We often imagine that working in cinema is limited to the excitement of film sets. However, beyond the famous figures of the screenwriter, director or actor, cinema is based on a multitude of less visible, but equally essential, professions.
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A sector in transition
On May 15, at the Cannes Film Festival, Audiens, accompanied by Film Paris Région and the SPI, presented its third study on employment in cinema and audiovisual. The results for 2023 show a sector in movement: audiovisual, driven by series, shows strong growth in workforce and payroll, while animation confirms its dynamism. Cinema, more stable, maintains its workforce despite a drop in the number of companies, and exhibition is gradually returning to its pre-pandemic level.
If Île-de-France remains in the center, regions like Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine are gaining in attractiveness. Young people are regaining ground in permanent jobs, particularly in the audiovisual sector, but are making more timid progress among intermittent workers. In terms of parity, cinema has achieved balance among permanent staff, but the audiovisual sector is struggling to catch up, with women remaining mainly present in administrative positions.
With 203,994 employees spread across 10,418 companies, the sector is evolving slowly but in the right direction, affirming its central role in the French cultural ecosystem.
An ecosystem where each talent shapes the emotion of the big screen
In cinema, technique and creativity come together to bring ambitious projects to life. Making a film requires much more than a handful of talents: each team, whether focused on image, sound, editing or production, plays a key role. This diversity is reflected in training courses such as the BTS Audiovisual Professions, which explores six major areas.
From production management to image magic, from editing to sound precision, to post-production and the technical intricacies of engineering, each area reveals an essential part of the cinematic process. A rich ecosystem where each profession is essential to create emotion on the big screen.
Cameraman
The camera operator plays a central role in the creation of a visual work, precisely capturing the images that will bring a story to life. Under the direction of directors or cinematographers, they adjust angles, movements and sharpness to enhance each shot, whether on a film set, in a report or during a television show.
A technical and artistic profession, it requires rigor, creativity and strong physical endurance, particularly during outdoor filming. The majority of camera operators, often intermittent, build their career thanks to experience and the network, which are essential in a demanding environment. Training courses such as the BTS Audiovisual Professions or the prestigious FEMIS and Louis-Lumière schools pave the way, but it is above all practice and adaptability that allow one to evolve, sometimes towards production or management. photography.
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Blender
The sound mixer plays an essential role in creating the sound ambiance of a film, show or album. From his console, he adjusts and harmonizes dialogue, music and sound effects to provide a soundtrack that enhances the images and translates the artistic intention of the director. Each soundtrack, sometimes hundreds in number, is carefully crafted to create a perfect balance.
This profession requires musical and artistic sensitivity, but also great technical mastery and an ability to manage often tight deadlines. Whether working in a cinema auditorium or a studio for a musical recording, the mixer works closely with directors, editors and performers to meet the project's requirements.
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Sound engineer
The sound engineer plays a central role in the creation and enhancement of sound, whether for a film, a concert or an album. Combining technical know-how and artistic sensitivity, he ensures that each sound take, each mix, reflects the intention of the project and transmits faithful emotion. Behind his console, he adjusts volumes, effects and reverberations with precision, while working closely with directors, artists or technicians.
This profession, demanding and versatile, requires a solid mastery of technologies, an extensive musical culture and an ability to adapt to the constraints of each production. Working in the studio or live, the sound engineer can juggle variable schedules and diverse work environments, sometimes on tour, sometimes in the cozy atmosphere of a studio.
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Scripts
The script is the memory and guardian of coherence on a shoot. Every detail, from the positioning of an accessory to the expression of an actor, passes under his watchful eye to guarantee impeccable connections. With a stopwatch in hand, he records the shots, anticipates the sequences and transmits detailed reports which will guide editing and production.
Indispensable on a set, he collaborates closely with the director and technicians, while adapting to irregular schedules and often unpredictable constraints. This profession requires rigor, observation and organization, offering those who exercise it an essential place in the mechanics of cinema and audiovisual.
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Projectionist
The projectionist ensures that cinema sessions run smoothly by ensuring the quality of the image and sound. His role consists of supervising the equipment, making the necessary adjustments and intervening in the event of a technical problem to guarantee a smooth and pleasant projection for the audience.
In addition to managing audiovisual equipment, he is responsible for their maintenance and proper functioning. With the computerization of theaters, it remains a key player in resolving technical unforeseen problems and maintaining the quality of screenings. Trained in electronics or audiovisual, the projectionist works mainly in cinemas, but can also work in film libraries, museums or specialized laboratories.
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Assistant director
The assistant director is the invisible pillar of a shoot, orchestrating every detail so that everything goes smoothly. From careful preparation before shots to managing unforeseen events on set, he or she ensures coordination between the director, technical teams and production, while ensuring compliance with the work plan.
It's a job of endurance, where organization and responsiveness are essential to deal with unforeseen events, from weather delays to last minute changes. Often in intermittent status, the assistant director must combine flexibility and rigor, with days marked by irregular schedules and frequent travel, sometimes abroad.
Although demanding and often precarious, this position offers a unique immersion in audiovisual creation. With experience, some take the step towards production, transforming their technical and artistic expertise into a true creative vision.
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Costume designer
The costume designer is the craftsman who brings the characters to life through their outfits, translating the world of a film, a show or a play. In collaboration with the director or director, he designs sketches, chooses fabrics and creates costumes, ensuring their consistency with the staging and the story.
This profession, combining creativity and precision, requires a solid artistic culture and sewing skills. Accessible through specialized training in fashion or scenography, it offers varied opportunities, from theater to cinema, under intermittent status or within creative workshops.
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Production manager
The production manager is at the heart of the logistics of an artistic project. Developing a budget, coordinating teams, organizing filming or shows, negotiating with service providers: its role is essential to ensure the smooth running of a production, from its preparation to its production.
This job requires rigor, responsiveness and organization, as well as solid knowledge of the artistic and audiovisual sectors. Under intermittent status, the production manager must be mobile and available, often with irregular hours. Despite sometimes precarious beginnings, it offers progression towards broader responsibilities in the world of production.
Mechanic
The editor is a pillar of the audiovisual industry, responsible for transforming raw footage into fluid and captivating stories. Under the direction of a director, he selects the best images, harmonizes sound and image, and brings the project to life, whether it is cinema, television or web content.
This job requires creativity, rigor and mastery of editing software, as well as an ability to work in a team and meet sometimes tight deadlines. The position offers prospects for advancement towards roles as chief editor or director, at the heart of a constantly evolving sector.
Cinematographer
The cinematographer, or director of photography, is responsible for the visual identity of an audiovisual project. Collaborating with the director, he shapes lights, colors and framing to bring to life the artistic universe of a film, clip or documentary.
From preparation to filming, he manages the technical aspects and coordinates his team, while ensuring the aesthetic coherence of the sequences. This profession, demanding and creative, requires artistic sensitivity, rigorous organization and perfect mastery of technologies.
You can also find all the professions in the cinema sector via our job descriptions.
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