The Job Duties & Tasks of a Filmmaker

• Filmmakers work in a variety of roles on and off the set. Hal Bergman/Photodisc/Getty Images

  The job title of filmmaker can mean a variety of different things, and while some filmmakers are involved in the entire process there are often different people who specialize in a single element of filmmaking. The duties and tasks of filmmakers begin long before the movie is ready to see screened for an audience and sometimes run on long after the final product is completed.

Producing

• Film producers are responsible for the entire package when it comes to filmmaking. These filmmakers are the ones who obtain financing for the movie, put together the cast and crew and have the heavy responsibility of making the project come together on time and within budget restrictions.

  Tasks for a producer might include negotiating contracts, scouting locations, developing schedules and promoting the film. Producing involves direct contact with the actors, director and crew, and the producer is usually the liaison to any investors in the project, including studio executives.

Directing

• When a person hears the word filmmaker, they typically associate it with a film director. The director is in charge of the production on the set and often gets the final word on casting and post-production. This type of filmmaking job requires the person to observe the shoot and ensure the best possible performances are captured on film. The director cues the actors and crew to begin the scene, tells them when to "cut" or stop filming and also decides whether the scene needs to be shot again. The director is often the key person when it comes to the artistic feel of the movie.

Writing

• A screenwriter is not always considered a filmmaker because he is not usually involved with the actual production of the film. Nevertheless, without the script from the screenwriter there is no movie to make. This type of filmmaker writes, usually with word processing software specifically designed for screenplay format, and creates the dialogue, storyline, action and direction notes so that the other filmmakers have a blueprint to put it all together. In many projects, the writer is also the director of the film.

Editing

• Movies are made in the editing room. An editor gets her hands on the film after everything has been shot and is ready to be assembled. In today's filmmaking industry, the editor typically uses a computer system capable of non-linear editing that allows all the footage to be captured to a set of files and then cut and dropped in where needed. This software also allows for digital transitions such as dissolves, cuts, wipes and more for effect. Some editors also do work with special effects and input the title sequences for the film to get it to its final screen-ready format.