Job Roles of a Media Production

1. Unit 22- LO1
Job Roles
The Director isthe creative force of a filmproduction.Itistheirvision,andtherefore theybringitto
life.Theycarryout rolessuchas casting,scriptediting,andshotcomposition.Theyare akeylink
betweenproduction,technical andcreative teams.Keyskillsinclude artisticvision,creative skills,
attentiontodetail,determination,andconfidentleadership. The FirstAssistantDirector (1st A.D) is
the director'srighthand man.Theytake responsibilityforavarietyof things,sothat the directoris
able to focusmore on the creative side of things.Theyworkalongsidewiththe directorto
determine ashootingschedule,andhow longanygivenscene will take toshoot.Keyskillsof a1st
A.D are consistentplanning, attentiontodetail,excellence incommunication,andthe abilityto
multitaskandbe flexible.The DirectorofPhotography (D.O.P) issomeone whoworksalongsidethe
director,cameracrew andlightingteamtobuildthe identity/lookof the film.Theymanage every
aspectof filming,fromoverseeingequipmenttoreviewingfootage.Keyskillsof agood D.O.Pinclude
goodtechnical knowledge,flexibility,artisticvision,quickdecisionmaking,preciseattentionto
detail,andhave goodcommunicationskills.The CastingDirectorissomeone whoworkswiththe
directorand producer,tomeettheirrequirementsforselectingthe castof actors forall roleswithin
a production.Theyare in charge of arrangingand conductinginterviews,auditions,andfee
negotiations(contracts).Keyskillsof agoodcastingdirectorinclude awide knowledge of cinema
and actors,computerliteracy,excellentcommunicator,greatrecognitionof talentandpotential,
attentiontodetail,abilitytotake andgive direction,andbe aware of relevanthealthandsafety
legislation. Outofall ofthese roles,the most important one is that of the Director. Thisisbecause
theyare essentiallyincharge of all these people,andall the workthat theydois controlled/centred
on the Director.These rolesare eitherassistantroles,orextendedrolesof the Director.For
example,the D.O.Ptakescontrol of one specificaspectof directing.
The Location Manager worksalongside the Producer,Director,andProductionDesigner.They are
responsible forfindingideallocationsfora film shoot.Theyare alsoresponsible fornegotiatingfees,
and othertermswithlegal ownersof locations(suchasland,housing,orotherproperty).Theyalso
have to take intoconsiderationaccessibility,the shootingschedule,andthe budget.Theyoften
utilise photographicstoryboardstoshow theirinvestigationsbacktothe productionoffice.Keyskills
of a goodLocationManager are initiative,goodnegotiatingskills,have anunderstandingof location
fees,be able tounderstandandworkwithbudgets,be reliable,enthusiastic,andflexible.A full
driver'slicense isalsokey. The Producerissomeone whobasicallyhascontrol overeverysingle
aspectof a production.The producerisprettymuchalwaysthe firstpersonto getinvolvedina
project.Theirresponsibilitiesrange rightdevelopment,pre-production,productionandpost-
production.Theyare oftenresponsibleforcomingupwithan ideafora production - or selectinga
screenplay.Theythensecure the rights,choose awriter,andaneditingteam.Theyalsoraise money
for the production(whetheritbe outof theirownpocket,orsecuredintandemwithproduct
placement).The produceristhe one whobringsinkeymembersof the team, includingDirector,
Cinematographer,andthe ProductionDesigner.Everythingthathappensinthe whole production
mustgenerallybe approvedbythe producer - includinglocations,the finalscript,schedulesand
budgets.One productionbegins,theyare responsible forsmoothoperation.Theyare inconstant
communicationwiththe directorandotherkeycreative membersof staff.Duringpost - producers
liaise withthe directortomake sure the productis as he/she initiallyvisionedittobe.Keysills

2. requiredof a goodproducerinclude experience,businesssense,creativevision,self motivation,
negotiatingskills,goodatproblemsolving,andexcellentcommunicationskills. The Production
Manager is responsible forcontrollingthe budget.Theymake sure thatthe productionruns
smoothlyforthe producer,byschedulingshootsandnegotiatingthe hire of crew andequipment,so
that the Producercan focuson otheraspectsof production.Theyoverseealotof thingsduringthe
production,andare oftenincharge/control othermembersof the team.Keyskillsof agood
ProductionManagerrange from goodexperience,abilitytocope withpressure,goodplanningand
adminskills,tobeingagoodnegotiator. Outof all of these roles,the most important one is the
Producer.This isbecause theyare incharge of everysingle aspectof production,theyare headof
the hierarchy.Everyone reportsbacktosomeone,whoeventuallyreportsbacktothe director.The
producerisheavilyinvolvedineveryaspectof production,andtheyare alsothe source of finance
for the film(whethertheysource itelsewhere,orpayforit themselves).The Locationand
ProductionManagersare importantpartsof the team, howevertheyare generallyperformingtasks
that the Producerwoulddo - theyreportback to him, andtheirjobssomewhatoverlapwith the
Producer,as thishelpsproductivity.
The Camera Operator is responsible forpreparingandoperatingthe camera,andall of its
equipment.Theyworkwiththe Director,andthe D.O.P,toachieve the visual style thatthe director
envisions.Theybasicallyfollow the instructionsof the D.O.Pandthe Director.Theirkeyskillsare
knowinghowtooperate the camera expertly,havinggoodknowledge of lenses,equipmentand
accessories,havingartisticability,patience,goodsense of visual composition,and physical co-
ordinationandstrength. The Director of Photography (D.O.P) issomeone whoworksalongsidethe
director,cameracrew andlightingteamtobuildthe identity/lookof the film.Theymanage every
aspectof filming,fromoverseeingequipmenttoreviewingfootage.Theywill giveinstructionstothe
camera operator,tomake sure theyare doingtheirjobproperly,andsothat the endproduct isas
nice as it possiblycanbe,andmatch the visionof the directoras closelyaspossible.Keyskillsof a
goodD.O.Pinclude goodtechnical knowledge,flexibility,artisticvision,quickdecisionmaking,
precise attentiontodetail,andhave goodcommunicationskills. The FocusPullerisa camera
operatorsassistant - theyare responsible foradjustingthe cameralens,managingandmaintaining
camera equipment,andfollowinginstructionsfromthe D.O.P.Itisone of the mostskilledjobsona
filmcrew.FocusPullersmustbe veryskilledinwhattheydo,astheyare notlookingthroughthe
lenstofocus,but relyingonmarksplacedonset,and previousknowledgeandinstinct.FocusPullers
mustbe able tocope underpressure andstress.Keyskillsof aFocus Pullerincludeexcellent
knowledge of camerasandlenses,havingexpertknowledge of digital filmprocessing,have good
eyesight,be able tojudge distancesaccurately,be agile,have anextreme attentiontodetail,andbe
able to workas part of a team. A Gafferis someone whoisincharge of runningall electrical workon
a production.Theyleadateam of lightingtechnicians,andworkwiththe D.O.Pinorderto getthe
lookthat he/she andthe directordesire.Theyalsoconductriskassessments,andworkonpart of
the budget(the electrical side),tomake sure thatthe lightingsetupsthatthe directorwouldlike is
feasible withinthe setbudget.Theirkeyskillsare highlevel technical skill,goodimagination,great
problemsolvingskills,excellentcommunicationandpresentationskills,self confidence,and
assertiveness. The Editorissomeone whoworkscloselyalongside the Director,tocraftthe finished
film.Theyworkonan editsuite forlongperiodsof time,andruna teamof assistantsinorderto get
the productionfinishedquicker.Editorstake the besttakesandeditthemtogetherintoscenes.Key
skillsof agood editorinclude technical knowledge,wideexperienceof the postproductionprocess,
understandhowtouse an editsuite tocreate rhythm, pace and tension,the abilitytobe creative
underpressure,andbe able toleada team, withpatience. Outof all ofthese roles,the most
important one isthe D.O.P. Yes- the filmproductionwouldnothappenwiththe CameraOperator

3. or the Focus Puller,however,all of these membersof the teamreportback/take directionfromthe
D.O.P.The D.O.P is a supervisorymemberof the groupto these people.These are all essential and
keyrolesthatcouldnot be sacrificed,howeverthe D.O.Pessentiallydirectsthem.
The Costume Designerisin charge of designing,acquiring/creatingandhiringall costumesfor
appropriate actors,actressesandextras.Theymustalsomanage a team of skilledpersonnel,and
supervise practical issues,suchasbudgets,schedulesandorganisation.Keyskillsinclude being
creative andimaginative,havingexcellentdesignskills,beingagoodcommunicator,a skilled
researcher,have knowledgeof fashion,be highlyorganised,andhave the confidence tomotivate a
team. A Makeup Artist isresponsiblefordesigning,planningandapplyingmakeuptomeet
productionrequirements.They workwithinthe MakeupDesigner'sbrief.Keyskillsinclude
hairdressingskills,makeupskills,agoodeye forcolour,possessionof manual dexterity,be able to
understandinstructions,be able tosolve problems,communicate withpeople,putpeople atease,
have goodlanguage skills,andagoodartisticeye. The Prop Maker isin charge of makingpropsfor
the set - theyadapt, purchase or create props,and conductresearchon specialistprops.Theyare
giveninstructionsbythe ProductionDesignerand/or the Directorof Art.Theirkeyskillsincludewide
knowledge of propmaking,goodknowledge of computerdesign,abilitytoworksafelywith
specialistmaterials(suchasfibreglassandlatex),be flexible,versatile,andbe opentonew ideas,
have goodcommunicationskills,andbe a greatteamplayer. Out of all of these roles,the most
important one isthe Costume Designer.Yes,the makeupandprops are a veryimportantpartof any
majorproduction,however,if the actorsaren't wearingspecificoutfits, thenthe movie will notbe
believableatall.If the filmissetin a specifictime period,theymustbe wearingperiodicclothes.The
clothes/costumemustmatchthe character that iswritten,andwithoutthe Costume Designer,thisis
not possible.
A Sound Designerissomeone whocreatessoundeffectsfora film, rangingfromexplosions,tomore
subtle sounds,tosimplyatmosphericsound.Theyare alsoincharge of managingthe post-
productionelementof sound.Howbigtheirrole isisdependantonthe budget,andwhatthe script
entails.A goodSoundDesignerwillhave genuine enthusiasmof the topic,have agood
understandingof acoustics,have expertknowledge of soundrecordingandeditingtechniques,have
goodlisteningskills,be creative,imaginativeandbe able toworkunderpressure. ABoom Operator
issomeone whopositionsthe microphoneduringfilming,andthereforemakingsure thatthe
microphone(s)donotgetin the wayof actors (andtherefore visibleinshot).Theyare also
responsible forlookingafterthe soundequipment.Keyskillsinclude agoodunderstandingof
electronics,workingknowledge of soundequipment,understandingmicrophones,lighting
techniquesandcameralensangles,understandingacoustics,possessingexcellentlisteningskills,
havinggoodphysical staminaandagility,andtheymustbe reliable. AFoleyArtist'sjob isto add
specialistsubtle soundeffectsintothe production.Theysource/recordsoundeffectsandthenedit
themto make sure theyfitintothe filmproperly.These are the soundeffectsthatmicrophones
oftenmiss,suchas soundsrelatedtomovement(suchasfootsteps).Keyskillsare beingable to
manipulate andworksoundforthe movingimage,have listeningandvisual skills,be able towork
efficientlyunderpressure,andhave goodcommunicationskills.Also,andthisgoeswithoutsaying,
theymust have a goodtechnical knowledge of recordingequipmenttogetthe bestsoundquality.
Out of all of these roles,the most important one is the Sound Designer. Thisis because,without
the SoundDesigner,the BoomOperatorwouldnotknow whatto do,and the FoleyArtistwouldnot
knowwhatsoundsto synthesis/produce/source.The SoundDesignerissortof incharge of all these
people,sowithoutthem, therewouldbe problems.Obviously,the boomoperatorisavery
importantpart of set,and so isthe worksof a Foleyartistinsome productions,however,theyaren't
leadrolesassuch, whereasSoundDesignis.