Below the Line
Below the Line refers to specific jobs in film and TV production that are involved in the day-to-day operations of making a movie or show. These roles include technical crew members like camera operators, sound technicians, costume designers, and set builders. It's different from "Above the Line" positions (like directors, producers, writers, and main actors). The term comes from the way film budgets are organized, with a literal line dividing these two groups of roles. When someone mentions "BTL" or "Below the Line" experience on their resume, they're indicating hands-on, technical production work rather than creative decision-making or starring roles.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Below the Line crew scheduling for major feature film production
Coordinated BTL budgeting across multiple department heads
Supervised Below-the-Line staffing for television series across 3 seasons
Typical job title: "Below the Line Crew Members"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Below the Line Crew Members
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Networking Sites
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage conflicts between different BTL departments while keeping a production on schedule?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with team coordination, budget management, and problem-solving across departments like lighting, sound, and set design. Should mention practical examples of conflict resolution and schedule management.
Q: How do you handle budget overruns in BTL departments?
Expected Answer: Should explain experience with cost control, resource allocation, and negotiation with department heads. Should demonstrate understanding of production budgeting and creative problem-solving.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What experience do you have with different production scheduling software?
Expected Answer: Should be familiar with common production management tools and demonstrate understanding of how to coordinate multiple BTL departments' schedules and resources.
Q: How do you ensure communication between BTL departments runs smoothly?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with daily production meetings, call sheets, and interdepartmental coordination. Should mention specific examples of successful communication strategies.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the main BTL departments in a typical film production?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list major departments like camera, sound, lighting, grip, costume, makeup, and art department, showing basic understanding of production structure.
Q: What is the typical chain of command in BTL positions?
Expected Answer: Should understand basic hierarchy from production assistants up through department heads, and know how information flows between departments.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of production hierarchy
- Experience as production assistant
- Knowledge of set protocols and safety
- Basic scheduling and coordination
Mid (2-5 years)
- Department coordination
- Budget tracking
- Production software proficiency
- Team supervision experience
Senior (5+ years)
- Full production management
- Multiple department oversight
- Budget management
- Crisis resolution expertise
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic set protocols
- Lack of experience with production paperwork
- Poor knowledge of department structures
- No familiarity with union guidelines
- Limited understanding of production scheduling
Related Terms
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