Overview of the role
A post-production assistant (PPA) works within the post-production team, providing administrative support to the post-production coordinator (PPC). They support the PPC by collating and distributing information, checking availability of rooms and studio space, and day-to-day housekeeping within the post-production (post) team and offline edit.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale, budget, genre of the production and whether the project is a series or a feature documentary.
- Assist the PPC to keep a post calendar up to date
- Assist the PPC in managing diaries and calendars
- Take and distribute notes of meetings
- Create distribution lists
- Assist the PPC when required by sending key documents and schedule updates (with the approval of the post-production supervisor (PPS)
- Prepare and manage the following documents for post prior to the offline edit: rushes transcript tracker; post contacts lists including post vendors and motion graphics (GFX)
- Check availability of studio space for editorial, voiceover and offices
- Book couriers and track parcels, both logistically and financially
- Assist with issuing and logging of purchase orders (POs)
- Troubleshoot and fulfill day-to-day needs, such as stationery and edit meals (if applicable), flagging any issues to PPC or PPS
- Track footage, back-ups, and their associated drives
- Tracking assets for motion graphics, ensuring any graphics requiring a textless version is logged
- Assist in maintaining the rushes log for what footage is being stored on which drive or linear tape-open (LTO) tapes, and where everything is
- Work with the various post, edit, GFX and archive teams to coordinate the movement of media on drives
- Keep accurate logs of all drives and their location, fulfilling any logistical requirements.
- Assist the PPC and archive producer to manage a tracking document for all archival material (stock footage, audio and stills) being used by a project
- Collate shoot paperwork into a cloud-based, industry standard software and upload: camera reports, sound reports, digital imaging technician (DIT) reports, LTO manifests
- Comply with current legislation and regulations covering data protection
- Assist the PPC to manage the creation of final delivery paperwork
- Assist the PPC to coordinate the logistical delivery of all assets to their required destinations
- Assist the PPC in the delivery of paperwork, such as billing block information and credits
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of post-production assistant (unscripted TV).
- Organise and control post-production logistics and supplies
- Liaise with other departments, acting as a contact point for post-production
- Provide PPC and post personnel with up-to-date information on post-production activities, paying attention to detail
- Communication: interpreting other’s requirements and communicating requirements to departments and colleagues
- Teamworking: collaboration within own and with other departments, liaising with data wranglers, GFX, archive, post facility, editorial and production
- Networking: investing time in networking activities, building a network of business contacts and establishing rapport with others quickly and effectively
- Planning: planning practical requirements for transport and resources to meet post production needs
- Resilience and enthusiasm: adapts positively to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring deadlines continue to be met
- Proactive and explores new ideas and non-standard ways of working which will enhance and deliver the best results for the production
- Productivity: organises work effectively and achieves required results within deadlines
- Demonstrates the drive and energy to get things done in pressurised situations and escalates appropriately when necessary
- Ethics and integrity: honest and principled in all their actions and interactions
- Respectful and inclusive of others, and meets the ethical requirements of their profession
- Flexibility: willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements and has the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing production environment
- Professional development: develop an ethos to learn and seek out learning and networking opportunities, identifying those that will be most beneficial
Acknowledgements
This checklist has been created in consultation with Emma Comans, supported by the Unscripted TV Skills Fund.