Who reports to whom on a film set

Executive producer covers a range of realities: the person who financed the film, the packager who attached the elements, or the studio's senior representative. Read more

The producer develops the project, assembles financing, hires the key creative team, and carries the film from idea through delivery. Read more

Screenwriters create the material everything else exists to shoot. Read more

The story editor is a working craft position in the production support department on film and television productions. Read more

A script coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the script and continuity department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The director is responsible for the creative execution of the film: performance, coverage, tone, and pace. Read more

The second unit director supports the senior members of the director department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A lead actor holds one of the senior positions in the cast department, combining craft mastery with responsibility for outcomes. Read more

The supporting actor is a working craft position in the cast department on film and television productions. Read more

A actor carries a hands-on craft within the cast department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A voice actor carries a hands-on craft within the cast department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The stand-in is a working craft position in the cast department on film and television productions. Read more

A body double carries a hands-on craft within the cast department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Background actors, also called extras, populate the world of a scene: the diners in the restaurant, the pedestrians on the street. Read more

The casting director finds the actors. Read more

A casting assistant is the supporting chair in the casting department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

A casting coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the casting department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A background casting carries a hands-on craft within the casting department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The extras casting is a working craft position in the casting department on film and television productions. Read more

The casting production assistant supports the senior members of the casting department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A unit publicist carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A still photographer carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The script supervisor tracks continuity across every take: dialogue as spoken, blocking, props, wardrobe, screen direction, and timing. Read more

The line producer runs the physical production against the budget: crewing, scheduling, vendors, insurance, and the daily cost report. Read more

The UPM manages the production's business under the line producer: approving costs, signing deal memos, managing vendors, and delivering the daily production report. Read more

The first assistant director owns the shooting schedule and runs the set. Read more

PAs are the entry point of the industry: locking up set, running paperwork, moving people and things wherever needed. Read more

A set production assistant is the supporting chair in the production support department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

The floor runner is a working craft position in the second unit director or assistant director department on film and television productions. Read more

Dedicated safety officers assess risks, enforce protocols, and document compliance, a role that expanded across the industry after 2020. Read more

The set medic is the production's first responder, present whenever the crew works and mandatory on stunt and effects days. Read more

When minors work on a production, a studio teacher is legally required, combining set education with enforcement of child labor limits. Read more

Intimacy coordinators choreograph scenes involving nudity or simulated sex, advocating for performer consent and translating the director's intent into agreed, repeatable action. Read more

A production coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A assistant production coordinator is the supporting chair in the production support department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

A office production assistant is the supporting chair in the production support department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

Craft service keeps the crew fed and watered between catered meals, which sounds small and is not: a twelve-hour day runs on the crafty table. Read more

A production accountant carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The first assistant accountant is a senior craft chair in the production support department, trusted with the work that has the least room for error. Read more

The second assistant accountant supports the senior members of the production support department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

The assistant accountant supports the senior members of the production support department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A payroll accountant carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The accounting clerk is a working craft position in the production support department on film and television productions. Read more

A post production accountant carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The DP, or cinematographer, owns the image: lensing, lighting, exposure, and camera movement. Read more

A camera operator carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The 1st AC keeps the image sharp, pulling focus by distance and instinct as actors and camera move. Read more

The 2nd AC runs the slate, manages media and camera paperwork, and marks actors. Read more

A b camera operator carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A camera utility carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Steadicam operators fly the camera on a body-worn stabilizer, walking shots that would otherwise need track or a crane. Read more

The DIT manages the digital image pipeline on set: media offloads, backups, exposure monitoring, and on-set color so the DP can see something close to the final grade. Read more

The data wrangler is a working craft position in the camera and electrical department on film and television productions. Read more

Video assist records and plays back every take at the monitors, syncing multiple cameras and keeping the director's playback instant. Read more

A playback operator carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Underwater DPs light and shoot in tanks and open water, combining dive certifications with cinematography. Read more

The drone pilot is a working craft position in the camera and electrical department on film and television productions. Read more

A aerial cinematographer carries a hands-on craft within the cinematographer department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The gaffer is the chief lighting technician and head of the electric department, executing the DP's lighting plan with a crew of electricians. Read more

A best boy electric carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Electricians run the power and rig the lights under the gaffer and best boy electric. Read more

Rigging crews work ahead of the shooting company, pre-lighting stages and pre-building grip infrastructure so the main unit walks into a set that is ready. Read more

The rigging electrician is a working craft position in the camera and electrical department on film and television productions. Read more

The lighting technician is a working craft position in the camera and electrical department on film and television productions. Read more

A genny operator carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A condor operator carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A balloon light technician carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A rigging grip carries a hands-on craft within the camera and electrical department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The key grip heads the grip department, partnering with the gaffer to execute the DP's plan and owning camera support and rigging safety. Read more

The best boy grip is a working craft position in the camera and electrical department on film and television productions. Read more

Grips shape light and support the camera with everything that does not draw power: stands, flags, frames, dollies, cranes, and rigging. Read more

The dolly grip builds and drives the camera dolly, laying track, leveling it to millimeter tolerances, and executing moves in exact sync with the operator and the actors. Read more

Jib and crane operators fly the camera on arms ranging from a compact jib to a 50-foot telescoping techno crane. Read more

Remote head techs operate and maintain the gyro-stabilized and nodal heads that let a camera ride cranes, wires, and camera cars while an operator frames from the ground. Read more

The production designer owns the entire visual world of the film except what the actors do: sets, locations, palette, props, vehicles, and graphics all express their design. Read more

A art department coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The art director runs the art department day to day, turning the production designer's concepts into drawings, budgets, and build schedules. Read more

A assistant art director is the supporting chair in the art department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

Production illustrators visualize the film before it exists: key frames, environments, vehicles, and creatures that let directors and department heads agree on a target. Read more

The storyboard artist is a working craft position in the animation department on film and television productions. Read more

A set designer carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A graphic designer carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The greens department handles plants and landscape on camera: dressing a jungle onto a soundstage, reviving a lawn between takes, or clearing sightlines a location scout never noticed. Read more

A art department assistant is the supporting chair in the art department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

A construction coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The carpenter is a working craft position in the art department on film and television productions. Read more

The scenic artist is a working craft position in the art department on film and television productions. Read more

The set decorator furnishes the world the production designer conceived: furniture, drapery, fixtures, and the thousand objects that make a set read as lived-in. Read more

The on-set dresser is the set decoration department's representative during shooting, maintaining the dressed set take to take and resetting props and furniture for continuity. Read more

The set dresser is a working craft position in the art department on film and television productions. Read more

A set decoration buyer carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The prop master finds, makes, and manages everything an actor handles: the watch, the letter, the weapon, the meal. Read more

The armorer manages every weapon on a production, from rubber background pieces to firing blanks. Read more

A props buyer carries a hands-on craft within the art department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The prop designer is a working craft position in the art department on film and television productions. Read more

The costume designer creates the clothing language of the production: what every character wears and what it says about them. Read more

A assistant costume designer is the supporting chair in the costume and wardrobe department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

The wardrobe supervisor runs the costume department's set operation: continuity, multiples, aging and distressing, laundry, and the truck. Read more

A costume buyer carries a hands-on craft within the costume and wardrobe department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A key costumer leads within the costume and wardrobe department, answering for its output while managing the people and logistics behind it. Read more

The set costumer is a working craft position in the costume and wardrobe department on film and television productions. Read more

The costume maker is a working craft position in the costume and wardrobe department on film and television productions. Read more

The seamstress is a working craft position in the costume and wardrobe department on film and television productions. Read more

A tailor carries a hands-on craft within the costume and wardrobe department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A costume production assistant is the supporting chair in the costume and wardrobe department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

The key makeup artist designs and runs makeup for the production, from beauty and character work to tattoos and injuries. Read more

Makeup artists execute the key's designs across cast and background, holding continuity through long schedules. Read more

The assistant makeup artist supports the senior members of the make-up department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A prosthetics artist carries a hands-on craft within the make-up department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Key hair designs and maintains every hairstyle on the production, from lead character looks to background continuity. Read more

The hair stylist is a working craft position in the make-up department on film and television productions. Read more

The wig designer is a working craft position in the make-up department on film and television productions. Read more

The production sound mixer captures dialogue on set, balancing radio mics and the boom into clean tracks the post team can build on. Read more

The boom operator holds the microphone at the edge of frame, following dialogue with a pole that can weigh real money by hour ten. Read more

A sound utility carries a hands-on craft within the sound department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A supervising sound editor leads within the sound department, answering for its output while managing the people and logistics behind it. Read more

Re-recording mixers create the final soundtrack on the dub stage, balancing dialogue, music, and effects into the mix that plays in theaters and on streamers. Read more

A dialogue editor carries a hands-on craft within the sound department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The sound effects editor is a working craft position in the sound department on film and television productions. Read more

The sound designer is a working craft position in the sound department on film and television productions. Read more

Foley artists perform everyday sounds in sync with the picture: footsteps, cloth, props set on tables. Read more

The post-production supervisor is a leadership chair in the editorial department, responsible for crew, planning, and the department's delivery to the production. Read more

The post-production coordinator is a working craft position in the editorial department on film and television productions. Read more

The editor assembles the picture from dailies, shaping performance, pace, and story in the cut. Read more

A first assistant editor holds one of the senior positions in the editorial department, combining craft mastery with responsibility for outcomes. Read more

A assistant editor is the supporting chair in the editor department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

The apprentice editor is a working craft position in the editorial department on film and television productions. Read more

The post-production assistant supports the senior members of the editorial department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

The colorist grades the finished picture, balancing every shot and shaping the final look with the director of photography. Read more

Title designers create the opening sequence and end crawl, work that ranges from typography over picture to fully produced main-title films. Read more

QC technicians inspect finished masters against delivery specifications before a film ships to a studio or streamer: audio levels, subtitle timing, dropped frames, color space compliance. Read more

Music supervisors find and license every existing song in the film, negotiating sync rights against a music budget and clearing every use. Read more

A music coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the music department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The music editor is a working craft position in the music department on film and television productions. Read more

The composer is a working craft position in the music department on film and television productions. Read more

The orchestrator is a working craft position in the music department on film and television productions. Read more

The scoring mixer is a working craft position in the music department on film and television productions. Read more

The VFX supervisor owns everything created or altered digitally, from set extensions to full creatures. Read more

The visual effects producer is a working craft position in the visual effects department on film and television productions. Read more

The visual effects coordinator is a working craft position in the visual effects department on film and television productions. Read more

The previs artist is a working craft position in the visual effects department on film and television productions. Read more

A compositor carries a hands-on craft within the visual effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A roto artist carries a hands-on craft within the visual effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A matchmove artist carries a hands-on craft within the visual effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A vfx editor carries a hands-on craft within the visual effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The motion capture technician is a working craft position in the visual effects department on film and television productions. Read more

The matte painter is a working craft position in the visual effects department on film and television productions. Read more

The virtual production supervisor is a leadership chair in the visual effects department, responsible for crew, planning, and the department's delivery to the production. Read more

A led volume operator carries a hands-on craft within the visual effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A visual effects production assistant is the supporting chair in the visual effects department, executing the department head's plan and managing the details that shooting days depend on. Read more

A choreographer carries a hands-on craft within the production support department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The stunt coordinator designs and supervises every stunt, hires the stunt performers, and owns the safety plan for action sequences. Read more

The assistant stunt coordinator supports the senior members of the stunts department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

Fight choreographers design screen combat that reads clearly on camera and can be performed safely take after take. Read more

The stunt performer is a working craft position in the stunts department on film and television productions. Read more

A stunt double carries a hands-on craft within the stunts department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The stunt driver is a working craft position in the stunts department on film and television productions. Read more

Precision drivers execute exact vehicle work on camera: hitting marks at speed, close formation traffic, and controlled slides. Read more

The stunt rigger is a working craft position in the stunts department on film and television productions. Read more

A wire rigger carries a hands-on craft within the stunts department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A model maker carries a hands-on craft within the special effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The sculptor is a working craft position in the special effects department on film and television productions. Read more

Special effects covers physical, on-camera effects: rain, wind, fire, breakaways, car rigs, and pyrotechnics. Read more

A special effects coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the special effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A special effects technician carries a hands-on craft within the special effects department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The pyrotechnician is a working craft position in the special effects department on film and television productions. Read more

The transportation coordinator runs the production's fleet: trucks, trailers, vans, and the drivers who move a small city every day. Read more

The transportation office coordinator is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A transportation dispatcher carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The dot administrator is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

The transportation captain is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A transportation co-captain carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

Teamster drivers move everything the production owns or rents, including the picture cars, which travel by transport or trailer under a driver's care. Read more

A cast driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The production van driver is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A honeywagon driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A star trailer driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A stakebed driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The water truck driver is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A fuel truck driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The bus driver is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

The props driver is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A construction driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A camera car operator carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The process trailer driver is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A insert car driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The transportation mechanic is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

A facilities captain carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

A facilities driver carries a hands-on craft within the transportation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The picture car coordinator sources, schedules, and manages every vehicle that appears on camera. Read more

The picture car wrangler is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

The picture car mechanic is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

Animal wranglers supply, train, and handle every animal that appears on camera, from a housecat to a herd of horses. Read more

The marine coordinator is a working craft position in the production manager department on film and television productions. Read more

The boat captain is a working craft position in the transportation department on film and television productions. Read more

The safety diver is a working craft position in the stunts department on film and television productions. Read more

Location managers find, secure, and run every real-world place a production shoots. Read more

A location scout carries a hands-on craft within the location management department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The assistant location manager supports the senior members of the location management department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A location coordinator carries a hands-on craft within the location management department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more

The location production assistant supports the senior members of the location management department, handling the preparation and follow-through that keep the department moving. Read more

A painter carries a hands-on craft within the animation department, delivering their specialty daily as part of the department's crew. Read more