A guide by 91热爆 Academy
Creative Skillset
What is TV production management?
TV production management is the art of ensuring a production gets made on budget and on time. It's the craft of organising the production and using resources creatively, whether that's sourcing props or managing the budget of a 12-part series.
Day-to-day tasks vary depending on whether the production is drama or factual, a single-camera documentary or a live multi-camera show. It might involve casting, creating call sheets, researching locations, or finding a helicopter for aerial shots.
People start production management careers as production secretaries or production management assistants (PMAs).
What tasks does it involve?
The needs of a production are different before, during and after filming - with the production management team across each stage.
Pre-production
Jobs include doing health-and-safety checks, getting visas and filming permits, sorting out travel arrangements and parking, ordering kit, recording serial numbers and getting insurance.
Production
Production management teams might stay in the office or be out on a shoot. If kit breaks they have to replace it and deal with any problems that might arise during filming.
Post-production
This is about organising edit suites and keeping the edit to schedule. It might involve dealing with graphics companies, checking music rights and ensuring the film gets to the channel on time.
What do the job titles mean?
Production secretary
The first step in production management: you are part of a team, taking on more responsibility as you learn the role. At the 91热爆 this is called a production management assistant (PMA). This role is sometimes carried out by a personal assistant (PA).
Production Coordinator
The level typically attained after two to three years as a production secretary: you are responsible for the day-to-day running of a complete production.When people are entering this role they might be known as a junior production coordinator. On moving up, they might be a senior production coordinator.
Production Manager
It can take five to 10 years to reach this level: you are responsible for the whole production or series and line-manage coordinators and PMAs. People in this role are sometimes known as junior production managers. 91热爆 production managers might become unit managers before they move up a level.
Head of production
The top of the tree: the role involves devising the strategy for production management across the whole of a TV company's output. Production heads manage production executives who oversee several productions. Some come to this role through production rather than production management.
How does the team fit together?
Crimewatch production manager Jill Jones gives an overview of her work on a live TV programme and shows how the production coordinators and production management assistants fit into her team.
Why do PMAs love their job
Ben Schumann-Nixon
"It's the sense of achievement. Organising and planning are the key to the role - working through obstacles that come up gives you a real sense of achievement , as well as a relief!" - Ben Schumann-Nixon, The travel show
Pam Kaur
"One of my favourite parts of the job is working on an episode from the draft script up until shooting days and seeing how the script develops. Everyone is lovely and friendly" - Pam Kaur, Doctors
Eirian Stovell
"I love the variety of the job. One day's never the same as the next. And you never know who you'll meet on The One Show" - Eirian Stovell, The One Show
Harriet Jones
"The best part of being a PMA is the range of people you meet in your team and the wider 91热爆. Working together to achieve a common goal and learning from others is great" - Harriet Jones, This World
Philip Goldie
"I like the variety. On a normal day, I might be on a shoot in the morning then back organising rushes in the afternoon. It's a fast-paced role" - Philip Goldie, Current Affairs
Have I got what it takes?
Amanda Robinson
Amanda says: "You also have to be a problem solver - be able to drive innovation and deal with logistics."
Amy Tapper
Amy says: "You need to think ahead to solve problems before they arise. Being able to stay calm under pressure is another key skill."
Jennie Downton
Jennie says: "You have to be able to visualise a whole production from start to finish, and be able to work as a team."
Jonathan Knapp
"You have to be able to accept it when things go wrong and quickly find a solution."
