What Skills Do You Need for Film Jobs?

Want to work in the film industry? Explore popular film jobs in the UK as well as what skills are required...

By Monster Contributor

The UK film industry may fall under the shadow of its Hollywood counterpart, but British film industry workers are hot property and revered around the world with many of the biggest blockbusters being produced by British film makers and backed by US-finance. Such is the demand for the skills of those working in film jobs that the average gross income for workers in the UK production sector is around a third higher than the UK average income.

As your career progresses you will be expected to adapt and learn new skills and it is your responsibility to identify the key skills that are relevant to the job you already doing and more importantly, for the job you want to be doing next. So be proactive and take steps to acquire as many of these skills as you can and make yourself stand out from your competition.

Popular Film Jobs in the UK

So what are some of the most popular film industry jobs in the UK? As the industry is so vast, thousands are employed annually across various different departments. In addition to the actors and directors there an abundance of additional roles needed - from writers, to stylists, to caterers to accountants. Even construction workers are needed to construct sets and digital artists to create CGI and add finishing touches to edits. However, below are just some of the jobs film sets typically require:

Script Writers

When it comes to film jobs, being a writer ;is an art form that takes time to develop. You will need to learn how to develop your creativity, work to strict deadlines, and work as part of a team of other screen writers, development executives, story consultants and producers. And with this, you will need to handle criticism of your work and take frequent rejection with a degree of composure. Although you don't need any formal training to become a script writer, the producers you hope to sell your work to will expect screenplays to be submitted in standard Master shot format, and will more often than not reject any submissions unless they are presented in this way. Not forgetting your ability to network for Britain – getting on and getting ahead as a screen writer really is a case of who you know but more importantly, who knows you.

Production Designers

Once you have served your apprenticeship and your career really starts to move forward you will need to up the ante in terms of your skill level. Expect to become an expert in computer aided design (CAD) programmes such as Sketch-Up and Vectorworks, and as you progress through the proverbial ranks as it were you will become more involved in budgetary control so you will need to become familiar with various financial software packages. You will need to develop your leadership skills and ability to forge effective working relationships with an often disparate team of draughtsmen, designers and art assistants, be confident in commissioning all special effects and be the production team's key trouble shooter – the one who can find a cost-effective solution to any design or set problems.

Camera Crew

Moving from Camera Assistant to First Camera Assistant (1 st AC) and beyond will see you increasing your level of expertise from basic camera operating skills to a comprehensive working knowledge of all camera systems, lenses and camera support equipment. And by the time you reach Director level you will not only be skilled in photo-chemical and digital processes but your ability for creative invention, decision-making and adapting ideas quickly will be invaluable.

Film Makers

The more experience you gain working on location and on set, the more skills you will acquire which will be invaluable as you seek to progress from Runner through to Director level. You will need to gain experience in planning and budgeting and understand the implications this may have on scheduling. You will need to keep abreast of current Health and Safety legislation, and become familiar with all aspects of the entire production (including managing the technical aspects of filming, including the camera, sound, lighting, design and special effects departments) and post-production (working with editors to reach the final cut or version of the film) processes such as digital grading of the film. Above all you will need to be the driving force behind your team and motivate them to achieve the desired outcome of a project.

Editing

As you graduate and become an editor your role will develop to include not only all things creative but you will soon find yourself wearing a number of other hats too. One minute you will be editing a series of shots in the cutting room looking at the previous day's rushes and the next you could be on set making some improvised changes to the script to ensure that a particular scene flows well or supervising the music and sound mix to the film. So you need to learn how to manage people, delegate tasks to your assistants and develop an acute sense of visual awareness, imagination and creativity.

The film industry can be an unforgiving environment while being an equally rewarding one to work in. Competition for jobs at every level is intense and when you get promoted to the next level you will be expected to hit the ground running – initial find-your-feet honeymoon periods are short-lived. By taking a proactive approach to develop your skill base and enhance your knowledge of your specialist field you will position yourself as a bankable investment to an employer rather than an untried risk.

Ready to Apply for Film Jobs?

Finding work in film can seem a daunting task, but luckily here at Monster we feature various jobs across the movie industry. If you create a profile with us you'll be able to search for and apply for film roles and receive regular job application updates. You'll also be able to connect with leading recruiters in the sector.