'It's a wrap!'
Dreamt of having a chance to say that? Envisioned being nominated for a prestigious award? Wait. Did you know that besides the director or scriptwriter, there are many others involved in putting together a single film? Samantha Yong finds out more.
Mention the word ‘film’ and many will immediately associate it with glamour, glitz, celebrities and entertainment. It is no wonder that most Malaysian parents balk at the idea of their children making careers in the film industry. However, if they understood the film industry in Malaysia better, they would see that this fast-paced industry holds a world of job opportunities.The film industry
The first featured film was produced in 1906 by Australians, Dan Barry and Charles Tait. They produced and directed The Story of the Kelly Gang, a silent film based on the infamous Kelly Gang. The film ran continuously for a breathtaking 80 minutes. However, it wasn’t until 1911, that countries other than Australia began to make feature films.
The film industry today spans the globe, with major film business centres concentrated in the United States, China and India. However most developed nations and Malaysia have film industries of their own.
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film personnel.
| Job title | Description | Department | Qualifications |
| Producing a film is similar to running a business as there are financial issues to look at like funds, budgets, potential returns, etc. Without accountants, a film will probably be seriously over-budgeted. | Accounting |
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| Led by the art director and production designer, the art department designs and is involved in all things related to the visual aesthetics of the film. | Art |
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| The people in the camera department work closely with those in the art department to capture the film director’s vision on film. | Camera |
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| Apart from selecting and buying costumes and accessories, sometimes the people in this department may have the opportunity to design and create costumes particularly for major productions. | Costume |
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| Apart from sets, the construction department occasionally gets the opportunity to construct miniatures or even actual buildings/back drops especially if an epic film is being made. | Construction |
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| This is one of the most important aspects of the film business and requires sharp business acumen and analytical skills to best exploit the intellectual rights of the film in theatrical, TV broadcast, video and other formats. | Distribution |
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| Grips are people in charge of equipment for a shoot including setting up, tearing down and moving. There are no specific courses for grips, but a solid understanding of broadcasting is a good start. Grips are usually used as handymen. | Grip |
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| Entertainment lawyer | Lawyers are important to ensure the interests of all parties are protected, eg producers, cast, film buyers, etc. | Legal |
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| Location manager | The locations department is in charge of finding all the appropriate locations for shooting. | Locations |
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| The gaffer is the person in charge of lighting; he is assisted by the best boy and others. | Lighting and electronics |
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| Music can make or break a movie and is another vital component in the film industry. | Music | Music |
| Make-up artists and hairstylists are highly sought after. The best in the industry can easily be paid up to four figures just for an hour’s job. | Make-up and hairstyle |
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| The convergence of various media offers exciting opportunities that can enhance the visual effects of a film as well as allow exploration of alternative new mediums to distribute and promote a film. | Multimedia |
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Audio:
Visual:
| Post-production basically refers to editing work to shape the story, fine-tune and perfect the final product. Audio and post-production are both very exciting and rewarding especially now that practically everything is done using digital technology these days. In fact, the film industry is now on the verge of a breakthrough in making digital films widely available in theatres. | Post production (audio and visual) |
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| The production department is vital in controlling the budget, schedules, and communication among others. | Production |
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| Props are items that are used by the actors during their performance on screen. The props people must source and place the right items for each scene to conform to the director’s overall creative vision. | Props |
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| One of the most important components of ensuring the success of a film at the box office. These roles involve creating interest and excitement from the development stage of the movie till its premiere. | Publicity & marketing |
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| Sound people focus on getting the sound right the first time, ie capturing the dialogue and sound during filming. | Sound |
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| Stunt schools do exist but it is only a rewarding career if you enjoy the thrill and have lots of health insurance coverage. | Stunts | - |
| Visual effects supervisor | Special effects achieved through photographic methods, eg superimposition. | Visual effects |
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| A production house often employs a well-known script-writer to develop the story or calls for pitches from aspiring industry writers. | Writing/script |
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Only a few will be lucky enough to have a job in the industry and get paid RM 1,500 to RM3, 000 for their first job. However, the others should not be discouraged. Instead, a fresh graduate possessing determination, passion and a never-say-die attitude, will go very far. Meet people, get connected and give no attitudes. Be equipped with creativity and the necessary film knowledge. That will help immensely during job interviews.
