Other Technical and Coordinating Workers in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, and Performing Arts

(NOC 5226)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

This group of jobs includes a range of technical, coordinating, and supervisory workers who coordinate and perform specific activities for television, radio and motion picture productions, news broadcasts, theatre, and stage productions, and other live or recorded productions. These are the people who work behind the scenes to design and build sets, make sure that cameras are in the right place, that performers get their cues and are dressed and made up to play their roles, and that props are there and in the right places. They work for television and radio stations and networks, recording studios, motion picture and video production companies, concert promoters and theatre, stage, and dance companies.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$17.00

Minimum

$26.60

Median

$38.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,347

Minimum

$34,997

Median

$94,451

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

This group of jobs includes a range of technical, coordinating, and supervisory workers who coordinate and perform specific activities for television, radio and motion picture productions, news broadcasts, theatre, and stage productions, and other live or recorded productions. These are the people who work behind the scenes to design and build sets, make sure that cameras are in the right place, that performers get their cues and are dressed and made up to play their roles, and that props are there and in the right places. They work for television and radio stations and networks, recording studios, motion picture and video production companies, concert promoters and theatre, stage, and dance companies.

Job duties

Floor managers:

  • Coordinate the work of camera operators and other technical staff, and cue announcers, actors and performers during news broadcasts and television program tapings.

Key grips:

  • Supervise grips, gaffers and stagehands who rig, place, move and dismantle lights, sets, backdrops, scenery, and other stage equipment.

Gaffers and lighting technicians:

  • Set up, use, and repair lights and other electrical equipment in studios and on sets and stages.

Stunt coordinators and special effects technicians:

  • Design and coordinate special effects like fires, explosions, and crashes.

Make-up artists:

  • Apply cosmetic and special effects make-up on actors and other performers.

Costumiers:

  • Study scripts to determine the necessary costumes and oversee the purchase, fitting, and maintenance of costumes.

Settings shop foremen:

  • Help prepare the construction specifications for sets.

Property masters:

  • Identify and list the necessary props and place them during rehearsals and performances.

Sample job titles

  • costume maker
  • gaffer
  • key grip
  • lighting technician
  • make-up artist
  • production coordinator
  • set electrician
  • special effects technician
  • stage manager
  • stunt coordinator

Skills

  • You need creativity, imagination, and technical skills. Attention to detail and the ability to improvise with equipment and techniques are also important. You must be able to communicate your ideas clearly and work well with others.

Job requirements

  • For most jobs in this group, completion of college or university or other specialized training program in broadcasting, theatre arts or a related field and several years of experience in a related support or assisting job in motion pictures, broadcasting or the performing arts are required.
  • Membership in a related union may be required.

Other considerations

  • Work in this group is cyclical and follows production schedules; many people in these jobs have a second source of income to support them through slow periods. Self-employment is relatively common in this group. Many workers in this field require a portfolio of work to demonstrate their abilities.

By the numbers

Quick look

255

employed in 2016

72.5%

employed full-time

3.9%

self employed

47.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
52.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.6

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

72.5%

Halifax

$39,153 median annual income
7.8%

North Shore

N/A
7.8%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
5.9%

Southern

N/A
5.9%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

33.3%

Information and cultural industries

20.0%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

16.7%

Professional, scientific and technical services

10.0%

Manufacturing

6.7%

Other services (except public administration)

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

55-64

23.0%

25-34

19.0%

45-54

15.0%

35-44

12.0%

15-24

4.0%

65+

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

41.2%

Bachelor

$30,401 median annual income
21.6%

College Diploma

$39,131 median annual income
13.7%

High school

N/A
13.7%

Trade Certification

$44,046 median annual income
3.9%

Master

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Communications Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare individuals to function as workers and managers within communications industries. They include courses in business economics, basic management, principles of interpersonal and mediated communications, radio, television, and digital media production, and related aspects of technology and communications systems.

Institutions providing this program

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Film Studies

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the study of the history, development, theory, and criticism of the film/video arts, as well as the basic principles of film making and film production.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Organizational Communication

College or University Program

These programs focus on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations. They include courses in developing and maintaining interpersonal group relations within organizations, decision-making and conflict management, using symbols to create and maintain organizational images, missions, and values, power and politics within organizations, human interaction with computer technology, and how communications socialize and support employees and team members.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Radio and Television

College or University Program

These programs focus on the theories, methods, and techniques used to plan, produce, and distribute audio and video programs and messages and prepares students to function as staff, producers, directors, and managers of radio and television shows and media organizations. They include courses in media aesthetics, planning, scheduling, and production, writing and editing, performing and directing, personnel and facilities management, marketing and distribution, media regulations, law, and policy, and principles of broadcast technology.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Theatre Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS
Canadian Media Production Association
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.