Knowing what you can claim as a business expense can be tricky. Should you be retaining those lunch receipts and train tickets? And what about your glasses, could they have been claimed as an expense, too?
How To Become a Runner
What is a Runner?
For a lot of working film and television professionals, the first foray into the industry was in the entry-level position of ‘Runner’. Whilst it may not be the most glamorous of positions, the role offers an opportunity to gain an idea of the inner workings of a production, make contacts and ultimately get a foot on the ladder. It’s all too easy to dismiss the position of Runner as menial or degrading, yet it is the runners of today that will inevitably be making the television programmes and feature films of tomorrow.
How to Become an Executive Producer
What is an Executive Producer?
An Executive Producer is one of the most senior positions within the production team. The role of the Executive Producer can be found in both TV and film production. Usually, they are responsible for either finding the financial funds for a production or for the creative efforts. For instance, in film production, they may be responsible for attracting investors, marketing the film, or script creation.
How to Become a Second Assistant Director
What is a 2nd Assistant Director?
Second Assistant Directors, or 2nd ADs, work in pre and post production. Assistant Directors bridge the gap between the Director and the crew. The First Assistant Director will liaise with the Director and delegate tasks to the Second and Third Assistant Directors.
How To Become a Focus Puller
What is a Focus Puller?
A Focus Puller is also sometimes known as the 1st Assistant Cameraperson (1st AC). The Focus Pullers works as part of the Camera Department and are responsible for maintaining image sharpness.
Image sharpness is maintained through the act of pulling focus. This is whereby the lens’ focus distance is changed depending upon where the subject has moved. Or, for example, it could be shifting the focus from one subject to another.
How To Become a VFX Editor
What is a VFX Editor?
VFX Editors work across a range of productions, both big and small. They are responsible for tracking and communicating shots between the VFX facility and the cutting room, enabling the transformation of the production into the final masterpiece that audiences will see.
VFX Editors are becomingly increasingly common on post-production teams, whether it be a TV show, film, or commercial. This is because over the past few years the use of visual effects has increased dramatically.
How To Become a Costume Supervisor
What is a Costume Supervisor?
Costume Supervisors support the Costume Designer. Costume Designers play their role by, designing, creating, buying or hiring all the costumes to be worn by the cast. As a result, it is not often that the Costume Designer has time to be on set. This is where the Costume Supervisor comes in.
During pre-production, Costume Designers go through scripts to identify the characters and the relative pieces of clothing, taking into account the level of emphasis they want to put on a specific character and developing a costume which fits their emotional status. Ordinarily, the Costume Supervisor will assist with and help create a catalogue which details which costume will be required for each scene.
How To Become a Compositor
What is a Compositor?
You’ll find Compositors working in animation and post-production. They are the ones with all the technical know-how, who bring the various elements of the production together – responsible for constructing the final image of an animation sequence. This is done by combining layers of previously created material together into the finished product. It is primarily a 2D role within the 3D world of CGI and Visual effects.
What is the Job?
A Compositor works at the end of the production process. They receive materials from other stages of the process, including rendered computer animation, graphics, special effects, live action footage, 2D animation, static background plates, and more. The Compositor is responsible for ensuring all these elements are united in a way that maintains a similar style for the final image.
Compositors work closely with other members of the team to ensure that lighting is right, colour levels and blacks match, shadows are convincing, motion blur is added if needed, mattes are created where necessary, and rotoscoping is completed. The primary roles of a Compositor include working to make sure the green screen seamlessly works throughout a film, as well as digital image manipulation. The secondary roles include physical computing and background editing.
How to Become a Bookings Coordinator
What is a Bookings Coordinator?
Bookings Coordinators work primarily in post-production. Supporting the post-production team and often working with the Facilities Manager, Bookings Coordinators are responsible for all job allocations. To be a Bookings Coordinator you will need a can-do attitude, great interpersonal and budgeting skills and of course be fluent in all things organisational.
How To Become a Clapper Loader
What is a Clapper Loader?
Clapper Loaders are responsible for loading raw film stock into camera magazines, operating the clapperboard and the upkeep and maintenance of all records/paperwork within the Camera Department.