2.1 Explain the working culture of the film industry

The film industry is composed of freelance, creative individuals who envision, produce and distribute films. It is a challenging industry to get established in but one filled with different, unique experiences. Hours within the industry are long and often tiresome. They involve being able to deal with film production’s dynamic nature. Salaries within the industry average from £32,500 a year to just over £100,000 per year. Networking, however, is essential to progress within the industry and is a great way to secure yourself future jobs. All film productions have a budget and schedule to work within. Managing this can be challenging to do without the help of producers.

One of the positives of working in film is that there is lots of creative freedom. The opportunities within film are unlimited, giving freelancers a choice to express themselves and showcase their talent. Also, the industry is diverse and wide-ranging, so there are lots of job options available. For example, you could be a scriptwriter, producer, director, makeup artist etc. This interdependence of different departments creates an excellent environment for freelancers to collaborate with like-minded people. The industry is a different lifestyle and can be extremely rewarding to experiment with new styles, roles and concepts.

On the other hand, there are some negatives of working in film. Depending on the role, the long hours and low pay may be demotivating, mainly because the job responsibilities can be intense. It would be rare to work a strict 9-5 schedule with the film industry, especially during production, so you have to handle the extra workload. It can also be hard to get started within the industry and establish yourself without the right connections. Besides, the industry is subject to heavy criticism as each piece of work has to be judged by a wider community who may not understand your creative vision or appreciate your technical skills. This criticism is essential, though, as it builds your character and can help strengthen your talent.

Some essential qualities needed to work within the film industry are flexibility, good time management, creativity, risk-taking, being a good communicator, and building solid relationships. The industry is dynamic, so you have to think on your feet quickly and creatively. Taking risks is beneficial to make it far as sometimes, they may pay off with big rewards. Being strict with time-management is essential. If not, films risk being uncomplete by their submission deadline and within their set budget, which can be a massive expense for a production team.

One of my biggest giveaways from the masterclasses was the need to think outside of the box. The masterclass speakers showed us all the innovative ways they have approached filmmaking. For example, Hugo Pettitt taught us ways to manage film productions from remote locations efficiently. He produced an entire documentary featuring NHS workers without leaving his house. The advice he gave was invaluable in helping us prepare ourselves to direct our short film remotely. Also, Paul Holbrook taught us about the need to tell other people’s stories authentically. He opted for street casting instead of using an agency to convey the realities of council living respectfully. Sharing this information with us reminded us to get to the rawest, honest visual content for our short film.

Collaborating with others on our short film was exciting. It showed me the significance of communication and time management to run a film production. Our producer, Dilan, was effective at keeping us organised. She arranged a shared Google Drive to edit, view and store all relevant files and documents for our production. We had our risk assessments, character profiles and shooting scripts to ensure we stayed on time and completed all our objectives on the shoot day. Without working together so closely and communicating quickly with each other, I doubt that our shoot would have been as amazing as it was.

2.2 Describe a range of key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

Here are some key roles within the film industry:

PRODUCER
A producer is responsible for managing a film production from pre-production to post-production. There are many types of producers, but the main ones are executive producer, line producer, supervising producer and creative producer. Their role typically involves:

• Developing a film idea.
• Finalising scripts.
• Managing to finance for the film and ensuring the film is produced on-budget and on-schedule.

They work closely with the 1st assistant director, line producer, and production designer as their primary role is to manage a film project’s logistics. However, not all producers play an active role in the development of a film. Some producers only contribute the rights to a story or large amounts of financing for the film. 

DIRECTOR
A director is mainly responsible for overseeing the principal and post-production stages of a film project, but they are also be involved in the pre-production stage. They play a crucial role in cast selection, production design, and all creative aspects of filmmaking. Directors are the centre of film production and need to have a solid technical and theoretical understanding of each production role. They are the visual author of the film’s vision and have to guide the technical crew to ensure their creative vision is translated onto the screen as desired.

Directors also work very closely with the actors in a film to guide them through scenes to evoke strong performances from them. During post-production, they play a critical role in the editing process as they break down the footage and review the editor’s cuts. Directors ultimately make the most significant decisions during film production and have complete creative control over the final film submission.

PRODUCTION DESIGNER
A production designer is responsible for translating the script for a film into a visual form as they are the art department heads. Their role is only involved in the pre-production and principal production stage.

Through the use of storyboards, they help visualise the first draft of a film before it goes into principal production. Their role is significant as they work alongside the director to guide a project’s visuals throughout production. Their storyboarding is also essential during post-production as it is used to inform the editing process.

They work closely with the directors and producers of a film and collaborate with set designers, visual & special effects departments, and the director of photography to ensure that the film’s vision is accomplished. Production designers also have to do research to ensure that they are accurately representing the director’s vision through the wardrobe, set design, props and other design elements.

SCREENWRITER
A screenwriter creates the initial framework for a film project as they are responsible for translating a narrative into dialogue for actors. They shape the sequence of events in a film and ensure that the script is logical and exciting. The scriptwriter’s role is essential to the production process as, without a script, there is no film. Scriptwriters work closely with the producers, directors and actors during film production. They have to create multiple drafts for movies and often have to rewrite the script during production.

CINEMATOGRAPHER
A cinematographer (also known as Director of Photography) is responsible for capturing a project’s script on film or video. Their role involves managing the technical aspects of production, such as lighting and camera work.

Cinematographers work closely with the director as their choices have to support the film’s intentions. They have to use their knowledge of mise-en-scene to determine a frame’s composition during a film project. By manipulating lighting, camera shots, camera angles, and other cinematography techniques, they are responsible for accurately conveying the directors’ visual or atmospheric concepts. Cinematographers play a crucial role in film production as cinematography sets the overall look and mood of a film’s visual narrative.

2.3 Potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

Industry Day presented us with diverse progression routes into the film industry. They talked to us about programs like Future Skills by the British Film Institute (BFI). The BFI has developed the program to combat skill shortages by getting more young people interested in filmmaking. Programmes like these aim to educate curious-minded individuals while giving them the technical and creative skills they need to succeed. Also, schemes like the BAFTA UK Scholarship programme provide financial aid to students looking to study film in the UK. The speakers at the Industry Day event also recommended participating in film festivals to build a resume and taking advantage of the many financial grants supporting students with their film projects.

In the future, I am hoping to become a creative director or a director of photography. I am fascinated by the visual possibilities of film. I hope to capture people’s voices and situations that don’t get enough attention in a visually and mentally stimulating way. Every decision made by the creative team can make or break a film. From the colour grading to the setting and the costuming, all these factors influence a movie’s atmosphere and the audience response. I desire to be a director because their overall vision drives the entire production. They are the centre of film productions and somehow transform lifeless pages from a script into moving magic.

I am presently a prospective student at the London Film Academy (LFA) in the UK. I have been granted acceptance to the film academy for a two-year, practical filmmaking Bachelor’s degree, starting September 2021. During the first year of my course, I will cover the main disciplines of film. When deciding on my university, I felt that it was essential to do a practical course that covered a range of critical skills because I want to be as knowledgeable of the industry as possible. I wanted to gain a more in-depth understanding of the technical, practical skills involved with film production, such as editing and sound design. It’s also important for me as an aspiring director to familiarise myself with the different production departments. However, I can choose between completing a work placement and writing a dissertation for my second year. I am hoping to find a suitable work placement, as practical experience is valuable within the industry. The course also involves lots of group work and the opportunity to work for a salary within the academy. I am excited to begin my journey into the industry at this film academy.

After university, I am hoping to work freelance within the industry. During this time, I will network consistently to help grow my connections within the industry. I also aim to produce different small projects and enter them into film festivals. Presently, I continue to make short films about topics that inspire me, and sometimes I collaborate with film fanatics. This progression route is vital for a director. Producers are more likely to hire you for projects if you have a more extensive visual portfolio. Also, working on multiple projects allows me to continue to challenge and develop my skills. However, if working in the film industry is unsuccessful, I hope to combine my marketing knowledge in business, photography and filmmaking to become a creative director for a media company. Although my final career goal is uncertain, I am confident that the creative industry is the right place for me.

I am looking to working within large production studios like Eon Productions, which have produced many James Bond movies and Disney with their extensive global network. If not, I might experiment with television production and apply for internships or jobs at studios like ITV or the BBC. For the first few years, I’m choosing not to limit my options. I aim to experiment with as many aspects of film production as possible until I find the department or company that compliments me best. However, during this time, I will still be working on personal projects to share on my social media platforms, like my photography page, to help gain external support for my work. I want to continue making impactful short films that address societal issues such as drug addiction, abuse, gender roles etc. I’m able to produce low-budget productions like these with friends and other filmmakers who are willing to be involved in these project free-of-charge.

In addition to this, I think it’s important to continue networking through organisations like the BFI Academy. For example, my involvement in the BFI Academy documentary filmmaking course has introduced me to a new group of screenwriters, sound designers, camera operators, producers, etc. I can collaborate on projects. I am also a regular subscriber to the BAFTA and London Film Academy newsletter. These newsletters contain information about current events in the industry, film festivals, progression opportunities and invitations to webinars and talks with industry workers. I’m hoping to continue growing my knowledge and to develop strong relationships with contacts that could potentially help me in the future.

Following this course, my next big step is to start my practical filmmaking course at the London Film Academy this year. I am excited to be a part of a community of individuals with similar passions and desires to mine. I enjoy working in large groups and getting to know the experiences and perspectives of different people. I hope that this experience will help develop the essential skills in me to be a successful filmmaker. Also, I am looking forward to seeing what I can create, especially with proper training and teaching.