Learn · Departments
Eighteen departments, one unit.
Each guide sets out what the department does on a UK unit, its grades from entry to head of department, and how people get in.
All eighteen departments
18 departments
Camera, 1187 films
Lighting, 252 films
Grip, 147 films
Sound, 214 films
Virtual production New, 118 films
AI tools New, 83 films
Art department, 149 films
Costume, 94 films
Hair and make-up, 54 films
Assistant directors, 54 films
Production, 654 films
Locations, 84 films
Script supervision, 108 films
Editorial and post, 469 films
VFX, 218 films
SFX, 20 films
Stunts, 32 films
Health and safety, 73 films
On the floor and in the office
8 departments
CH 01ProductionCrew, kit, money and movement, from prep to wrap
CH 01Assistant directorsThe schedule, the floor, the call sheet and the calls
CH 01LocationsFinding places, getting permission, running unit base
CH 01Script supervisionContinuity, the shot record and notes for the edit
CH 02CameraBuilding, running and focusing the cameras; the DIT
CH 03GripCamera support and movement: dollies, track, cranes, rigs
CH 04LightingLamps, power and rigging, to the DoP's design
CH 05SoundRecording dialogue on set
Look, effects, post and safety
8 departments
CH 08Art departmentDesign, set decoration, props, graphics and construction
CH 08CostumeDesigning, sourcing, making and standing by costume- CH 08Hair and make-upHair, make-up and prosthetics, and their continuity
CH 06Editorial and postPicture edit, post sound, colour and finishing
CH 06VFXVisual effects, from on-set data to the final shot
CH 09SFXPhysical effects on set: rain, wind, fire, rigs
CH 09StuntsAction performed and coordinated by registered professionals
CH 09Health, safety and medicalSafety advice and medical cover for the unit
How the guides work
The ladder Every guide runs its grades left to right, entry to head of department. Specialists branch off; they aren't steps.
Role pages One grade each: the job, a typical day, the skills, who you report to and the next step up.
Careers A–Z All eighteen ladders on one page, from the same data as the guides, so they never disagree.
What it pays Each guide links the current Bectu rate card. We don't copy figures; they change.
Not sure which department is yours?
Most people don't know until they've stood on a set. On a production simulation week the core departments are crewed, and you hold a grade in one of them through prep, shoot and wrap. Never been on a set? Start with Your first day on set.
Watch
4 items
Every Film Crew Job In The Camera Department ExplainedIn Depth Cine · Careers
Every Job on a Film Set Explained by Real Filmmakers | Behind the Credits (Full Series)Rescue Vision Films · Lesson
What is a Call Sheet — What Goes On It and WhyStudioBinder Academy · Lesson
Film Production Explained — Each Step of the Production Process [Stages of Filmmaking, Ep 3]StudioBinder · Lesson
Last reviewed 12 November 2026