Oscar winners behind the scenes

Have you ever watched the special effects in films like Star Wars or Pirates of the Caribbean and wondered 'how do they do that?' Maybe you've even asked yourself 'could I do that?' We've heard a lot about who's up for best actor and director at this month's Oscars, but here we shine the spotlight on the behind the scenes roles that help to bring the magic to the big screen.

Opportunities behind the scenes

Film can be a glamorous business in front of the cameras, but actors are only one part of the massive team effort needed to produce a film. If you're looking to get into the industry, training in a technical area such as animation, editing and camera work could be a smart move. Here are three reasons why:

• according to industry surveys, employment opportunities in film and video production are expected to rise about 17% by 2014 and many of these opportunities are in technical areas, such as animation and editing
• you'll have valued skills to offer employers, especially if you're up to date with the latest software, equipment and techniques
• technical skills can give you a clear route into the industry, and once you're in you could aim to move into your 'dream' job, such as directing or producing.

What’s involved in working in film?

Here's what you'd be doing in some of the technical roles that are up for gongs at this month's ceremony:

	Best Animated Feature Film As an animator it's your job to make the impossible happen onscreen. You could use stop-motion clay animation to hilarious effect like in Wallace and Gromit or 3D computer-generated images (CGI) to bring characters to life like Gollum in Lord of the Rings. Demand for CGI in particular has exploded in recent years...
	Best Film Editing If you'd enjoy polishing the final product you might like to be a film editor. It's a key role - you ensure the film looks good and the story moves along at a lively pace. You also control what ends up on the cutting room floor! With more and more of us watching and sharing videos on the internet, demand for video editors with web skills is also set to increase...
	Best Cinematography As a camera operator you'd play a key part in creating the visuals that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. With more and more High Definition broadcasts, sets and lighting will have to be more realistic - crystal clear images can show up mistakes the old cameras kept safely hidden...

How do I get in?

When you're trying to get a foot in the door in film, practical skills and hands-on work experience count for a lot. A degree in animation or another arts, media or design subject can give you a starting point. And once you’ve got some of the technical skills, you could start as an animation assistant, editing assistant or camera assistant to learn more about the business and make the contacts you need to get on. A job at this entry level can also be known as a runner.

If you're enthusiastic and a good team worker, you're halfway there! Once you've learned the technical skills you could be all set to succeed in a career behind the scenes.

Where can I find out more?

If you'd like to plan your route into film, call us on 0800 100 900. Our advisers can help you find the right course for you and decide which career would suit you best. Lines are open 8am to 10pm seven days a week.