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Film Adjacent 

EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS

Camera on Crane

Service, Supply & Production Equipment Companies

The service and supply companies provide everything from equipment and gear rentals to legal and casting services and even the purpose-built sound stages that are leased by productions.

Function and Stage

There are too many functional roles to list them all, but the following will give you a good idea of those people and companies known as Supply and Service:

  • Warehouse positions in equipment supply companies (also known as gear rental houses)

  • Specialized suppliers such as marine filming units

  • Casting directors

  • Talent agents

  • Lawyers

  • Insurance and finance teams

  • Business affairs personnel

  • Rights clearance specialists

  • Music licensing experts

  • Script breakdown services personnel

  • Marketing and publicity specialists who support the sales and distribution phase of filmmaking

Post Production in Process

Education

As a highly educated workforce, many who work in film have post-secondary education, whether training on the art or craft of filmmaking (film schools training above-the-line talent), a specific technical or trades function relevant to live action production, and animation, VFX and postproduction. (animation and VFX programs or schools training creative techtalent).

Additionally, the industry has a dedicated health and safety training organization, Actsafe, which serves workers in the entertainment and the arts. See some of the required training courses to work in motion picture production listed on the Opportunities section of this site or visit ActSafe.

Function and Stage

Whether private institution or public, most education institutions will have a mix of film instructors, professors, operational and administrative staff.

Video Editing

Industry Associations

The Editing Department assembles shot footage into a rough assembly and using complex editing software in an office setting, brings the final story together in a coherent narrative that fulfills the director’s vision. Editing roles can found at a post-production facility, or can be freelance positions, either union or non-union.

Entry-Level Positions in Demand

  • Postproduction Assistant (Post PA) – Entry Level

  • 2nd Assistant Editor: Dailies Night Shift – Entry Level

Working Together on Project

Commission And Government

Film Commissions and Government agencies supporting film production activity include the provincial film commission and six regional film commissions. Government agencies include municipal licensing agencies who provide permits for location shooting, to funding agencies such as Telefilm Canada, Creative BC and the Canada Media Fund to those who work in policy development in government agencies.

Function and Stage

Here are some of the roles in Film Commissions and Government Agencies:

  • Film Commissioner

  • Location Consultant

  • Community Affairs Coordinator

  • Film and Special Events permitting and licensing staff (municipal)

  • Business analysts

  • Grants administrators

Outdoor movie

Film Festivals

Film festivals often operate with a small core staff, and expand with contract workers and volunteers to run the festival. Volunteering at a film festival can be a good way to make film industry connections and develop a network of peers.

Function and Stage

Here are just a few roles that a film festival may have:

  • Festival Director

  • Festival Programmer

  • Marketing & Communications

  • Operations

  • Development Director

  • Community Outreach

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