Overview of the role
Reporting to any member of the sound department, sound trainees (sometimes known as third assistant sound) in High-end TV and scripted films mainly shadow the second assistant sound on set. Although entrusted with simple tasks and taking care of less expensive equipment, they will always act under the supervision of another sound department crew member.
Sound trainees are not involved with pre-production but are requested to be on set as per call sheets. They are likely to assist with sound equipment setup and battery charging stations, as well as carry out general runner’s duties for the sound team.
Download the PDF version of this skills checklist here: Sound Trainee/Third Assistant Sound Skills Checklist.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities on a particular production will vary depending on the scale and budget band.
- Help unload the sound cart and position sound equipment
- Clean cables, earpieces and other equipment
- Distribute in-ear monitors to crew members
- Help rig and de-rig playback systems
- Bash cables when required
- Help pack away sound equipment
- Monitor use of sound department consumables against minimum stock levels
- Assist with the replenishment of stocks of consumables when required
- Help set up battery charging station
- Help change daily batteries
- Help operate battery charging routines, sequencing and labelling charged batteries
- Help maintain sufficient quantities of charged batteries throughout shooting
- Help monitor battery use during shooting
- Help change batteries during shooting with minimal disruption
- Provide the sound department with teas and coffees
- Run errands for the sound crew as required
- Work in line with health and safety requirements as per production’s policy
- Ensure that general health and safety procedures are enforced at all times
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of sound trainee/third assistant sound.
- Handling sound equipment with dexterity and care
- Applying basic notions of the physics of sound and acoustic principles to minimise unwanted noise on set
- Communication: liaising with the second assistant sound and other sound crew members
- Organisation: meticulously charging batteries, preparing equipment and monitoring consumables
- Team-working: punctuality, collaborating with others and running errands to complete the work
- Problem-solving: finding solutions to minor faults in equipment independently, asking others how to deal with unexpected situations
- Resilience, enthusiasm and curiosity: adapts positively to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring deadlines continue to be met. Proactive and explores new ideas and non-standard ways of working which will enhance and deliver the best results for the production
- Productivity: organises work effectively and achieves required results within deadlines. Demonstrates the drive and energy to get things done in pressurised situations and escalates appropriately when necessary
- Ethics and integrity: honest and principled in all of their actions and interactions
- Respectful and inclusive of others, and meets the ethical requirements of their profession
- Flexibility: willing to both listen and respond to changing priorities and working requirements as required, while at all times maintaining high standards in a constantly changing production environment