BTEC MEDIA

Roles and responsibilities

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Show an understanding to the importance of

team work

List key job roles on a film production

Demonstrate an understanding of

responsibilities within each roles

Apply the key roles to your own production

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

Pre-Production

Production

Post-Production

Distribution

Exhibition

WHY HAVE JOB ROLES?

Job roles are crucial within the media industry. They help each part of

every sector in the industry run smoothly to ensure everything gets done

efficiently to the highest of standards. Job roles ensure that a specific

task is not diluted by too many people doing too many things at any one

time. By concentrating on a particular tasks within the role, jobs can be

managed effectively and within time constraints within distractions.

Everybody has a defined job role in the industry in order to get

everything done as a whole. A job role means that other people know

what abilities and tasks based personal training and experience the

employee can carry out. This means a long explanation of job is not

needed – they just do what their job title says they can do before training

to include other tasks.

For example, on the radio a newsreader and their team (editors,

researchers, journalists) would not get involved in music choice and

playlists involved in the actual radio show as this is nothing to do with

their specialised topic of choice and their preferred job role. This takes

them away from their preferred job role. Also, a newsreader does not

edit, research or any of the other things that go into the final piece of

information – they just read it.

KEY ROLES IN MEDIA PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR

A music video director is given the job of this task. Once assigned task has

been given, they review scripts and speaks with the writers of the music video

in order to improve the music video if any necessary changes have to take

place, after determining if there are any to make. The director of the music

video chooses which actors are best to fit certain roles for the music video

and which are best suited for the roles. The video director will have some

input with the producers to make the creative decisions for a television show,

advert or a film. The advantages of having this job are that there is room for

specialisation within the job – e.g. Films, television shows, documentaries etc,

potentially high paying and there is an opportunity to be self employed. The

disadvantages of this job include unusual and long hours, constant stress and

the fact it is a difficult career to break into as there is a lot of keen competition.

The salary of this job is on average $90,000 per annum in America.

PRODUCTION MANAGER/PRODUCER

Production managers organise the business and other important issues

including finance in both film and television productions. Production

managers control the budget and make sure that everything runs to plan.

Before production work would involve but not be limited to; meeting other

production staff, drawing up a schedule and estimated cost, hiring crews

and negotiations of pay, overseeing location bookings. During production

duties include but are not limited to; making sure everything runs to

schedule, managing the budget, managing the team, sorting out problems

and making sure all legal requirements are followed. To be a production

manager a candidate needs a lot of experience in both TV and/or film, an in

depth understanding of how the production process works and a large

contact list within the industry, formal qualifications are not as important as

experience but it is helpful to have skills and have had numerous work

placements. Also needed is an understanding of how to manage a budget

within the industry. For a senior role in this sector, the salary can go all the

way up to $150,000 a year, starting at $10,000. The advantages of this job

include excellent earning potential and there is an opportunity for self

employment. The disadvantages of this job include extreme

competiveness, it’s a highly stressful job, jobs are short and irregular and

hours are long.

CASTING DIRECTOR

A casting director will work directly for the studio and production companies.

They normally work free-lance charging a set fee. They must have strong

communication levels as they work with all kinds of industry specialists. A casting

director will also need flexibility because of the long hours and frequent travel to

meet producers and directors. Casting directors read the scripts to learn what is

needed for each role. Casting directors have to select the most qualified actors,

schedule auditions and sift through CVs to make sure they sure they get the best

person for the job. Salary average is approximately $93,000 a year.

SCREEN WRITER

Screenwriters are creative writers who write scripts for television and films. In

some cases, they are adaptations from books or occasionally they generate

original ideas of their own. The job is demanding and the days are long and

stressful for screenwriters as they have to meet deadlines set by production

companies. If the work is for television, there may be a team of writers for any

particular show. The process normally starts by sitting at a table discussing

and researching ideas. Screenwriters can alongside directors and producers

so that shooting a script is made easier and it could need re-writing numerous

times during filming. If the screenwriter is writing for a television show, a new

script may be needed weekly. The advantages of having this job include that

fact it’s one of the highest paying writing specialities, they can work anywhere

with access to a computer and there are numerous genres to choose from.

Disadvantages include that the pay may be inconsistent, travel may be

required and a college degree is normally required. The average salary is

$100,000 per annum.

SOUND OPERATOR

Sound operators are required to assemble, operate and maintain technical

equipment used for all aspects of sound within the production. Sound operators

identify the requirements for any given task and perform the appropriate actions

for this. Sound operators are needed for film, broadcasting, advertising, live

performances and audio recordings. Sound operators’ roles are split into two

categories – production and post production. For film productions, sound

operators will normally work within a team and the sound team is to follow the

instructions of the director, designer or supervisor. There are specialised roles

within the team including boom operators, assistants, editors, mixers, Foley

artist, Foley editor, sound designer, and sound editor. The advantages of this

job include that this is the best paid speciality in the broader field of broadcast

and sound engineering and they get above average salaries which average out

at around $57,000 per annum. The disadvantages include round the clock

broadcasting mean long, odd hours and working at live events or deadlines can

be stressful.

CAMERA PERSON

Camera operators can work for news stations, film studios and television

studios – as well as filming special events such as Bar Mitzvahs and

Weddings. Job duties vary depending on the type of work carried out, for

instance – broadcast studio people typically follow directions, film camera men

may be on location using track mounted cameras. Most camera operators are

in charge of their own equipment. Operators might have several assistants to

help with their duties. One of the most important aspects of the role is to shoot

from the best possible angle and ensure the camera stays in focus. Average

salary is approximately $52,5000 per year. The advantages of this job are that

you can work your way up from smaller stations to larger stations, you can be

promoted to producer or director and there may be self employment

opportunities. Disadvantages include possibly travelling for extended periods of

time, location work could be potentially dangerous and you’re required to stand

for long periods of time.

EDITOR

As an editor, you may be responsible for cutting images and using the best

angles and effects to produce the highest quality product. You might have to

correct errors, edit the dialogue and insert music into the video. The main aim

of this role is to help produce a film or video that is clearly presented and

aesthetically pleasing. Skills needed for this job role include media

background, computer skills, verbal skills and time management.The average

salary of an editor role is $69,500 per year. The advantages of this role are

that they can be employed or self employed, most editors will have a team to

support them, and technology and special effects have increased the demand

for editors. Disadvantages of this job include that entry-level usually requires a

degree, long hours may be needed to meet deadlines, there could be periods

of unemployment between jobs.

TASK

Apply these roles to your group

Make a list of YOUR duties

Research your role(s)