If you are interested in working in production for Endemol UK (other than being a Runner)

Question

Applying to work for channel 4. What does "runner" mean? Could you also tell me what jobs could be involved in part of the "production". Thanks

Answer 1

the true answer is the runner is the person at the bottom of the ladder looking up at everyone above them, as a runner you are expected to do all the little jobs, from fetching cups of tea to delivering post, to cleaning out cupboards to carrying heavy stuff to even painting offices, or stripping the varnish of tables, you may think this is a joke but I have actually done this as a runner and know many other people who have done things equally as mundane basically an all round dogsbody .

Pretty much everyone who works in the industry starts out doing something like running for at least a short time, my degree in film didn't stop me working as a runner for four months, and most of the senior people i met started out that way.

It's not all bad, you do get to move around a lot, you meet a lot more people running than in almost any other job in the industry, which is important as you can introduce yourself and make a good impression on people who could help you later on.  If there are famous people about you'll probably be fetching them drinks and looking after them if your working on a film/tv shoot, running can be a lot of fun, you get to do some pretty random stuff, I once herded sheep with a minivan in the welsh countryside for instance, but its important to always be positive and helpful, or you'll not get anywhere.

Production is basically the event management of the tv program, if your any good at office skills and talking to people look for a job as a researcher, production assistant, management PA or something similar, production companies are not very ridged and you can end up doing anything, no mater what you job title, because as far as they are concerned anything goes to get the job done...

unless you have any actual skills or a specific role you want to fit into, editor, production designer etc. or can attest to several years of experience you will most probably have to start at the bottom,  production roles are basically like any other office job but this is a very fickle industry and WHO you know if far more important than WHAT you know, so if you have the gift of the gab, dress nice and are pretty enough to want to have s*x with, then getting out and about and hanging around with the right people, will get you where you want to go far far quicker

Answer 2

A runner is someone who does jobs like getting cups of tea/coffee taking letters to the mail room basically all the little jobs that need to be done, researcher is when your researching every little thing so there are no mistakes made, I know someone who has a degree in TV and Radio they started off as a runner and worked their way up to be a production coordintor in another few years with luck and hard work they will be a producer.

Answer 3

A runner basically runs around doing all sorts of odd jobs, anything from sorting out wires and cables to fetching actors from their changing rooms and making tea. Sometimes you might start off as a runner before working your way up the ladder.

Production would cover all the technical aspects of making something for film or TV, everything from the shooting and editing to scriptwork or special effects for example.