![\"Production](\"https:\/\/ambientskies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/production-crew-positions-2020-film-vs-commercial.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWith the evolution of film crew roles and their typical association with technology, comes new career opportunities and pathways for people to work their way into the film industry.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For beginners, all of the many roles available to master might seem a little vague and clarification can go a long way when starting your journey and you’re trying to decide what direction you want to go.<\/p>\n
Well that’s where we can help…<\/p>\n
But first, it’s important to know that there’s different approaches to different types of production. Say for example — Film & Commercial Advertisement Production. They’re two different worlds, but share many similarities. <\/p>\n
Let’s take a look at some!<\/p>\n
Film created the foundation for all types of production and it all starts with cinema. From there Journalists, Documentarians and Advertisement Agencies began using the medium for their benefit. With that evolution, came job roles that had slightly different descriptions depending on which type of production you were working on. <\/p>\n
With that also came a list of expendable roles. With film, there are such things as ‘skeleton crews’ that are appropriately minimized to match the material being captured, but there’s no such thing as expendable film roles. Same goes for other types of production, but one thing you won’t typically see on a professional film set is a crew member wearing multiple hats.<\/p>\n
Director<\/p>\n
Producers<\/p>\n
Line Producers<\/p>\n
Unit Production Manager<\/p>\n
Production Coordinator<\/p>\n
Production Secretary<\/p>\n
Office PA’s<\/p>\n
Assistants (Director\/Producers)<\/p>\n
1st AD<\/p>\n
2nd AD<\/p>\n
2nd 2nd AD<\/p>\n
Key PA<\/p>\n
Set PA’s<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Location Manager<\/p>\n
Location Assistants<\/p>\n
Location Scouts<\/p>\n
Unit PA’s<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Transportation Captain<\/p>\n
Transportation Coordinator<\/p>\n
Drivers<\/p>\n
Picture Car Coordinator<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sound Mixer<\/p>\n
Boom Operator<\/p>\n
Sound Utility<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Script Supervisor<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Director of Photography<\/p>\n
1st Assistant Camera<\/p>\n
2nd Assistant Camera<\/p>\n
Stedicam Operator<\/p>\n
Loader<\/p>\n
DIT<\/p>\n
Stills Photographer<\/p>\n
Camera PA<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Key Grip<\/p>\n
Best Boy Grip<\/p>\n
Dolly Grip<\/p>\n
Rigging Grips<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gaffer<\/p>\n
Best Boy Electric<\/p>\n
Electricians<\/p>\n
Generator Operator<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Production Designer<\/p>\n
Art Director<\/p>\n
Art Dept. Coordinator<\/p>\n
Construction Coordinator<\/p>\n
Carpenters<\/p>\n
Key Scenic<\/p>\n
Scenic Artists<\/p>\n
Set Decorator<\/p>\n
Buyer<\/p>\n
Leadman<\/p>\n
Set Dressers<\/p>\n
Greensmen<\/p>\n
Art PA’s<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Prop Master<\/p>\n
Assistant Prop Master<\/p>\n
Prop Maker<\/p>\n
Prop Assistants<\/p>\n
Food Stylists<\/p>\n
Animal Wranglers<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Costume Designer<\/p>\n
Assistant Costume Designer<\/p>\n
Shoppers<\/p>\n
Wardrobe Supervisor<\/p>\n
Set Costumes<\/p>\n
Seamstress<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hair Department Head<\/p>\n
Key Hair Department<\/p>\n
Makeup Department Head<\/p>\n
Key Makeup Department<\/p>\n
Special Effects Makeup<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Stunt Coordinator<\/p>\n
Stunt Performers<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
VFX Supervisor<\/p>\n
Designers<\/p>\n
Animators<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Special Effects Coordinator<\/p>\n
Supervisor<\/p>\n
Special Effects Foreman<\/p>\n
SFX Technicians<\/p>\n
Armorer\/Pyrotechnics<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Caterer<\/p>\n
Chef<\/p>\n
Assistant Chefs<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Key Craft Service<\/p>\n
Craft Service Assistants <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Like I mentioned up top, when it comes to film, no roles are expendable — they’re all essential. Depending on the needs of the scene, those essential roles shift around. For instance, if a film requires absolutely no special effects, that’s an entire department that’s omitted. The job roles within one department can be minimized as well. Say for instance there’s no food or plants involved in any scene, you won’t have a need for a Food Stylist or a Greensman. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With Commercial production, you can break a lot more rules. People tend to wear many hats with commercial production in any one department. For example, your best boy might turn into your dolly grip and your rigging grip and your gaffer might handle all electric duties. Your Producer might be the Line Producer and Production Coordinator and you may operate with only one 1st AD if you’re only dealing with a couple actors and a simplified set.<\/p>\n
Commercial Productions typically cram a lot more into one day than Films do. Films typically run on 12 hour days where Commercial Productions typically run on 10 hour days with OT past that. Most producers will avoid OT at all costs so you’ll be working a lot faster to make up for that loss of two hours.<\/p>\n
Though it isn’t recommended, these days a lot of commercial crews forgo once thought essential roles in the days of film. Roles like Script Supervisor and Loader are easily missing on a lot of Commercial Productions today utilizing digital camera technology. A lot of times your 2nd AC will act as Media Management with your DIT nonexistent. Commercials try to keep their budgets on the lower end so sacrifices are sometimes made when acquiring essential crew members. If it’s a significantly large commercial production with a big budget though, you will see all of these previously omitted roles on the call sheet. And if the production is all union, your crew will resemble something closer to a union feature film crew.<\/p>\n
If you’re just getting your bearings, feel out all of the film roles you can and don’t rush into a decision. We’re talking about a career that you could still have 30 years from now. Make sure it’s something you enjoy doing and that you excel in. <\/p>\n
Many take different pathways into the business. Not everyone’s journey is the same, but having a handle on what to generally expect with different types of production will help you prepare accordingly and challenge you to learn as much as you can.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the evolution of film crew roles and their typical association with technology, comes new career opportunities and pathways for people to work their way into the film industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n