Top Creative Jobs in Filmmaking: Job Descriptions of the "Holy Trinity of Film Production"

While many aspiring film professionals study in film schools for formal training, production work doesn't necessarily require a degree in filmmaking. A person's expertise for the job through proven track record and experience in the field is more important in film production than just earning a degree.

From Entry-level to Top Film Jobs

Those just starting to climb their way up the ladder usually aim to become a producer to work on the logistic side of production or become any of the top three creative people in filmmaking: the director, director of photography (cinematographer) or production designer. There are also those who intend to become screenwriters, editors, special effects artists, animators, prosthetic artists, make-up artists, musical scorers, sound designers, art directors, gaffers, camera assistant, script continuity supervisor, and many other fields required in a film production. Most people start with entry-level work as a production assistant, a trainee, or an apprentice to any of the aforementioned film workers.

Some very talented ones find luck through garnering awards from their independent or student films that they make it in the industry without having to do entry-level work. The success of their films in film festivals can pave way for more production opportunities for them. However, given such a very competitive creative field with so many aspiring filmmakers trying their best to get those big breaks, only a few really make it quite early on.

Aside from a good filmography and credible track record early in their careers, networking skills is also important in getting good film production jobs. Some find film schools very helpful to get the connection, exposure, and of course, formal film education, to help them get their way through the very competitive film industry.

Film people often describe the creative jobs director, director of photography, and production designer as the "holy trinity of film production." This is mainly because these three creative positions are the top decision-makers in their specific work designations.

Director

The primary requirements for a director include technical expertise, production experience, and organization, storytelling, communication, and management skills. From a script, a director expresses his creative and technical ideas and creates cinematic images that tell a story through the film medium. The director acts like "the captain of the ship" as s/he is responsible for the overall creative decisions in a production: approving the camera work and lighting design from the director of photography, approving designs from the production designer; approving the music from the film scorer, among other things. The director works hand-in-hand with the executive producer, the one who has the final say on all factors related to the film production.

Director of Photography

The director of photography is also commonly called the cinematographer. S/He is responsible for the lighting design and camera work according to the right look and feel the director envisions for the film. This job is both very technical and creative. Application of creative insights requires deep technical knowledge on film exposure, types of cameras, lenses, lighting and grip equipment, color correction during post-production, and other technical concerns. S/He also supervises the camera, lighting and grip crews, and s/he works closely with the director and the production designer. S/He collaborates with them as the actors' blocking and acting, along with the sets, props, costumes, and make-up of actors all affect her/his lighting style and camera work.

Production Designer

The production designer develops the artistic design of the physical elements to appear on camera. During pre-production, s/he presents initial conceptual models and samples for the designs of the sets, props, costumes, and make-up, all of which must be approved by the director. As the head of the art department, the set designer, costume designer, make-up artist, and prosthetics artist directly work with the production designer. An individual in this type of creative job must have a working knowledge on the fundamentals of architecture, history and culture, visual arts, industrial design, and applied arts.