Screenskills Post Production Sound Trainee Programme

The ScreenSkills HETV Post and VFX working group, with input from the Association of Motion Picture Sound, are looking for freelance sound editors or facilities houses willing to support a Post-Production Sound trainee on a fully funded placement for up to 13 weeks (weekly rate per trainee: £657.25 pw in London or £599.50 pw UK Living wage outside London + allowance of £2k per person to cover any kit necessary for the job).

The aim of the programme is to develop, expand and diversify the Post-Production Sound community in HETV by equipping 6 up and coming trainees with the necessary skills to be able to move into the role of an assistant dialogue editor, assistant sound editor or junior mix technician upon completion of their 13-week placement.

Trainees can be placed with either individual freelance sound editors or within a sound team at a facilities house working across HETV productions that contribute to the HETV skills fund (ScreenSkills HETV Team can advise if a production is HETV qualifying).

Each trainee will need to have a basic knowledge of post-production sound (or music) and a Proficiency in ProTools, have an interest in and/or some experience in working with sound for picture and have the relevant academic or work experience background. 

We ask that each trainee is supported by a supervisor, who will ensure that the trainee follows a bespoke training plan and receives the most appropriate training for their skills. This should include the following :

• Good working proficiency of DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) – specifically ProTools – as relates to using it in HETV productions.

• Deep understanding of post-production and sound postproduction pipelines, workflows & timelines.

• Overall understanding of the relationships between Picture Editorial, Sound Editorial, Music Editorial, Composer and Re-recording mix teams.

• Sound library software and maintenance – archival of sound effects.

• Proper protocols for backing up Pro Tools sessions.

• Understanding of how to create Pro Tools templates.

In addition, based on the specialism of each trainee, they should be exposed to the below:

Assistant dialogue editor

a) Conform and re-conform (AAF, EDL)

b) ADR – cueing, prepping, PDF cleanups

c) Crowd – prepping, labelling 

d) Software (EdiCue, EdiLoad, Kraken, Soundminer)

Assistant sound editor 

a) Conform and re-conform (AAF, EDL)

b) Spotting notes (VFX changes, new shots)

c) Basic sound editing

d) Sound library maintenance

e) Prepping the session for the mix

f) Software (Matchbox, Soundminer)

g) Deliverables

Junior Mix tech

a) Understanding of the re-recording mix processes

b) Basic understanding of how equipment connects together / works

c) Knowledge of online data transfer platforms (Aspera / Frame.io / Wetransfer etc)

d) Conform and re-conform (AAF, EDL)

e) Software (Matchbox, Soundminer)

f) Some understanding of Dolby Atmos and the concept of object based mixing

g) Prepping the session for the mix

h) ProTools and routing concepts

i) Deliverables

For more information, please contact Nicky.Ball@ScreenSkills.com.