Behind the Camera: Top 5 Movie Jobs

Chegg
Updated: September 9, 2020

While the glitz and glamour of being a movie star sounds appealing, the real magic often happens behind the camera. So many components go into creating a movie, and there are a plethora of career options to match. You might have to put in a few years as a runner to get these top movie jobs, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

1. Director – Directors run the show, and they’re known for putting their unique stamp on a production. This role lets you bring your vision to life on screen, and you’ll have a hand in just about every aspect of production to create a cohesive, brilliant picture.

2. Producer – The producer for a movie ensures flow, checking that actors, sets, and other components are where they need to be, when they need to be there. As a producer, you take on a role that’s less artistic and more administrative, allowing everyone to do their job to the best of their abilities.

3. Editor – As the editor of a film, you’re left with the most difficult task of all: creating a movie where none exists. You patch together film rolls of various scenes, actors, and locations, adding special effects, music, and lighting techniques to create a story. It’s in the editing room that all of the elements of a film come together.

4. Screenwriter – Without screenwriters, there wouldn’t be a film to begin with. The screenwriter is the ultimate creator of the film. You construct the story, setting, dialogue, and characters, and you put it all down on paper.

5. Film Composer – Sometimes, the reason the audience feels something for a character is not thanks to the actor’s moving performance nor the director’s skill in capturing that performance at the right moment in the right way. It’s actually because the film composer decided that that moment called for a certain note from a violin. A film’s original score often becomes synonymous with the film itself, and it can make or break a picture.