Job roles in the industry

 

As part of my college course I have been tasked with looking into 3 different job roles in the industry. The reason for this? To help hone in on what job role I would like to pursue and to give a good idea of how to get there. The other key reason is, as a class, we are producing two short films. We will have to find the job we want and pitch for the opportunity to do the job. This is a fantastic opportunity as through doing client work, I have learnt to be a little bit of everything; Director, producer, editor, DOP, gapher you name it I've done it. However, I have never been able to just focus in on one job. With these shorts, I have that chance.





The first role I am interested in, and the one I would love to do, is Director. Captain of the ship, a good director works with his crew to get the best final product. They just have a good knowledge of each department so as to give the right instructions to the right people. However, the most important thing a director needs is good communication. Being able to put his/her ideas across clearly is vital to creating the film, tv show or even advert that he/she wants, or that is requested from a investor.

The two departments/people the director works with, arguably the most, is the actors and DOP. It is the directors job to get the actors to bring the story to life. He/she needs to be able to put across his vision and guide the actor to the right performance. Again, this is all about communication. Building a relationship between himself and the actor in order to hone he/she's performance, until it is perfected.

A fantastic quote is this regarding what it takes to be a filmmaker; "There isn’t a film degree in the world that will allow you to walk into a cushy film directing job. In the film industry nobody is even remotely interested in your education – all that matters is the projects that you directed in the past, particularly the most recent ones. Film school is useless. The director’s reel is everything." (How to Become a Film Director: A Sharp Reality Check. (2012, February 25). Retrieved December 11, 2015, from http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/how-to-become-a-film-director.html)

What that statement is saying is that directing is a hard job role to just jump into. Without having a good reel (referring to a directing showreel) it is extremely hard to get jobs. No type of education or film degree will get you a well paid directing role, unless you have been fortunate enough to have won awards or have done client directing work.

But the 3 things that a director really needs can be summed up by the legend, Robert Wise, Director of The Sound of Music, West side Story and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

"My three Ps: passion, patience, perseverance. You have to do this if you’ve got to be a filmmaker."
- Robert Wise







The next role I have an interest in is that of the Editor. An editor has the magical task of putting together to film. They are the first to really see it take form as a following narrative as they stitch each clip together, which part wouldn't make sense. A great editor can turn a bad performance by an actor into a good performance and a good performance into an incredible one. The power the editor wields is awe inspiring, being able to change the very feel of the whole film with a simple colour pallet change.

An editor, by definition is a very technical role. They must have a great knowledge of computer editing software including visual effects. They also must have a good understanding of colour, knowing what complements what and how to achieve the look which the DOP and director are looking for.

As previously mentioned, the editor

works closely with the director, and sometimes the DOP, when cutting the film. This is so the director can talk through what beats he wants the film to have as well as it's overall pacing. Cutting to the right clip at the right time is crucial in building the overall atmosphere as well as deciding how much information to give away to the viewer e.g. show a bomb under a table at a dinner party, counting down a 5 minute timer that non of the characters are aware of.

To make it as an editor, above all else, you need to be patient. The editing process can be extremely long, with one film having 2 or more different edits. Staying focused and keeping creative can be a hardship after you have watched or heard the same clip a hundred times, but nailing that edit is key to making a great film.

The last role I have a slight fasination with is set-design/general props and costumes. Although I have almost no practical skills when It comes to building things, I love the process. What I mean by that is seeing concepts come to live. Whether it's a simple apartment set to a futuristic blaster rifle, it is amazing seeing talented individuals bringing them to life.

The two biggest things you need going into set-designer (or any design role) is creativity and practical know how (unlike me). Both of these things work hand in hand to produce out of this world props, costumes etc. What is key however, is to have a balance of the two. You could be extremely creative, able to build whole universes in your mind, but if you don't have practical skills you won't be able to breath live into it. On the flip side, if you have tons of practical skills, but not a creative bone in your body, it simply won't work.

Designers must also have a broad knowledge of a wide variety of different crafts and trades. Everything from wielding to sowing to puppeteering to clay work to furnishings a good designer has insight on it all.

A key job for a designer is working with the DOP on what colour pallet a certain room should have. For example, if a scene involves to people being interment, a would be a good idea to have the colour red, the colour of passion, dominate in the scene. Or if there is a character in a terrible emotional state e.g. crying, sobbing etc. having a more bland pallet including greys or dark blues.

Overall, a designer has a huge job and if any part of the production looks wrong or down right bad, it fall on their head. However, when it's done right, it can bring the unbelievable to life!