Post Producers vs. Post Production Supervisors

In the world of post-production, two key roles often get confused: Post Producers and Post Production Supervisors. While they both dance through the intricate choreography of the post-production process, these roles have distinct moves, different knowledge bases, and unique responsibilities.

The Post Producer: The Facility Team Player

Post Producers typically work within a post-production facility, or as we like to call it, the ‘nerve center’ of creative magic. Here, you're part of a squad, often juggling multiple projects under the watchful eye of the Head of Production. Your main gig? Scheduling the offline suites, ensuring everything's shipshape for the final delivery, and keeping clients from unraveling during the process.

But that’s not all! You’re also the financial gatekeeper, making sure that all those glorious hours are billed correctly and the invoices hit the client’s inbox on time. And yes, this role usually comes with a nice, steady PAYE employment.

Pros: You’re backed by a whole team and a full tech department, so there’s no need to hustle for your next gig. Plus, you get a comfy monthly paycheck, complete with holiday and sick pay, and a pension to boot.

Cons: The trade-off? You don’t get to handpick your projects or clients, and the salary is set in stone, with little room to fatten your wallet.

The Post Production Supervisor: The Freelance Maverick

On the flip side, Post Production Supervisors usually get in on the action from pre-production all the way to final delivery. Unlike Post Producers, who typically babysit the production during the editing phase, you’re the conductor of the entire post-production orchestra.

Pros: The freedom to choose your projects, pick your production companies, and most importantly, your time off—without counting holiday days like a miser. You're your own boss, which means the potential to work across a broader array of projects and, of course, to earn more.

Cons: Freelancing isn’t for the faint-hearted (cue the link to our post on the terror of freelancing). No guaranteed paycheck, no sick pay, no holiday pay—just you and your LTD company, sorting out pensions and bracing for the dreaded ‘feast or famine’ cycles that TV production loves to serve up.