Production Assistant - Interactive Media
Working in Interactive media requires a unique set of skills. Practitioners typically need combinations of creative and technical skills and ideally also knowledge relating to content and business.
It is also essential to have the right attitudes – successful interactive media practitioners are flexible, adaptable, self-motivated and able to work under their own initiative, with an entrepreneurial attitude and a willingness to continue learning and managing their professional development.
The role of the Production Assistant is to contribute to the production of an interactive media product by helping other members of the team.
This role is a good starting point from which to gain experience of the interactive media production process, build a portfolio, and achieve with time and experience an all-round awareness of the industry, its processes and the roles of other interactive media professionals.
Production Assistants usually work with the Designer1 and Developer2 or with a Web Editor3. Production Assistants may be employed in permanent positions or as freelancers, and may sometimes be taken on as interns or on work experience placements.
What is the job?
Production Assistants are responsible for preparing and optimising graphics and other assets for use in the product. They may undertake some design themselves, usually working under creative direction from the Designer.
They need to be aware of the inter-relations between content, design and technology; as well as understanding the overall project life-cycle and where their work fits into it.
It is crucial that they inform relevant members of the team promptly, when anticipating any difficulties in carrying out their work that might jeopardize achieving project deadlines.
They may also be responsible for preparing text content for use in the product, for example by tidying it up, sanitising it, and ensuring it is in the correct file format.
They need to be aware of the principles and methods of version control as they might be asked to make backup copies of the work at appropriate intervals and store them securely.
Production Assistants may also undertake technical duties, such as marking up text into HTML, or coding scripts, usually under direction from the Developer. They may also carry out technical testing, providing bug reports and helping to troubleshoot technical issues.
They will occasionally work as well with a Web Editor to upload content to a web site and assist in its general maintenance.
Typical career routes
There are no typical career routes, some new entrants will have previously worked in different industries, from which they can often bring valuable experience, but for many others, the Production Assistant role is often a good way into the interactive media industry.
It is usually an entry-level position although some jobs – especially freelance ones - require one or more years’ production experience. It is often a stepping-stone to becoming a Designer or Developer, and can be a good way to acquire combined creative and technical skills, experience of the production process, and build a portfolio of work.
Essential knowledge and skills
Good computer literacy and proficiency with graphics packages in particular, is required. Familiarity with mark-up languages, such as HTML or XML, or with multimedia authoring tools, such as Macromedia Director or Flash, is usually an advantage. Production Assistants need to be well organised, self-motivated and able to use their own initiative.
They must be quick learners, willing to learn from others and manage their own ongoing skills development, as well as maintaining up-to-date awareness of technologies, techniques and best practice.
Being able to take direction, receive a brief and accept feedback is important. A positive attitude, enthusiasm and conviction, and being able to work both independently and as part of a team are all desirable qualities.
Key Skills include:
A Bachelor’s Degree is usually desirable, though not always essential. Experience of design and development of interactive media products is useful and many would-be Production Assistants undertake personal projects in their spare time or while studying in order to learn the basic skills and start building a portfolio.
Short courses in many aspects of interactive media production are available, though in common with most interactive media roles, Production Assistants tend to acquire skills on the job.
Glossary
Sanitising: the process of removing any unwanted formatting from text and simplifying characters (for example, by replacing ‘curly’ quotes with ‘straight’ quotes).
Asset: a piece of media that is included within the product or used in its interface, such as a graphic, audio or video clip, animation, or sound effect.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. Browse Skillset’s website for links to our network of training partners, information about training and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database. Finally, Skillset Careers is the UK’s only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit www.skillset.org/careers.
Websites
British Interactive Multimedia Association: www.bima.co.uk/
New Media Knowledge: www.nmk.co.uk
The Zen Garden: www.csszengarden.com
Design Shack: www.designshack.co.uk
A List Apart: www.alistapart.com
WebMonkey: www.webmonkey.com
Publications
New Media Age Magazine - New Media Age
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Production Assistant - Interactive Media
1 The Designer role is about designing the overall look and feel of the product – at it’s simplest this is a case of visually ‘skinning’ a wire-frame design produced by the Information Architect; in more senior roles, or in smaller teams, the Designer is more likely to be involved with devising interactivity and information flow, hence the roles often overlap or are merged.
2 The Developer role is about building the product, typically using authoring tools (e.g. Director, Flash etc.) and/or scripting or mark-up languages (e.g. JavaScript, ActionScript, Lingo, HTML, CSS etc.); by contrast, the Programmer role tends to be more concerned with higher-level coding.
3 The Web Editor role is about managing the on-going publication of content to a web site – this typically involves writing and editing, coordinating contributions, maintaining navigation and architecture, and either using a Content Management System or building web pages manually.
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