Motion Picture, Broadcasting, Photography, and Performing Arts Support Workers

(NOC 5227)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

This group includes workers who perform support duties related to broadcasting and to the production of motion pictures and the performing arts. They work for television and radio stations and networks, recording studios, motion picture and video production companies and by theatre and stage companies.

Job Outlook

Average

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

$14.50

Minimum

$19.14

Median

$31.42

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,618

Minimum

$22,927

Median

$59,224

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 includes workers who perform support duties related to broadcasting and to the production of motion pictures and the performing arts. They work for television and radio stations and networks, recording studios, motion picture and video production companies and by theatre and stage companies.

Job duties

Camera crane operators:

  • Set up, assemble, adjust, maintain, and replace reels and projector equipment
  • Detect and repair mechanical and electrical problems.
  • Change and install an electronic control panel using automated equipment.

Motion picture projectionists:

  • Check the condition of the copy.
  • Set up and load film reels on movie theatre projection systems, adjust focus, sound levels and other projector and theatre settings.
  • Maintain projection equipment.

Props persons and set builders:

  • Assemble, repair, place, build, and oversee props.

Script assistants:

  • Distribute scripts to actors.
  • Keep detailed notes of all actions, positions, and camera angles.
  • Photograph and date scenes.

Grips and riggers:

  • Rig, place, move and dismantle sets, backdrops, scenery, and other stage equipment.

Dressers:

  • Clean, maintain, transport and store costumes, and assist performers to dress in costumes.

Production assistants:

  • Provide support to the director and producer and are responsible for various aspects of production like preparing schedules, setting up equipment, and making travel arrangements to various shooting locations.

Sample job titles

  • audiovisual (AV) assistant - motion pictures and broadcasting
  • grip
  • lighting assistant
  • production assistant
  • props person
  • rigger - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
  • script assistant
  • set builder
  • stagehand
  • wardrobe assistant

Skills

  • These jobs all require a certain level of technical skill. Attention to detail and the ability to improvise with equipment and techniques are also important. You must be able to take direction, communicate your ideas clearly, and work well with others.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • Most jobs in this group require completion of college courses in broadcasting, theatre arts or a related field or a period of on-the-job training.
  • Projectionists are required to be licensed by their province of employment.

Other considerations

  • The majority of people in this group are employed full-time but for only part of the year. Many people in this group have a second source of income to support them during slow periods. There may be an overlap in duties among jobs in this group, depending on the size of the production or broadcasting studio. Progression to related technical occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting or the performing arts is possible with additional training or experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

165

employed in 2016

72.7%

employed full-time

9.1%

self employed

18.2%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
81.8%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.9

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?

67.6%

Halifax

$25,035 median annual income
11.8%

Southern

N/A
8.8%

Cape Breton

N/A
5.9%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
5.9%

North Shore

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

50.0%

Information and cultural industries

12.5%

Educational services

12.5%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

12.5%

Public administration

12.5%

Wholesale trade

What is the age of Employment?

32.0%

35-44

19.0%

15-24

16.0%

55-64

16.0%

25-34

16.0%

45-54

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

30.3%

College Diploma

$20,594 median annual income
18.2%

High school

N/A
18.2%

Bachelor

$39,593 median annual income
18.2%

Less than high school

N/A
9.1%

Trade Certification

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

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

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

Recording Arts Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs apply technical knowledge and skills to producing sound recordings as finished products or as parts of film/video, broadcast, live, or mixed media productions. They include courses in sound equipment operation and maintenance, music, dialogue, and sound effects recording, sound track editing, dubbing and mixing, sound engineering, tape, disk, and CD production, digital recording and transmission, amplification and modulation, and working with producers, editors, directors, artists, and production managers.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Media Production Association
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.