Reel Opportunities

Locations Assistant

What does a Locations Assistant do?

Locations Assistants help the location manager and unit manager with the day-to-day running of the site. They help with cordoning off areas with location marshals or security guards, and keeping the location clean. 

Locations Assistants also help guide the crew to where to park on location. They also help with paperwork regarding acquiring, and management of all locations. On set, they help set up green rooms, tents and areas for holding the cast and crew.

They make sure the locations vans are stocked with stationery, snacks, flashlights, batteries, traffic cones, signs and all the other things that are needed on a shoot.

When filming has ended, they help pack up and leave the site as it was found. They are often the first on set and last to leave each day.

What's a Locations Assistant good at?
  • Interest in locations

    Have an eye for architecture, knowledge of geography, the ability to research and visualize how a location could be turned into a set

  • Photography

    Take good pictures when researching a location

  • Watching film and TV drama

    Have a passion for movies and a love of the industry

  • Reliability

    Get to set on time and do what is asked, take responsibility

  • Being outside

    Have stamina to work long hours in all weather, enjoy being outdoors

  • Communication

    Able to take direction from the location manager and let other members of the team know what’s happening, talk to extras and everyone from the owners of a stately home to the general public wanting to know what’s filming

Who does a Locations Assistant work with?

A Locations Assistant reports to the Locations Manager and works with everyone in the team. They will also be working with the Locations Scouts in the pre-production phase of the production. They will also work with a number of other cast and crew members on set, while they create green rooms and clean the sets.

How do I become a Locations Assistant?

If you are interested in becoming a Locations Assistant, gain experience in managing or taking care of an operational space. You can apply and reach out to local productions to gain more experience as a trainee in the locations department.

Here are some more tips:

Volunteer: Help at music gigs, live events and festivals. The skills needed to set up a successful experience for hundreds of people, troubleshooting, keeping it safe, dealing with the unexpected, are very similar to those needed to work in locations.

Take a health and safety course: This can be a valuable skill on set, especially when working with equipment and vehicles. Taking a course in health and safety can set you apart from other candidates.

Learn to drive: If possible, get access to a car, and definitely ensure you are licensed to drive, as this is often an essential part of the work of the locations department. It will make you more versatile and means you can help more.

More tips

For more tips on finding job opportunities, lists of training programmes, and other great resources, check out our Career Resources page.

Learn More

Locations Department

A Locations Assistant works in the Locations department

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