Unscripted TV Departments

Development department:

• Comes up with ideas for TV programs and pitches them to commissioners, who are employed by broadcasters
• Roles:
  • Development assistant producer
  • Development producer
  • Development researcher
  • Personal assistant

Production management department:

• Manages all the logistics of making a program, and balances the creative vision with financial and time constraints
• Roles:
  • Line producer
  • Logger
  • Production coordinator
  • Production executive
  • Production manager
  • Production assistant
  • Script supervisor

Talent management department:

• Recruits people to work in editorial or production roles, and knows who's who in the unscripted TV industry
• Roles:
  • Receptionist
  • Talent assistant
  • Talent manager

Sound department:

• Creates the sound and processes the program audio, whether capturing sound on location or mixing during a live transmission
• Roles:
  • Grams operator
  • Sound assistant
  • Sound guarantee
  • Sound recordist
  • Sound supervisor

Engineering department:

• Installs operates and maintains the equipment used to broadcast television programs
• Roles:
  • Technical manager
  • Vision guarantee
  • Vision supervisor
  • OB rigger

Editorial department:

• Responsible for the story content of the program holds the creative vision and makes it happen
• Roles:
  • Archive producer
  • Assistant producer
  • Casting producer
  • Celebrity producer
  • Digital producer
  • Director
  • Edit producer
  • Executive Producer
  • Games producer
  • Multi-camera director
  • Producer
  • Producer director
  • Question producer
  • Researcher
  • Runner
  • Series director
  • Series producer
  • Vision mixer
  • VT editor

Craft department:

• Creates the look of the program by designing the set, the costume, hair, and make-up
• Roles:
  • Art department assistant
  • Art department runner
  • Art director
  • Costume assistant
  • Costume designer
  • Costume supervisor
  • Hair and make-up artist
  • Hair and make-up assistant
  • Hair and make-up designer
  • Production buyer
  • Production designer

Technical department:

• Includes the camera and lighting departments, installs the power, captures the action
• Roles:
  • Autocue operator
  • Camera assistant
  • Camera operator
  • Camera supervisor
  • Data wrangler
  • Digital imaging technician
  • Gaffer
  • Grip
  • Jib operator
  • Kit room assistant
  • Lighting console operator
  • Lighting director
  • Spark

Floor or location department:

• Manages and coordinates the activities in the studio and location-based productions
• Roles:
  • Floor assistant
  • Floor manager
  • Floor runner
  • Scene hand

Studio management department:

• Runs the studio from which TV shows are recorded or broadcast
• Roles:
  • Studio assistant
  • Studio coordinator
  • Studio manager

@@Entry-level jobs in Unscripted TV:@@

• Personal assistant
• Logger
• Receptionist
• Runner
• Art department runner
• Costume assistant
• Hair and make-up assistant
• Camera assistant
• Kit room assistant
• Sound assistant
• Floor runner
• Studio assistant