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

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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

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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

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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

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Engineering department:

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Studio management department:

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

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@@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

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