I am a
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TV or film production manager

Production managers take care of the business, financial and recruitment side of film and television productions.

Average annual salary

Variable

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Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a broadcaster's training scheme

University

You could do a degree in media production before joining a production company.

You'll find it helpful to take a course that includes the technical side of production, work placements and the chance to make industry contacts.

You'll also need a strong knowledge of business and finance management.

Entry requirements:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course which may help you to get a job with a media company. With experience, you could then move on to work in production management. Courses include:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production
  • Level 3 Diploma in Film and Television Production
  • T Level in Media, Broadcast and Production

Entry requirements:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do a media production coordinator higher apprenticeship, or a creative industries production management degree apprenticeship. You'll usually need experience in production management or production accounting to do the degree apprenticeship.

You could also start out by doing a broadcast production assistant advanced apprenticeship and then work your way up to management level as your experience grows.

Entry requirements:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a runner or an assistant in the production office, then move on to become a production co-ordinator or assistant production manager. You could also start as a trainee production accountant.

Another option is to go from a job as a runner to 3rd, 2nd and 1st assistant director, or from assistant TV floor manager, then to floor manager or location manager.

Volunteering

You'll need a lot of experience in TV or film, and an in-depth understanding of the production process to get into this job. Your experience and track record will often be more important than formal qualifications.

You can search for film and TV companies to approach for experience through media business listing services like PACT and The Knowledge .

Having a network of contacts in the industry will help you to find work.

OtherRoutes

You may be able to get training through one of the new entrant training schemes that broadcasters and film bodies offer. For example:

You could also take short courses in production skills run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

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Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:
  • knowledge of media production and communication
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • excellent written communication skills
  • leadership skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to read English
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • customer service skills
  • concentration skills
  • maths skills
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What you'll do:

Production managers take care of the business, financial and recruitment side of film and television productions.

During the planning stages of a production, you may:

  • work with the producer and senior production staff
  • draw up a production schedule and budget
  • negotiate costs with suppliers
  • hire crew and contractors
  • approve bookings of resources, locations, equipment and supplies
  • arrange permissions and risk assessments
  • manage a production office team

During filming, you could:

  • make sure the production runs to schedule
  • control and monitor production spending
  • report on progress to the producers
  • deal with any problems during filming
  • make changes to the schedule or budget, like rescheduling filming in bad weather
  • make sure that health and safety rules, insurance terms, copyright laws and union agreements are followed

Location : You could work at a film studio, on a film set, in an office or at a TV studio.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.

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Salary:

Starter : variable
Experienced : variable

These figures are a guide

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Working hours:

38 - 40 hours variable

Working Pattern is freelance / self-employed away from home

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Career Path:

You could work on freelance contracts for television broadcasters or independent production companies and negotiate better fees based on your experience and reputation.

You could open your own studio or move into working as an executive producer, where you'll be responsible for several productions at once.

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