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Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts (5227)

Job titles

  • artistic rigger
  • audiovisual (AV) assistant
  • audiovisual (AV) assistant - motion pictures and broadcasting
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Nature of work

This unit group includes workers who perform support duties related to broadcasting and to the production of motion pictures and the performing arts. They are employed by television and radio stations and networks, recording studios, motion picture and video production companies and by theatre and stage companies. This unit group also includes projectionists employed by IMAX or automated cinemas and drive-in theatres.

Fields of interest

  • Working in the arts, culture, music, and recreation
  • Working with computers, information technology, and communications
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
  • - Camera crane operators set up, assemble, adjust, maintain and replace reels and projector equipment; detect and repair mechanical and electrical problems; and change and install an electronic control panel using automated equipment.
  • - Motion picture projectionists check the condition of the copy; set up and load film reels on movie and drive-in theatre projection systems, adjust focus, sound levels and other projector and theatre settings, and maintain projection equipment.
  • - Props persons and set builders assemble, repair, place, build and oversee props.
  • - Script assistants distribute scripts to actors, keep detailed notes of all actions, positions and camera angles and photograph and date scenes.
  • - Grips and riggers rig, place, move and dismantle sets, backdrops, scenery and other stage equipment.
  • - Dressers clean, maintain, transport and store costumes, and assist performers to dress in costumes.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • * Most occupations in this unit group require completion of college courses in broadcasting, theatre arts or a related field orA period of on-the-job training.
  • * Certification for projectionists is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick. In Quebec, projectionists are regulated under operators of electrical machines, cinema equipment.
  • * Projectionists are required to be licensed by their province of employment.

Skill type

  • Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * There may be an overlap in duties among occupations in this unit group, depending on the size of the production or broadcasting studio.
  • * Progression to related technical occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting or the performing arts is possible with additional training or experience.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere