Production manager

The job

You run the physical production: hire crew and agree deals, approve spend, manage the schedule with the 1st AD and keep the unit working safely. Every HoD comes to you for budget, crew numbers and kit, and you read each script change for its cost.

On a big show a production supervisor deputises. On a small one you may also be the line producer.

A typical day

In prep, you're negotiating: crew deals, a stage extension, a genny for a night exterior. You sit on recces and tech scouts with the 1st AD and HoDs.
On the shoot, read the DPR, check the cost report with accounts, and talk to the 1st AD about whether tomorrow is winnable.
A late wrap means overtime and a later call. You work out the cost and who to tell.

Skills

Reading a budget and a schedule, and seeing how each moves the other.
Negotiating fairly and firmly with crew and suppliers.
Working knowledge of employment terms, insurance and health and safety law.
Knowing what each department needs, and what it can live without.
Saying no early and clearly.

Who you report to

You report to the line producer, or to the producers if there isn't one. The production supervisor, production coordinator and office team report to you. Heads of department work with you on their budgets and crew.

How people get in

Production managers come up through the office, usually as coordinator and then production supervisor. Some come from the AD department or from locations. The Production Guild runs step-up programmes and holds membership graded by credits. Health and safety training is expected at this grade.

Next step up

Line producer, or production manager on bigger shows. Some move into producing.

The production manager holds the budget and the schedule together.