Job market information
Finding out about film
The film industry is part of the creative industries, which is represented by Creative Skillset. This includes: advertising; animation; computer games; corporate and commercial production; fashion and textiles; film; interactive media; photo imaging; publishing; radio; and television.
The UK industry is an independent creator of feature films, a co‐production partner and a provider of services to the international film industry. It is an industry made up of a small number of large companies and a very large number of smaller companies, which have an occupationally diverse and highly skilled workforce characterised.
Key facts:
- Around 27,800 people are estimated to work in the film industry, which is 5%of the creative industries workforce.
- 62% of the workforce is in cinema exhibition, 34% in film production and 4% work in film distribution.
- There are around 400 permanent companies in the film industry, but this can fluctuate depending on the number of productions that are being worked on. (production companies form for a particular production then close when completed)
- 43% of companies are production, 13% are distributors and 44% are cinema exhibition companies.
- In 2006, the UK film industry contributed £4.3 billion to the UK economy.
Jobs in the industry include: Production Accountant, Art Director, Production Designer, Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Grip, Casting Assistant, Catering Crew, Plasterer, Carpenter, Stagehand, Costume Assistant, Director, Publicist, Editor, Make‐up Artist, Unit Nurse, Best Boy, Location Manager, Composer, Actor, Re‐recording Mixer, Foley Editor, Boom Operator, Production Manager, Runner, Screen writer.
Entry and progression
Although there is no set route into the industry, even for those with a media‐related degree, it is usual to start at the bottom (such as a Runner) and work your way up. This is usual for both new entrants and those transferring in from another industry. The industry is highly competitive so experience of working on short or student films can provide a good introduction to feature film production. However, ‘on‐set’ hierarchy and traditions of working as part of a crew can only be learned by experience. The film industry recruits on ‘word of mouth’ so new entrants have to work on raising their profile.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both at undergraduate and post‐graduate), training schemes and a Diploma available. There are some new entrant training schemes (see Creative Skillset 
for details) and apprenticeships (such as the Set Craft Apprenticeship Scheme). Creative Skillset also provide bursaries for training in priority areas.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
27,800 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
400 permanent businesses |
|---|
| Gender: |
57% male |
43% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
9% of the workforce is from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background. |
|---|
| Age: |
The average of the film production workforce is 39 years, compared with 29 years for the cinema exhibition workforce. |
|---|
| Disability: |
2% report themselves as having a disability. |
|---|
| Employment: |
91% of the film production workforce is freelance or self‐employed. |
|---|
| Film production crew are highly qualified: |
|---|
| 58% have a degree. |
| 21% of the degrees are postgraduate. |
| 38% are in a film or media‐related subject. |
Employment trends and future prospects
There are serious challenges for the industry with the introduction of new technologies, specifically the emergence of digital as a production and exhibition tool. New digital HD (High Definition) and 3D cameras are placing demands on the production workforce to adapt to new shooting methods, from set lighting to new design and make‐up demands.
The Digital Screen Network is seeing digital projectors replace 35mm equipment in cinemas across the UK, and as such new skills required of projectionists and exhibition staff. The industry is also beginning to adopt 3‐D as a viable production method, which will require new production and post‐production skills.
Skill requirements and shortages
New technologies are having a significant impact on the industry, so the workforce have to continuously update their skills and experience to ensure that they can remain relevant and competitive. In general, common training needs are: the art and design and camera departments, specifically around the use of new formats and computer technology; and the locations department, in terms of health and safety requirements.
There are demands on new entrants to the industry to gain a real understanding of how the different sectors and functions of the film industry inter‐relate.
The most commonly cited area of skills needed by freelancers is around business skills, such as financing, marketing and management.
Occupational trends
In film production the largest occupational group is ‘other’, which includes a combination of accounts, casting, publicity, special effects, stunts, catering, transport and music people. It accounts for around 1,900 people and 21% of the film production workforce.
Construction and production occupations in film production employ 1,300 (14%) and 1,000 (11%) of crew work. 9% of the workforce work in camera and 8.3% in the art department/set decorating.
In film distribution, ‘marketing and publicity’ and accounts occupations are also common and hold the largest number of people with around 200 in each.
Almost 200 people (15%) work in producing roles.
National and regional data
The largest number of employees in film is located in:
- London
- South East
- Scotland
With access to resources and support from EM Media, the East Midlands have produced some successful writers, directors and companies. Threshold Studios, based in Northampton, have produced films for the First Light young filmmakers scheme and with Warp Films on the Creative Skillset‐funded Darklight women directors project. Nottingham's Spool Films/Confetti Institute also supports emerging film and digital content talent. The Media Archive for Central England (MACE) and the Bang Short Film Festival are also hosted in the region. Around 100 people in the film industry live in the region.
Warner Bros, Parallax East and the Content Providers are located in the East of England. The region also has a range of multiplex and commercial independent cinemas. Screen East invests in projects that aim to increase audiences in rural and urban areas of the region that are underserved by cinemas. The region is particularly strong on organisations focusing on archive work. Around 100 people in the film industry live in the region.
London's film industry alone has a turnover of around £13 billion a year, it is the largest post‐production centre outside of Hollywood and of the top 15 grossing films of the last decade, five were made in and around London. Around 5,700 people who work in production live in London.
The North East is home to several established independent film and TV production companies, such as Costal Productions and Ipso Facto Films, as well as new companies, such as Standing Stone. There are three international film festivals in North East England: AV, Northern Lights and Animex.
In the North West, Merseyside markets itself as having the most significant film industry outside London and North West Vision and Media reported that 2006 was the busiest year to date for filming in the region. Around 300 people in the film industry live in the region.
Over 1,700 people working in film production crews live in the South East, with 2,000 performers. Others working in Facilities provide services for film, with 5,700 employed in the sub‐sectors of post‐production, studio and equipment hire, special effects, outside broadcast, processing laboratories, transmission, manufacture of AV equipment and other services for film and TV. A number of high‐end film and documentary companies exist in the region, including Spice Factory and Seventh Arts. Pinewood Studios is Europe's largest film and television studio facility, providing a work base at full capacity for some 3,000 people working in production and facilities.
Much location filming is undertaken in the South West and a number of film festivals take place in the region each year, including Wildscreen, Encounters, the Cornwall Film Festival and the Cheltenham Screenwriters Festival. Around 600 people in the film industry live in the region.
Film production in the West Midlands is limited to a small number of independent organisations, but there are no distribution companies. Screen West Midlands offer a range of support for emerging film talent and also invest in productions through the Film and Media Production Fund. There are 46 cinemas in the region, including multiplexs, an IMAX and a number of smaller independent and art cinemas. In Birmingham, Star City, the UK's largest multiplex with 30 screens, specialises in Asian cinema. Around 100 people in the film industry live in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber have a strong independent film sector around Leeds and Sheffield and is home to the nationally recognised Warp Films and Warp X. The UK's premiere documentary festival, Doc/Fest, is based in Sheffield. Bradford is home to major film and animation festivals and Leeds offers international children's film festivals. The Yorkshire Film Archive is one of the UK's most successful and progressive, having recently won major funding to start digitising its archive content. Over 100 people in the film industry live in the region.
Around 300 people in the film industry live in Northern Ireland and 600 in Scotland.
During 2007‐08, over 90 productions were shot in Wales, bringing in an expenditure of approximately £31.9 million. The £7million Wales Creative IP Fund has been a major boost to film production in Wales, financing feature film productions like the Edge of Love.
Salary levels
Film production crew earn an average gross income of £33,726. As is the case across the rest of the creative industries, men earn more than women (£35,827 compared with £30,754) and on average income increases with age and drops slightly in the 50+ age group.
Film work often forms only part of many workers’ total income ‐ it is common to have other jobs when not doing film work.
BECTU , the industry trade union, can advise on rates for freelancers working in the industry.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skillet AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
