Crew roles and careers

3 min read

Twenty practical set etiquette rules for a first day on a film or TV shoot, covering phones, silence, food, props, safety and being useful.

3 min read

How to get your first runner job on a UK film or TV shoot, with the main routes in, the skills employers ask for and what to check before you start.

8 min read

An A to Z of film and TV crew roles in the UK: what each job does, which department it sits in, how crews are organised and how people get in.

4 min read

What a 1st AD does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they work with, how people move up into the role, and when a small shoot can do without one.

3 min read

What a 2nd assistant director does on a UK film or TV shoot: the schedule, the cast, the call sheet, the team around them and how people get in.

3 min read

What a 3rd assistant director does on a UK film or TV set: support for the 1st AD, background artists, the public and the crew, and how people get in.

2 min read

What a casting director does on a UK film or TV drama, how they run auditions and negotiate terms, the routes into the job and when a shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a film or TV director does from the script to the final cut, who they work with, how people get into directing and when you need one.

3 min read

What a line producer does on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, how people reach the role in the UK, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a location manager does on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, the legal points they handle, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a film or TV producer does, what they do on a shoot day, who they work with, how people get into the job in the UK, and when you need one.

3 min read

What a production coordinator does to run the production office on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, and how people move into the role in the UK.

3 min read

What a production manager does on a film or TV shoot, who they report to and lead, the skills the job needs, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a runner does on a UK film or TV shoot, the hours and kit, who they report to, how people get started, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a script supervisor does on a UK film or TV shoot, how they keep continuity between takes, who they work with, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

A unit manager runs the unit base on location: parking, facilities and catering. What the job covers, who they work with and when a shoot can skip one.

3 min read

An intimacy coordinator plans intimate scenes with the performers and the camera before the shoot. What the job covers, who they work with and when you need one.

3 min read

What a boom operator does on a UK shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, the sound trainee route in and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a camera operator does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they report to, the skills the job needs and how people get into the camera department.

3 min read

What a clapper loader (second assistant camera) does on a UK shoot: slating takes, logs, media, batteries, who they work with and how to get in.

3 min read

What a data wrangler does on location: copying and checking footage, labelling and logging it, who they work with and how people get into the job.

3 min read

What a DIT does on a UK shoot, how they support the DoP, the data and backup work, how people get in and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a director of photography (DoP) does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how to get in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a focus puller does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a production sound mixer does on a UK film or TV set, the kit and skills, who they work with, how to get in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a sound assistant (sound trainee) does on a film or TV shoot: batteries, cable, kit, radio mics, who they report to and how to get started.

3 min read

What a video assist operator does on a film or drama set: monitors, playback, the shot archive, who they work with, and how to get into the job.

4 min read

What a best boy does on a UK film set, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a dolly grip does on a UK film or TV shoot: the camera move, the dolly and track, safety, who they work with and how to get into grip work.

8 min read

A gaffer runs the lighting department on set. What the job involves, how it differs from a spark, best boy and DoP, and what a gaffer costs in the UK.

3 min read

What a key grip does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, the grip training route and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a lighting console operator does on a TV or live show: running the desk to the lighting plan, the crew, the kit and how people get into the role.

3 min read

What a TV lighting director does on a multi-camera show: the look, the lighting plan, the crew, the safety duties and how people get into the role.

4 min read

What a rigging gaffer does on a UK film or TV set, how they work with the gaffer and sparks, the safety rules that apply, and when a shoot needs one.

4 min read

What a spark does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a construction manager does on a UK film or TV drama set build, who they work with, the routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a costume designer does on a UK film or TV drama, who signs off the looks, the routes into the job, and whether a small shoot needs one.

2 min read

What a costume supervisor does in the wardrobe department, who they work with, the skills and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a hair and make-up artist does on a UK film or TV drama, how they work under the designer, the routes in and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a hair and make-up designer does on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the routes into the job and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a production buyer does on a UK film or TV drama, how they book props and manage budgets, the routes into the job and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a production designer does on a UK film or TV shoot, how they lead the art department, who they work with, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a prop master does on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the skills the job needs, the usual routes in and whether a small shoot needs one.

4 min read

What a set decorator does on a UK film or TV drama shoot, who they report to, how people get into the job, and whether a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a film or TV art director does: turning the production designer's concept into sets, drawings and a budget, who they lead and how people progress.

3 min read

A TV camera supervisor sets up and matches the cameras, agrees the look and keeps picture quality steady through a show. Role, team, kit and routes in.

3 min read

A floor manager runs the studio floor during a TV recording, cueing presenters and guests to the director's plan. Role, shoot day, team and routes in.

3 min read

A jib operator moves a camera on a counterweighted arm for smooth rises, falls and swings. How the rig is set up, the shoot day, safety and when you need one.

3 min read

What a vision mixer does in a live or multi-camera production gallery, who they work with, the skills, how to get in, and when a stream needs one.

3 min read

An autocue operator runs the script on screen during a recording, at the presenter's pace. The set-up, the shoot day, the crew and when you need one.

3 min read

What a colourist does in the grading stage of a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the software and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

A film or TV composer writes original music timed to the cut. How the work runs, who they work with, how people get in and when you can skip one.

3 min read

A VFX supervisor plans which shots need visual effects, supervises them on set and signs off the finished work. Shoot-day role, team, kit and UK routes.

3 min read

What an assistant editor does in a cutting room on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the software and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.

3 min read

What a film or TV drama editor does through the shoot and the post-production, who they work with, the routes in and what Granary charges for an editor.