Job profiles

The production department comprises the professions involved in the “project management” of a film shoot. Production takes care of organizational, legal and personnel matters, as well as the health and safety of everyone involved. They have the main responsibility for the budget and are in close contact with all departments. This in jobs such as production management, production coordination or production assistance. Organizational skills and basic business management knowledge are required.

The location management is responsible for the logistics on set. Their responsibilities include the planning, organization and execution of filming, taking into account time, location, dramaturgical, financial and safety-related aspects. A driver's license, an understanding of logistics and a hands-on mentality are essential. The positions runner and driver are particularly well suited at an entry level.

The core of the work of the assistant directors (also: ADs) is to develop, promote and strive for the best possible artistic result for the film, the director and the producers; and all this within a clear financial, labor law and safety framework. The ADs compose the shooting schedule and execute the implementation thereof on set, as well as communication with the actors, extras and the entire crew. Creative, organizational and communication skills are required.

The camera department includes professions - on both an artistic and technical level - such as cameraman/camerawoman (also DoP), camera operator, focus puller, material assistant, video assistant operator, digital imaging technician (DIT) or data wrangler. An affinity for visual and technical aspects is required.

The light department is responsible for implementing the director's and cameraman's vision. The gaffer is supported on set by lighting technicians, rigging gaffers and best boys/girls. This professional group also includes the grips, who are responsible for the installation and movement of the camera. Craftsmanship is required.

Script supervisors are the “memory” of a film shoot and maintain an overall view of the script and the continuity between the scenes. They work closely with the director. The job involves two extensive areas of responsibility: As “continuity”, all content and technical continuity are monitored, the shots filmed are checked to ensure that they work in the edit and the director as well as the cinematographer are supported in the content and artistic areas. All production-relevant and technical information is recorded as a “script” and an optimal flow of information to production/post-production is ensured. A precise way of working, very good knowledge of the script and an understanding of the interface to post-production are essential.

During filming, the sound department is responsible for recording speech, sounds, ambiences (atmospheres) and their interplay, as well as for quality. The person responsible must take into account the dramaturgical and artistic requirements of the script and the director, as well as the acoustic conditions of the location, the framing and the lighting.

The craft of the editor is to weave the staged or documentary material and sound elements into a cinematic experience. This requires an in-depth content-related, dramaturgical and artistic examination of the available material created on set. The editor must be able to understand the vision of the script and director. The person must also be able to develop their own artistic and creative ideas - always in confrontation with the material at hand. The aim is to exploit the potential of the material and weave it into a cinematic narrative that is coherent in terms of content, emotion and aesthetics.

The Casting department includes the professions of casting director, casting assistant and extras caster. In cooperation with the production and the AD department, suitable actors or extras are sought for the project. Good networks and a communicative flair are required.

Production design is responsible for the spatial and visual appearance of a movie. They visualize the emotions inherent in a story through the landscapes, locations and objects they create. This department includes the following professions: production designer, production design assistant, set decorator, prop designer, props on set, digital prop designer, set construction, prop driver and location scout. Creative craftsmanship is essential.

The costume design connects the actors with the character portrayed, the staging, the lighting and the set design. It embeds the cast in the fictional world and helps them to become a part of it. The costume designer plays a decisive role in determining the visual appearance of the characters acting in the film and thus helps to shape the overall visual image of the film. The most common professions are costume designer, costume designer assistant, costume designer assistant crowd, key set costume, set costume (wardrobe) and tailor.

The work of a make-up artists includes all manual and artistic activities in the make-up department. In addition to basic make-up, hairstyling, design sketches and models, the make-up artist's work includes all plastic work to change and design faces and bodies as well as postiche work. They also produce creature features based on sketches and models they have created themselves. This in turn includes life casts, styling and incorporation of wigs, hairpieces and beards, the processing of facial hair, haircuts and colors; also SFX make-up includes the creation of injuries and scars, bald heads, tattoos, false body parts, facial and body impressions, teeth and more.

The stunt department includes stunt coordinator and stunt performers (stuntwoman/stuntman). Their job is to choreograph and execute the movements for stunts and guarantee the safety of the people involved in the stunt.