Floor Runner – the role of a runner is to carry out the ‘basic’ tasks on set and running errands, with a stereotypical job being they have to make tea and coffees for the crew. They also have a large variety of jobs when working, such as passing on messages, driving and organising props. Their main aim is to do whatever job is assigned as quickly and efficiently as possible. They are usually expected to follow the instruction of producers, directors and assistant directors. It is an entry-level position in the filming industry and is where a lot of professional and successful members of the filming industry began. BECTU recommends an hourly pay of £7.50 to £13.38 per hour, however you could get paid more depending on skills and experience. Their work wouldn’t have set out hours, such as 9 to 5, but they would have to work a lot during production. Desired skills for this role in includes: being observant, a good common sense and initiative, organisation, enthusiasm and being reliable. A pro of this job would be that it is a very good pathway for getting into the industry, and can help someone get various contacts from different job roles throughout a set. Qualifications are not necessary for this job as it as much more based on personality and willingness to work.
Editor – Editors are in charge of editing the final footage of a film and working alongside the director where possible to create the final edit. They are also in charge of running a team of assistants and trainees during productions. They work unsociable hours, usually under a lot of pressure, time-wise, to get their work done. They must use the, sometimes, mess of shots and scenes and make sure the story flows from beginning to end. They are usually employed on a freelance term by the producer, based on reputation and experience. Before shooting starts, the editor will work with the director to understand what the intent and outcome of editing and shooting should be. The average pay for a film editor would be roughly, £24.53 an hour. However, this could range depending on the size of the production experience etc. Their work pattern would very much be a lot of work all at once, such as over two or three months to finish a feature film, and then a break for a while. A positive of this job is it’s good pay and it can be very rewarding to be a trainee or assistant and move up through the ranks in editing, getting more experience throughout. A drawback of this role would be the long hours, with a sometimes an unbearable amount of stress. Because of this, persistence and the ability to work under pressure is key to being a successful editor. Traditionally, people go from something entry level, like a runner, then a trainee, second assistant, first assistant and eventually becoming an editor themselves. I would consider this as a very big positive for this role, as you would really work your way up, getting hands-on experience from the start.
Camera Trainee – As another entry level job, the camera trainee learns the technique and skills of a camera operator, assisting the second assistant camera. Some tasks are similar to a runner, passing messages and getting tea and coffees, but it can range to more technical jobs, such as looking after camera equipment and learning how to use it. They aren’t in charge of anyone, but work closely with the second assistant camera, who is under the first assistant camera. This person would be working long hours, most likely the same as a camera operators and it would be a very tiring job. Some skills a camera trainee must have are; good listening and communicating skills, enthusiasm and the willingness to learn. The general idea of being a trainee is learning, so most of their skills should be down the route of developing their skills and learning while doing work. Qualifications are a bit more common in these sorts of roles, and drama, art of film/media studies degrees at university usually provide a good beginning grounding. Also, short courses in camerawork and photography can be very beneficial to getting such a role. A pro of this job would be it’s another good beginning platform to work your way up and get hands-on experience. However, a negative would be the hours would be very long and a lot of work, as you’d be doing a lot of running around and following directions.
Eve Chester SDC 