This is an explanation of the production roles you can find on the television drama Casualty.
Executive Producer – This role is a grey area, the title can be given to the star of the show as a vanity credit, or to the person who originated the idea. It is most often given to people who can deal with business and legal issues. It can be given to financiers, writers or producers or to someone who has a big influence on the project. They rarely deal with the day to day running of a show.
Series Producer – The series producer is in charge of overall production and will ensure there is continuity within the series and a crew ready to work.
The Producer’s role is to control all aspects of a programme’s production, this role may not be as hands on as some, but it is his job to keep order and to organise a production.
Associate Producer – carries out tasks delegated to them by the Producer, they run day-to-day operations.
Script Editor provides critical analysis for scriptwriters and liases with scriptwriters, producers and executives. The job involves being able to help develop the script by providing criticism and advice.
The Director is responsible for camera placement, lighting, microphones and props, Similar to film directors they oversee the filming of scenes and decide which take of a scene is good enough for the final programme.
Assistant Director – Helps the Director with script and storyboarding, Oversees location booking, props and equipment. Deals with filming schedule.
2nd AD – Produces each days call sheet and distributes them to cast and crew, organises hotels and transport to the location, makes sure cast and crew are on set when needed and that the cast are in the correct make up and costumes at the right time.
3rd ADs provide support to the other ADs. They are in charge of dealing with the extras in scenes and direct them in their parts.
Script Supervisor is on the set to ensure that filming stays on script and that there is no problem with continuity as far as shooting is concerned.
Location Manager’s help the director to find and manage locations for shooting and to ensure all aspects of the location are satisfactory for example access, parking and safety.
Unit managers are to support the Location Manager and liase between the film crew and the location. The Unit manager must deal with any issues a local or landlord has with the filming. They are also responsible for the parties of the crew’s vehicles.
Production Coordinators are mostly in a more clerical office based role, tasks include maintaining a purchase order log, producing new versions of a script as it changes, answering phones and dealing with all necessary paperwork.
The Runner is the general dogs body on the film set, it is a role that involves doing a wide variety of tasks such as delivering equipment, greeting guests, filing, distributing mail and delivering lunch and making tea.
Designer refers to set design, it is their job to read the script and then make decisions on what a set will look like and produce scale models and drawings. They need to carefully research into the locations and the models can give directors a chance to plan camera angles and where the crew equipment will be placed.
Art Director – must deal with maintaining a set as soon as the final schedule is produced, they oversee the preparations for the first sets and spend a lot of time monitoring the budget.
Properties Master accumulates the correct props, and ensures the cost is kept within the budget and available for filming.
Standby props are responsible for the use of all props during filming usually working in pairs, they provide the right props when needed, the senior standby prop is called a Chargehand.
Costume Designer research and design costumes and is in charge of the costume team, They have to manage the budget discuss ideas with production designers and the director, then provide sketches of the costumes and oversee their creation, buying or hiring.
Costume Assistant’s carry out research for the costume designer, take measurements and assist in making costumes.
Make-Up Designers must design a specific look for each character, it can cover hair as well as make up and the application of physical wounds using make up which is especially important in a show like Casualty.
Make up Assistants must set up and maintain the hair and make up workstations, purchasing supplies and generally helping the make up and hair artists.
Lighting Directors are in charge of deciding where and how to set up and operate lighting equipment and accessories and must plan in advance with the Director and Production Designer what lighting equipment must be used and any special requirements regarding lighting.
Gaffers have to produce a list of lighting equipment and contact lighting companies to get quotes on equipment needed. They then order the order the equipment and supervise the set up.
The Camera operator must set up and position the camera, rehearse shots and camera movement. They need to follow a camera script and take cues from the director.
A Camera Assistant judges and adjusts the camera focus on each site.
A Camera trainee is assistant to the camera crew, they have to handle lenses, fill camera reports and load and down-load film magazines.
A Grip is responsible for setting up all equipment used to support the camera for example tripods, dollies, tracks and cranes.
Sound Recordist’s must record sounds either on location or in a studio to find real sounds to use for filming.
Boom Operator assists the sound recordist by holding the boom arm which has a microphone at the end, keep it close to the actors without getting into the shot. They need good knowledge on camera lenses to know how to place the microphone properly.
A Sound Trainee help sound recordist and boom operator, they check stock for microphones and batteries. Ensuring the equipment is usable, they sometimes operate a second boom if required and their role is similar to that of a Runner.
VT Editor is responsible for editing the tape, although this usually refers specifically to tape that is inserted into a live or studio filmed show.
Casting is in charge of casting the actors and must suggest people for roles, conduct interviews and negotiate the actor’s fees.
Production Accountants are responsible for managing finances for a production. They need to have knowledge to deal with tax, calculating budget, costing and liasing with the financiers.
The Production Accountants Assistant are office based workers who deal with bookkeeping their role varies for different productions so they carry out tasks that are set for them by the Production Accountant.
Researchers generally spread the word about the show, research into any areas necessary, covering release forms and ensuring they get signed.
I found my information at the following sites, all have been really useful, I particularly liked start in tv as they provided a section for people in the media to give 'a day in the life' account of their jobs.
http://www.skillset.org/tv/jobs/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7052368.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_producerhttp://www.startintv.com/resources/whichtvjobforme.php
http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/category22/
The heads of the four main public broadcasters have met earlier this week in a bid to regain the publics faith facing the viewer deception scandals. BBC director general Mark Thompson, ITV executive chairman Michael Grade, Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan and Five Chief Executive Jane Lighting met with Ofcom chief executive, Ed Richards in a seminar hosted by Ofcom chairman, David Currie, and BBC Trust chairman, Sir Michael Lyons. They are planning on creating a group that will uphold a cross-industry framework for best practice and ways to deal with issues raised with premium-rate services. They will work on developing industry wide training on ethical standards and best practice and have a common framework of principles to promote best practice. It will also clarify on contractual and compliance issues "to ensure that responsibilities are clearly expressed and audience interests are clearly protected". It’s good to see that they are addressing the issue in a practical way, by uniting and creating this group it seems they can ensure that the audiences are satisfied with programming which is important it’s no good to have an audience that doesn’t trust you.
