Wakatipu High School
Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage) Kaiāwhina Whakarite (Kiriata, Pouaka Whakaata, Irirangi, Whakaari rānei)
Production assistants help production teams organise the making of film, television, radio or stage productions.
Production assistants may do some or all of the following:
- support the production manager and producer
- work out shooting schedules
- arrange production meetings
- co-ordinate and book production crews
- hire and book vehicles, accommodation, equipment and flights
- assist with housekeeping tasks such as tidying facilities
- get permission to use film locations
- administrative, publicity and research work
- clear copyright on music used.
Physical Requirements
Production assistants need to be reasonably fit as they may need to do physical tasks, especially on location shoots.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for production assistants includes:
- work as a production runner or production secretary
- work as an office or administrative assistant
- work as a researcher for film and television productions
- work on their own film, theatre or digital productions
- experience organising and dealing with the public.
Personal Qualities
Production assistants need to be:
- logical and practical
- fast and accurate
- good verbal and written communicators
- able to show initiative
- able to work well under pressure
- able to work as part of a team
- good at problem solving
- well organised, with good time management skills
- good at researching
- good at administrative duties.
Skills
Production assistants need to have knowledge of:
- each department in their production company
- film and television production schedules
- how a studio operates and who to contact to fix problems
- how to use video editing software to perform basic editing tasks
- health and safety practices.
Conditions
Production assistants:
- work varying hours, depending on the type of production. They may have to work 10-12 hour days with irregular hours, including evenings and weekends
- work in offices, studios, theatres and outside during location shoots
- may have to travel locally and nationally to work on productions.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a production assistant. However, English, media studies, digital technologies, design and visual communication, music, dance, and drama are useful.
Related Course options
Production assistants usually specialise in either film, television, digital, radio or stage productions.
With experience, production assistants may move into other production roles, such as producer, director, editor or camera operator.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become a production assistant. However, a tertiary qualification in media production, broadcasting, or film and television may be useful.
A full driver's licence is usually required.
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