There is no one way into the screen industries, but there are some common entry-level roles to look out for. This is not a comprehensive list, and the terminology of job titles is not always fixed, so searching job boards and networking groups using keywords such as – ‘Assistant’, ‘Coordinator’, ‘Junior’ – can often provide clues as to the seniority of the roles out there. We recommend supplementing this overview with more detailed research based on your area of interest and location in Canada.  
 
Production Assistant (or PA): An entry-level crew position and a common route into the screen industries. There can be different types of PA roles, e.g., Office PA; Set PA; COVID PA; Post-Production PA, etc. Duties range depending on the type of PA role, location and project. Example duties may be – responding to different production requests; fielding calls and emails; booking travel; providing transport to cast and crew; picking up or delivering items, and more.  

Executive Assistant: Administrative roles that provide support to executive-level professionals (e.g., Producers, Agents, Broadcast Executives, Advertising Executives, etc.). As Executive Assistant and Office Manager/Receptionist roles all liaise with multiple departments, these can be great stepping-stone roles to other areas of interest (e.g., Business Affairs, Development, Account Management, etc.). Duties may include – booking meetings; fielding calls and emails; booking travel arrangements; database management; project or industry research, and more.  

Background Performer: Background performers are the non-speaking actors who are included in a scene to create realism. You probably know them as “extras.” They’re part of the atmosphere and ambience: patrons in a café, passers-by in a street, attendees at a funeral, etc. (Source: InFocus Film School). A formal background in acting or film is not required, and this is a great way to learn more about how a set runs.  

Researcher: Researchers are mostly freelance roles available in unscripted TV. Researchers find the people, the places, the facts, figures and stories that are at the heart of every TV show. In other words, the content (Source: ScreenSkills). Research duties may include – background checks; interviewing potential cast members; sourcing props and locations, and more.  

Marketing Assistant: Marketing Assistants do anything that’s needed to ensure the success of a campaign to market a project; whether that’s scheduling tweets or ordering in lunch for meetings (Source: ScreenSkills). Transferable communication skills and interests can also be used in Communications, Social Media, and Community Engagement entry-level roles. Duties may include – social media strategy and engagement; audience research; proofreading copy; liaising with other departments; fielding emails and calls, and more.