Working in the media industry provides many entry level opportunities, such as production runner and locations trainee jobs, to gain experience and make valuable contacts. Apprenticeships are also available for roles like broadcast production assistant and assistant production accountant. Higher level careers include producer, who oversees the entire production process, camera operator, who is responsible for capturing footage, and director, who controls the artistic vision and creative decisions of a film.

1. Working in the Media industry
B1: PERSONAL PROGRESSION

2. Jobs
Production runners- A production runner is an entry level position often used as a stepping
stone into higher up positions in the film industry. A runner is responsible for handling tasks for
the main production crew like the actors, producers and directors. These tasks can include,
copying scripts and call sheets, making phone calls, food and post office runs, booking travel and
accommodation, making coffee and distributing information to the other members of the crew.
A runner job is an excellent way to get your foot in the door of the media industry as it allows
you to make many valuable contacts of successful people in the industry such as directors,
producers and film crew.
Locations trainee- A locations trainee acts as an assistant to the locations manager. Their jobs
include, controlling traffic, cleaning and maintaining the locations and communicating with local
authorities to control areas the crew will be shooting in. Locations trainee is an entry level job
and has the potential to help you graduate to higher positions in the industry such as locations
manager, director or line producer.

3. Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a paid position designed to train employees by providing on the job learning
and real experience in the field. Apprenticeships are often done by students that have recently
left college and want to go down a different route than University. You can apply to
apprenticeships through different bodies such as UCAS, Screenskills, UCAS etc.
Broadcast production assistant- These apprentices act as assistants to the production crew. They
are responsible for many different roles in the production process. These can include, running
errands, relaying messages to others parts of the crew, organising travel and managing
equipment. They provide support for the production team and help make sure that everything
runs smoothly.
Assistant production accountant- This apprenticeship is targeted towards the pre-production
stage of filmmaking. Assistant production accountant work closely with the producers and
production managers to prepare budgets, estimate costs, manage payroll and make cost reports.
They are offered to applicants over the age of 18 with a maths and English Language GCSE.

4. Producer- The producer is the person in charge of overseeing the whole production.
They are either employed by a production company or work as freelancers. They are
responsible for co-ordinating certain decisions in the production process such as casting
the actors, hiring the crew, director and writers, setting budgets. They make sure that
the production is running to schedule and under budget. They oversee and have the last
say on post production elements such as marketing, distribution rights, editing and test
screening feedback.
Camera operator- Camera operators are responsible for capturing the action for the
production. They plan ahead to decide what equipment to use in certain conditions,
weather it is in a certain location that requires specialist equipment such as underwater
filming which specialist equipment. Camera operators can use their knowledge and
experience to communicate to the director suggestions for shots, angles and
embellishments.
Director- The director is in control of the artistic side of the film’s production. The
directors are chose by the producers and they often have a director in mind when
handling the pre production of a new film. They give orders to the actors, crew and
editors during the post production process. They are in charge of lighting, wardrobe and
make up. They have the final say over anything to do with the creative process of a film.
Careers