An introduction to careers in film and TV
Did you know? The hit film 2023 Barbie was made in Hertfordshire and the production created 685 jobs, employed over 6,000 extras, supported 754 local businesses and paid more than £40m in local wages.
The increased range of ways in which films or programmes can be seen - in cinemas, on TV, or through streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu.
Production companies making films and TV dramas are looking for a wide variety of skills including carpenters to build the sets, accountants to keep the books, people who know the law to negotiate the selling of rights - and much more.
ScreenSkills recently published research that found there are 200,000 people working in film and television production in the UK.
The latest official figures published by the BFI’s Research and Statistics Unit show that film and high-end TV production spend in the UK was £5.6 billion in 2024, a 31% increase on 2023 as parts of the sector regained momentum, generating billions to the UK economy.
Who is it for?
Film and TV brings together a huge range of people and skills, from photography, writing, acting, music, costume, art, sound, video and so much more. Working in film and TV can give you the opportunity to work with colleagues who have a wide range of skills. Organisers, accountants, writers, electricians, carpenters, artists, musicians and costume makers all come together on a drama and work towards the same goal.
How much can I earn?
Salaries in film and TV vary wildly across the various departments and many people in the industry are self-employed. Those in entry-level roles such as runners are often paid by the day, and they earn around £20-£25k a year whereas an established director can earn millions! It’s not easy to put an average figure on jobs in this sector, but you can explore the entry-level roles areas to get an idea of starting points and progression.
How to get started?
There is no set route for entering the Film and TV industry. The way in depends on your interests, circumstances and the role itself.
The first step is to watch as much film and TV drama as you can, and make sure you concentrate on the credits. This is where all the different roles and the people that do them are listed. Think critically. Use the online database IMDb for research. Identify the people whose work you admire.
The ScreenSkills career maps provide a great overview of the types of roles in the sector, with maps covering both Film and TV drama and unscripted TV.