Yr 12 OCR Media Studies

Film Industry:
Roles in Production

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the differing roles in film production

 Key Grip Foley Artists
Unit Publicist
Gaffer
Grip
Best Boy
Dubbing Mixer
Second Unit
 Job Title Description

Foley Artists

Producer

Locations Manager

Runners

Director

Production Accountant

Set Dressers

Best Boy

Line Producer

Gaffer

Casting Director

1st Assistant Director

Key Grip
 Dubbing Mixer

Executive Producer

Special Effects
Departments

Second Unit

Director of
Photography /
Cinematographer

Camera Operator

Grip

Writers

Unit Production
Manager

Unit Publicist

Art Director / Production

Designer

Sound Mixer

Costume Designers

Script Supervisor

Properties Master

Film Editor
 Job Title Description

Usually the head of a studio or production company. The first port of call when the producer
Executive Producer is looking for finance. Will have a number of films in production at any one time, so is
not involved on a day-to-day basis.
Oversees the whole film, from planning to release. Appoints the director, produces the
Producer
package, raises the finance.
Responsible for seeing the script onto the screen. Directs the actors through the
Director screenplay, decides on camera angles, lighting moods, and most technical aspects of
the film. In control of everything which happens on the film set.
Develops the idea into a screenplay, and possibly the original idea. Also responsible for
Writers
rewriting the screenplay as required by the Producer / Director.
Directly responsible for running the production, under the producer’s supervision. In control
Line Producer
of day-to-day finance matters.

Production Accountant Keeps track of the budget expenditure.

Art Director / Production Responsible for the design, construction, and furnishing of sets, the overall ‘look’ of the film,
Designer and locations.
In collaboration with the art director (and possibly director), conceives and oversees the
Costume Designers
making and selection of all characters’ costumes.

Casting Director Proposes and hires leading and supporting cast. Also negotiates fees with actors’ agents.

Locations Manager Finds appropriate sites for filming and negotiates with the owners to use them for filming.

Unit Production Supervises the administrative aspects of the film, reporting to the line producer. Duties
Manager include salaries, accommodation, transport, etc.
Responsible for the media promotion of the film and assembles useful publicity materials to
Unit Publicist
give to the press.

1st Assistant Director The director’s right-hand-man (or woman). Summons cast and crew, directs extras.
 Responsible for noting dialogue spoken, clothes worn, gestures made, camera angles etc.
Script Supervisor
and ensuing continuity between all shots.
Set Dressers Under the direction of the Art Director, responsible for arranging the set.

Film Editor With the Director, chooses which takes to be used, as well as the overall editing process.

Properties Master Buys, hires, begs, borrows, or steals any props and objects needed.

Director of Transfers the director’s vision onto the screen. Deals with all of the technicalities such as
Photography / correct lenses, lighting, SFX, etc.
Cinematographer
The person responsible for physically operating the camera under the DOP’s instructions.
Camera Operator
With the director, chooses camera angles.
Key Grip The stagehand in charge of other stagehands.

Grip A set handyman.

Gaffer In charge of lighting.

Best Boy The Gaffer’s assistant.

A unit responsible for filming footage not requiring actors, e.g. landscapes, crowd scenes,
Second Unit
action sequences.
Sound Mixer Responsible for all sound in the film.

Responsible for mixing all the different sound elements down (e.g. soundtrack, dialogue,
Dubbing Mixer
SFX) into a single mix during post-production.
Responsible for creating all of the ‘real life’ sound effects in the film, such as crowd scenes.
Foley Artists
They recreate the scene and record the sound.
Special Effects Create any SFX for anything that can’t be filmed, due to expense, danger, or being actually
Departments impossible. Include model-makers, animators, explosives experts…
Runners The lowest rung on the film ladder. On set at all times to do anything anyone asks them to.
 Film Production
TASK: Complete the tasks on the Mac
program.
• Shared / Interactive Programmes / The
Film Industry / The Film Industry OSX
• Production / The Production / Make a
Movie