1. K Milne
Unit 6
PMD 1 - Roles

2. Set designer
Set designers create the overall look of a theatre, television or film production. In the film and TV industry they are often known as production designers and in the theatre as stage designers. If you are good at drawing and model making, and you want to work in film, TV or theatre, this job could be perfect for you.
You’ll need to be creative and imaginative. You’ll also need to be good at communicating with people, have good organisational skills and work well under pressure.
Many new set designers have an HND or degree in an art related subject like theatre design. You may also be able to get into this job without a degree if you have a high level of design skill and creative vision. A Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship can also offer you a route into this job.

3. Work activities
As a set, production or stage designer, your work will begin at the start of the production planning process, and end on the opening night or when filming begins. You’ll create the design ideas and sometimes delegate the practical work to others. In this job you’re likely to:
study scripts and discuss ideas with the director
communicate your ideas to costume, make-up, props and lighting designers
work out potential problems, such as lighting or complex scene changes
research historical, contemporary or futuristic details to get the right look for the production
create effective designs within the available budget
sketch design ideas to produce a ‘storyboard’, showing what the sets will look like scene by scene
build and photograph scale models
estimate costs and prepare a production schedule
oversee set building and decoration
make any adjustments needed during rehearsals.
In theatre, you might work alone or with an assistant. In TV/film, you may manage a team that can include art directors, assistant art directors, storyboard artists and model makers.
You may also spend part of your time marketing your services.

4. Working hours and conditions & Income.
Working hours can be long and may involve evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or support productions.
You’ll work in a studio, an office or from home. You may also travel to attend meetings with theatres, or film/TV production companies.
Most set designers work on a freelance basis. Freelance rates can vary widely, based on the type of production and your track record.
Visit the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) website for pay guidelines.

5. Entry requirements
Many new set designers have an arts related HND or degree. Several universities, colleges and drama schools offer courses in theatre design, performing arts (production) or design for film and television.
Other useful subjects include:
interior design
fine art
3D design
architecture.
Visit the Creative Skillset website to search for industry endorsed courses.
Creative Skillset (Opens new window) (Find the course that's right for you)
You may still be able to get into this job without a degree if you can demonstrate that you have a high level of design skill and creative vision.
You may start your career as a designer’s assistant or prop maker in the theatre, as an art department trainee, or runner in film and TV. You can then start to work your way up to become a designer as you develop experience and contacts in the industry.
Whatever your qualifications, you should find practical experience and build a portfolio of your design work to show to potential employers. You can get relevant experience by getting involved in:
student theatre or film
local amateur or community theatre
low-budget independent films
experimental or ‘fringe’ theatre.
You may be able to get into this job through a Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and types of skills employers need from their workers. Visit the Apprenticeships websites for more information.

6. Training and development
Most of your training would be on the job, learning from experienced designers and production staff.
You’ll continue to build your portfolio and develop your skills and contacts throughout your career. Many jobs are found through contacts, word of mouth and recommendations. It can also be useful to join organisations like the Society of British Theatre Designers, for professional recognition, making new contacts and training opportunities.
If you already have some industry experience or have completed training, then you may be able to apply for a place on the Film Craft and Technical Trainee Placement Scheme. If your application is successful you’ll be placed on a trainee finder database which companies can use to find a trainee that is right for them.
As a working set designer, you may choose to take a postgraduate award if you don’t already hold one. Subjects can include, theatre design, scenography or design for film and television. You could also take short courses to improve your skills in areas such as computer aided design (CAD).
Career progression can take several years. For example, in the film industry you might go from art department trainee to draughtsperson, assistant art director, and art director before becoming a production designer.

7. Skills, interests and qualities
As a set designer you will need:
creativity and imagination
practical skills in drawing and model making
good communication and 'people skills'
organisational skills
budget awareness
a good eye for detail
the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
research skills
problem-solving ability
a flexible and adaptable attitude
knowledge of the production process, including technical aspects such as lighting and sound.

9. Sound technician
As a sound technician in film or TV you would be responsible for recording the voices and background noise on a TV or film shoot in a studio or on location. If you are interested in how sound technology works and would like a hands on practical role, this could be the career for you.
To make sure that the sound team are working as effectively as possible you will need great communication skills in this job. You’ll also need to pay close attention to detail and be able to concentrate so that the right voices and sounds are picked up on your recordings.
There is no set entry route to become a sound technician. Experience of sound recording and an understanding of audio technology and software is very highly valued by employers.

10. Work activities
As a sound technician, you would record, mix and check the sound for live and recorded film and television productions. You’d use microphones, recording equipment and editing software to record sound and produce a clear, high-quality soundtrack.
You could specialise in one of the following:
production sound – recording sound on set or location
post-production – putting the final soundtrack together in an editing studio.
On a production sound team you could work as sound recordist, a boom operator or a sound assistant. Depending on your job role, your duties may include:
setting up equipment to suit the acoustics and the sound designer’s instructions
selecting and placing fixed microphones
operating the boom (positioning the moving microphones around the performers for the best sound)
monitoring sound quality
recording sound onto digital devices
servicing and repairing equipment
playing music or sound effects into a live programme.
Post-production teams can include a re-recording (dubbing) mixer, dialogue editor/mixer, Foley (sound effects) artist and Foley editor. Post-production sound work can involve:
following a sound designer or sound supervisor's instructions
mixing and balancing speech, effects and background music
editing speech to fit the action on screen
creating extra sound effects and adding them into the soundtrack.
In this job you may also be known as a production mixer or an audio recordist.

11. Working hours and conditions & income
You would often work long and irregular hours, including early mornings or late nights, according to the demands of the production. You may also need to be flexible and work at short notice.
For production sound recording, you could work anywhere from studios to outside locations in all weather conditions. Location work could be anywhere in the UK or overseas. Post-production sound editing takes place in soundproofed studios and editing suites.
Starting salaries can be around £15,000 to £18,000 a year for ongoing full-time work.
With experience this can rise to £24,000 or more.
With long term experience and advanced technical skills you could earn £35,000 or more.
Freelance rates can vary widely and will depend on your reputation. You could negotiate fees based on the type of production and your own track record

12. Entry requirments
There are no set entry qualifications for this job. Employers highly value experience and it will improve your chances of finding work if you have a good knowledge of sound technology and equipment, and an understanding of the science of sound.
You could work towards a relevant college course to develop your knowledge and skills before you look for work. Courses include:
Level 2 Certificate/Diploma in Sound and Music Technology
Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Music Technology and Sound Engineering
HNC/HND Diploma in Creative Media Production
foundation degree or degrees in sound engineering, music technology, media technology or technical theatre.
You can also build your practical experience in the following ways:
working on student or community film or radio projects
setting up ('rigging') sound equipment for amateur theatre or local bands
working for a sound equipment manufacturer or hire company
assisting in a recording or editing studio.
Large broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 offer work experience placements, insight and talent days. Schemes may be competitive and have eligibility and application criteria.

13. Training and development
You would normally start as a trainee sound assistant, and learn on the job from experienced sound crew.
You may be able to get experience of working in the film industry through a Creative Skillset Film Craft and Technical Trainee Placement Scheme. The scheme is designed to help people who have some industry experience or training to find trainee placements on UK feature films.

14. Skills, interests and qualities
To become a sound technician, you will need to have:
good hearing levels
a knowledge of electronics and sound technology
good practical skills
patience and concentration
a high level of attention to detail
the ability to cope with long hours and tight deadlines
good communication and ‘people’ skills
the ability to work as part of a team
an awareness of health and safety.
All information from the slides above has been found from:

15. Rosheen McNamee
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Location : Birmingham

16. Here is a list of the events and shows that she has taken part on and worked on.

17. Additional Skills
Set design. Set building. Installation design. Prop making. body casting. carving. CAD. programmes such as photoshop, illustrator and sketch up. model making. costume design. costume making. life drawing. technical drawing.
Industry Awards
Kerrangs Best music video 2012: Bring me the horizon Alligator blood, you know ltd. Production designer
Education
college 2011, Theatre, Performance and Event Design
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

18. Rosheens ‘About me’ that she wrote.
Industry Awards
Kerrangs Best music video 2012: Bring me the horizon Alligator blood, you know ltd.
Production designer
Rosheens ‘About me’ that she wrote.
i'm Rosheen, I love working with my hands and making something interesting whether that is from a preconceived plan or just making something up on the spot. Creating visual, interactive and immersive work is what appeals to me most and I love watching audiences getting lost in something I have created. I enjoy taking people to dark mysterious caverns of mine or another's mind and seeing what they experience. I enjoy learning new techniques and putting them into practice, I am always on the look out for new experiences and methods of changing age old procedures. I find myself working on a whole plethora of projects that I find it hard to say I work chiefly In one area or with one technique, I love trying new things and putting myself into new situations, sometimes having to learn on the job but always getting the most out of the task I am set.
Overall I love to make a royal mess, get dirty and elbow deep in paint, create chaos, wonderful works and rip them up, nothing is precious, everything is temporary, create, explore, expand and enjoy.

19. Russell Johnson
Sound Technician
AV Technician
Location : Devon

20. I am a technician in the entertainment industry
I am a technician in the entertainment industry. I have 10 years experience in providing services for events of all sizes, including:
Conventions
Theatre
Musicals
Exhibitions
Product Launches
Gala Dinners
Festivals
Roadshows
After studying technical, theatre and events (audio) I cut my teeth on events such as Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide Feast Festival, and Fleurieu Arts Prize.
I have also worked on cruise ships as a Sound Technician for Royal Caribbean International, as well as Disney Cruise Line.
Corporate clients have included companies such as Australian Rugby Union, Cadbury, Gartner, Microsoft, Qantas, Tupperware.

21. Education
College 2006, Adv Dip Technical Theatre + Events
Adelaide Centre for the Arts
Additional Skills
FOH engineer
Audio system tech
Vision systems
Pro Tools operation
QLAB show building and operation

22. Equipment
He owns and can operate: SpectraFoo, Pro Tools, Qlab, Microsoft Office,
I can operate: Midas Consoles, Analogue Audio Consoles, Yamaha DME, Playback Pro, PVP, Yamaha Digital Consoles, Christie projectors, Barco projectors, Digital audio consoles, Protools, Digico SD9, Yamaha M7CL

23. About me
Entertainment industry technician, recently moved from Australia.
Passionate about my work and love a challenge.
10 years experience in a wide range of fields.
Have worked in corporate, festival, musical, and other theatre environments.
Additional Information
Recently involved with the AV production for the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia.