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Film and TV Roles

Below the Line (BTL) Jobs

Technical, logistical, and crew roles (typically paid hourly/daily rates or fixed contracts, often unionized).

Production Crew
  1. Assistant Director (AD) – Manages set operations.
  2. Production Manager/Coordinator – Handles schedules/budgets.
  3. Production Assistant (PA) – Entry-level support.

Camera & Lighting
  1. Cinematographer (DP) – Heads camera/lighting (sometimes considered ATL in indie films).
  2. Gaffer/Grip – Lighting/electric.
  3. Camera Operator – Operates the camera.

Sound
  1. Sound Mixer/Boom Operator – Records audio on set.

Art & Design
  1. Production Designer – Oversees sets, visuals (sometimes ATL).
  2. Costume Designer/Makeup Artists – Creates looks for characters.

Post-Production
  1. Film Editor – Cuts footage (can blur into ATL for influential editors).
  2. VFX Artists/Colorists – Enhances visuals.

Other BTL Roles
  1. Stunt Coordinators – Designs action scenes.
  2. Casting Director – Finds actors (sometimes ATL).
  3. Catering/Transportation – Support services.

Key Traits
  • Paid from the production’s "below-the-line" budget.
  • Often unionized (e.g., IATSE, Teamsters).
  • Critical to execution but less involved in creative decisions.

Above the Line (ATL) Jobs

High-level creative & decision-making roles (usually negotiated individually, often paid via salaries/percentages rather than hourly wages).

  1. Director – Leads creative vision, works with actors and crew.
  2. Producer – Oversees financing, hiring, and logistics (includes Executive, Line, and Co-Producers).
  3. Screenwriters – Writes or adapts the script.
  4. Showrunner (TV) – Head writer/creative producer of a series.
  5. Lead Actors – Principal cast (often negotiated with profit participation).
  6. Creative Producers – Develop projects (e.g., "Producer" credits like J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy).

Key Traits:

  • Involved in early development.
  • May earn backend profits (e.g., royalties, box office shares).
  • Union status varies (e.g., Writers Guild of America, Directors Guild).

Gray Areas & Exceptions

  • Cinematographers & Editors – Sometimes considered ATL if they have major creative influence.

  • A-list Actors – Always ATL, but supporting actors may be BTL.

  • Showrunners – Unique to TV, blending ATL (creative) and BTL (production) roles.

Why It Matters

  • Budgeting: ATL costs are fixed early; BTL is flexible.

  • Credits: ATL roles appear first in film/TV credits.

  • Unions/Contracts: ATL often negotiates individually; BTL follows union scales.

Would you like details on salaries, unions, or how to move from BTL to ATL roles?

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  1. Director – Leads creative vision, works with actors and crew.
  2. Producer – Oversees financing, hiring, and logistics (includes Executive, Line, and Co-Producers).
  3. 2.PUBLIC/art & entertainment media/filmAndTV/Screenwriters – Writes or adapts the script.
  4. Showrunner (TV) – Head writer/creative producer of a series.
  5. Lead Actors – Principal cast (often negotiated with profit participation).
  6. Creative Producers – Develop projects (e.g., "Producer" credits like J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy).

New chat