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about
what is
film/tv/audio
Film and TV productions are divided into a range of disciplines or stages that combine to produce a finished piece of screen work that can be released before an audience across traditional (exhibitors, movie theatres, TV broadcasting) or digital platforms (online).
Although filmmaking originally involved the use of film, most film productions are now digital and filmmaking refers to the process of crafting an audio-visual story commercially for distribution, broadcast, or streaming.

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disciplines
what is cinematography
Also known as the Director of Photography (DP), cinematographers capture the story in visuals using a camera. They manage all visual elements of the screen production such as lighting, composition, color tones, camera movements, and distance. They decide whether a scene needs to be shot at wide-angle or close, sharp or blur, depth of field and focus, and other variables to achieve desired mood and effect.
A cinematographer’s primary goal is to capture the director’s vision into images. To make this happen, they lead all the crew that works on the camera and lights of screen production.
- Camera Production Assistant
- Motion Control Operator
- Camera Operator
- Camera Assistant
- Director of Photography
- Videographer
- Video Editor
- TV broadcasting companies (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Telemundo, etc)
- Film production companies and studios
- Advertising agencies
- Performing arts and spectator sports productions
- Self-employed or hired per project (freelance)
- USD $65,000 average annually
- AUD $73,000 average annually
- GBP 30,500 average annually
Source: careersinfilm.com, joboutlook.gov.au, payscale.com
Equipment:
- Light meter
- Point and shoot camera
- Gaffers glass
- Laser pointer
- Director’s viewfinders
- Smartphone
- Grip gloves
Software:
- Final Cut Pro
- Avid Media Composer
- Adobe Premiere
- Hedge
- ShotPut Pro
- Chrono Sync
- DaVinci Resolve
disciplines
what is directing?
Directors are storytellers and the creative lead of the film. A director is in charge of every creative aspect of the screen production from pre-production, development to post-production. The director ensures the film’s story (script) is conveyed through the actor’s performance and the onscreen visuals. He/she helps assemble the crew that will help execute that vision or interpretation of the story.
There are many pathways to becoming a film director. Some film directors started as screenwriters, cinematographers, producers, film editors, or actors. Other film directors start their careers by attending film school.
- Attending casting sessions
- Script reading and development
- Motivating actors to produce their best performance
- Identifying set locations
- Adhering to budget and schedules
- Managing the crew on set
- Working with the editor to finish the film
- Assisting in marketing and promotion of the film
- Motion picture and film production companies
- TV broadcast companies
- Advertising agencies
- Performing arts and spectator sports productions
- Self-employed or hired per project
- USD $62,000 – $89,000 annually
- AUD $75,000 average annually
- CAD 62,000 average annually
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_director
- Storyboards
- Shot lists
- Directors viewfinder
- Light meter
- Wireless monitor
- Camera/DSLR
- Annotated script


disciplines
what is editing?
Editors work as part of the post-production team to carry out the director’s vision for how each shot in a movie should be put together. Films tend not to be short in order; it’s the editor’s artistic talent, technique, and practice of assembling shots that make a coherent film sequence work.
It’s in pre-production that editors work closely with directors to decide how to make the most of the script.
- Studying film scripts and using them to guide scene development
- Determining which camera angles and shots to use in the sequence
- Edit frame by frame as needed
- Coordinating sound and VFX in post-production
- Communicating with different people (including assistant editor) with regards to the status of editing
- Work within the timeline determined by directors and producers
- Motion picture and film production companies / studios
- TV broadcast companies
- Advertising agencies
- Self-employed or hired per project (works at their own private office)
- Junior editor: USD $25,000 – USD $30,000
- Senior editor:
- USD $80,000
- AUD $90,000
- Adobe products like After Effects, Illustrator, and Photoshop
- AJAX
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Avid
- HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
disciplines
what is music for screen?
A screen composer creates and produces original music for film, TV, video games and other mediums such as advertising. The music is the “emotional colour” that heightens the audience’s experience of the screen production.
This role demands a high level of music composition skills, as well as technical skills to configure and use digital audio workstations and SW.
Screen music professionals aspire to become:
- Screen Composers
- Arrangers
- Programmers
- Orchestrators
- Copyists
- Music Editors
A screen composer will be equipped to work at:
- Film and TV studios
- Game production studios
- Advertising agencies
- Freelance for web-based projects and interactive media projects
Mid-career: USD $30,000 – $60,000
Tools:
- Sample libraries
- Sound card
- Keyboard
- Workstation
- Hard drive / RAM
Software:
- Pro tools
- Logic
- Sonar
- Cubase
- Reaper


disciplines
what is producing?
Simply put, the producer is the person who “runs” the show. The producer has overall responsibility for delivering the screen production (film, TV, games, apps) in terms of quality, budget and deadline.
The producer will start long before the film/TV series goes into production: from acquiring/choosing the story, presenting the project to studios or broadcasters, raising the funds and choosing the key team members (director, writer, editors).
- Executive Producer
- Associate Producer
- Production Assistant
- Producer
- Co-producer
- Line Producer
- Supervising or Development Producer
- Coordinating Producer
- Consulting Producer
- Web Producer
- VFX Producer
- Motion picture and film production companies / Studios
- TV broadcast companies
- Advertising agencies
- Self-employed or hired per project (works at their own private office)
- Production assistant: USD $34,000
- Producer: USD $41,000
- Production coordinator: USD $44,000
- Web producer: USD $47,000
- Associate producer: USD $51,000
- Executive producer: USD $71,000
Source: indeed.com
Production management and Showbiz Software:
- StudioBinder
- Celtx
- Dramatify
- Yamdu
- Gorilla Software
- Scenechronize
- Movie Magic
Tools:
- Backstage (for auditions)
- Filmsupply (cinematic footage licensing)
- Frame.io (to review rush cuts)
- Shot designer app
- Google Drive
- Laptop
disciplines
what is production design?
A production designer is the head of the Art Department. They are responsible for bringing the director’s ideas to life by creating and organizing the physical world surrounding a screen production story (film, TV) or theatre production. They identify a design style for sets, locations, props, graphics, camera angles and costumes.
The production designer works closely with the director, cinematographer, and producer.
- Read scripts to identify the visual style
- Develop a conceptual style for every aspect of the production
- Produce scale drawings of sets, and draw up ideas for costumes, props, and make-up
- Provide ideas for special effects or graphics
- Research and scout out filming locations
- Hires an art department team
Different roles under the Art department include artists, set designers, set decorators, costume designers, hair and make-up specialists, construction coordinators, and props masters.
The working environment varies and they are usually employed on a freelance basis.
They can work in theatre workshops, television and film studios, in a design office, at home, or away on location.
- USD $50,100 base salary (average)
- AUD $54,000 average based salary
- Senior roles: AUD $102,000
Source: Indeed.com
Drawings are often still produced by hand, but CAD software TurboCAD or AutoCAD, Sketch-Up, Cinema 4D, and Vectorworks are also used. Specifically:
- Adobe XD: fast & powerful UI/UX design tool
- Figma: an interface design tool
- Sketch: the digital design toolkit
- InVision: digital product design & workflow
- Flowmapp: visual sitemaps
- Adobe After Effects: stunning animations of all sorts
- Adobe Illustrator: to illustrate


disciplines
what is radio?
Radio and/or podcast presenters host radio programs such as talkback shows, music programs, news bulletins or programs relating to specific content or communities.
A good radio presenter is informative, well-prepared and original, with a clear idea of how to engage with the listener as an individual.
Tasks for a radio/podcasting presenter are: to research and prepare for their spot/program, talk to their listeners, play entertainment items, interview guests and celebrities and provide public information.
Roles and careers include:
- Radio and podcast announcer
- Radio and podcast producer
- Digital content producer
- Panel operator
- Audio producer
- Commercial and public radio companies
- Community stations
- Podcasting companies
- USD $45,000 annually
- Top end: USD $96,000
Source: radiofidelity.com
Audio streaming Software:
- BUTT: free & easy to use encoder available on all platforms
- Mixxx: technical mixer for radio experts
- Virtual DJ Pro: professional mixes without expensive hardware
- Serato DJ: world-renowned DJ software
- RadioDJ: advanced radio show management for broadcasters
disciplines
what is screenwriting?
There is no creative production without a script or screenplay….and there is no script without the screenwriter or screenplay writer. They write the script / screenplay on which mass media such as films, television programs, video games, commercials, and theatre productions. They create the dialogue, the characters and the storyline of a script.
Writers must be good at listening to the director’s ideas and wishes, but be able to present their own unique concepts and capture these in words. They also collaborate with producers and actos to draft and redraft their script, often working to tight deadlines.
- Create an initial framework, or treatment, for scripts/ screenplays
- Write or adapt a story into a script
- Meet with film executives to pitch screenplays and ideas
- Weave together visual elements in scenes with plot and dialogue
Screenwriters are almost always freelancers.
- USD$25,000 – $30,000 for smaller jobs
- Senior:
- USD $92,000
- AUD $75,000
Source: indeed.com
- Final Draft: screenwriting software used by many writers
- StudioBinder
- Celtx: software that helps create better content quickly
- Writer Duet: for real-time collaboration
- Fade In: state of the art interface application


disciplines
what is sound design?
The sound designer is responsible for obtaining all sound effects, whether recorded or live for a specific production. The sound design enhances the mood, atmosphere, and tone of screen production.
Sound design is the final element needed to create an immersive experience for the audience…. what would the lightsaber on Star Wars be without “swooshing” sound design!
The vast majority of a sound designer’s work is done during Post-Production.
On larger productions, the sound designer typically leads an audio team consisting of:
- Foley artists
- Audio engineers
- Re-recording mixers
- Dialogue editors
- Supervising sound editors
- ADR teams
- Music editors and even composers
The five elements of sounds design are:
- Ambiance
- Foley sounds
- Foley sounds
- Audio Effects (SFX)
- Voice Over
Sound designers are almost always freelancers.
- Lower end: USD $43,000
- Upper end: USD $83,000
- Freelance: AUD $60,000 annually
- Broadcaster Senior Sounds Designs: AUD $96,000 – $A109,000
Source: glassdoor.com.au, ziprecruiter.com
Popular software used by sound designers:
- Adobe Audition
- Ableton Live
- Logic Pro X
- GarageBand
- Descript
- Audacity
- Sound Forge
- Studio One
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