Film Crew 101

Also referred to as a "Key Makeup" or "Key," a Key Makeup Artist assists the makeup department head and supports the department as a whole. Depending on the Head of Makeup's preferences, tasks for a key could include clerical work, taking pictures of looks and keeping track of continuity, and/or helping achieve makeup looks on talent.

During filming, the Key Makeup Artist will work with talent to help achieve the makeup looks that the department head has designed for the production. They will also act as a liaison for the makeup department when communicating with assistant directing, hair, costume, special effects, and property departments. There will be times when the makeup department will need to collaborate with these departments to make sure an actor’s look is ready for filming. The key makeup will assist the head of makeup in this capacity until production wraps.

A post production coordinator supports post-production teams as they work to deliver a finished film. Today, our host, Emmy award-winning documentary series editor and award-winning feature documentary producer, Amy Janes, talks with Sue-Ellen Chitunya, who has worked as the in-house post production coordinator for some of your favorite Marvel films including "Ant Man," "Doctor Strange," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2," "Thor: Ragnarok," "Black Panther," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Ant Man and the Wasp." What a fantastic list!

This episode is sponsored by Cherokee Nation Film Office.

A Gaffer, or more formally, the Chief Lighting Technician, is in charge of the crew that runs the lighting on a film set. Gaffer Steve Mathis has worked on films including Halloween, Back to the Future, Mrs. Doubtfire, Moulin Rouge!, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Thor: Ragnarok, and more recently, Wonder Woman 1984. In this episode, Steve talks about his responsibilities during pre-production and production.

Kale Whorton is a first assistant editor whose assistant editor credits include films Bumblebee and Black Panther as well as TV series The United States of Tara, Weeds, and Orange is the New Black. Kale spoke to Film Crew 101 about his job and the result was a great episode packed to the brim with insight for young editors.

Our guest this week is PA pro, Joel Burnham. Joel chats with our host, Alisha East, and lets you know everything you need to be ready for your first PA job. Some of Joel's credits include movies like Nightcrawler, Get Hard, and Taken 3 as well as television shows like Agents of Shield, Battle Creek, and The Mentalist.