide daily administration and budgeting for the Art Department. This department is responsible for creating the overall look of a feature film or television show, with responsibility for designing, building and decorating the sets used for the production.

What is the job?
The Art Department Co-ordinator is hired at a very early stage in the production. They begin by collaborating with the Production Manager, deciding the Art Department’s budget and maintaining a line of communication to ensure that all costs are kept under control. Their main task is ensuring productive collaboration between crew members among set decorating, prop making, production, location scouting and construction. They will report to the Art Director and the Production Designer.

In addition to this, the Art Department Co-ordinator is responsible for scheduling build, dress and strike, all transportation and travel, shipment of equipment, and construction. On top of this, they will also be required to download, copy and deliver the necessary photos of locations and sets to the Production Designer.

How To Become an FX TD

What is an FX TD?
FX TDs are Effects Technical Directors. They create physics-based digital effects, such as smoke, water, explosions and fire. These digital effects are then used by animation artists in their shots.

What is the job?
It is the FX TD’s responsibility to make sure the physics-based digital effects that they create look believable and are also consistent with the style of animation, to ensure that they blend seamlessly with the other components of the film. FX TDs aim to meet the Director’s vision in terms of digital effects, using the resources available to them.

The role of FX TD is both an artistic and technical role. As an FX Technical Director, you are likely to be the one with the highest skill level working in your department. Therefore, it will be part of your role to offer guidance to more junior Artists, give face-to-face technical help to all Animation and Lighting Artists, as well as communicate with other departments and provide a positive attitude to the working environment.

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