Overview of the role
The supervising stagehand oversees the work of the stagehands department on behalf of the Head of Department (HOD) stagehand. They liaise with the HOD stagehand to plan and organise the daily work of the stagehands, working to deadlines and prioritising tasks. The supervising stagehand is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations following the HOD’s instructions, allowing the HOD to focus on the bigger picture and strategic issues.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale / budget band / genre of the production.
- Liaise with the HOD to familiarise themselves with the location of the set building or backing requirements.
- Identify the best form of transportation for the sets, paying attention to terrain and surrounding structures or environment, for example, woodland.
- Identify the plant required and, if the site restricts to manual handling, confirm the number of stagehands needed.
- Identify areas to store set pieces and for parking plant.
- Delegate the stage and workshop set-up requirements to the
chargehand stagehand. - Inspect the workshop on and by the set, ensuring that required tools and
equipment are ready and available for easy use, and safety is maintained. - Agree procedures for checking and communicating information with
colleagues, including accidents or emergencies, identifying obstructions and environmental considerations. - Oversee deliveries of materials, restocking when necessary to avoid disruption to works deadlines.
- Oversee housekeeping duties, keeping areas clean and tidy especially
external areas. - Liaise with the studio / location manager regarding the positioning of skips for waste management and recycling of materials.
- Monitor exchanges and collections.
- Check and confirm the disposal procedures for hazardous waste.
- Store set piece deliveries in a designated area of the stage, away from outline of set build.
- Oversee delivery of scenic backings or drapes to be hung in the stage as
per drawings. - Position windbag backings as necessary.
- Record all deliveries, paying attention to any pack strikes on conclusion of filming.
- Maintain records of plant hire within the stage, logging fleet numbers and checking machines are fully charged for use at the start of a working day.
- At the end of a set build, confirm the stage is clear of any construction materials, tools, or plant, and is ready to hand over to the shooting crew.
- Oversee clearing of the stage and sweeping through the floor space and gantries for hand back to the studio.
- Report any defects that may have occurred whilst occupying the work area.
- Identify specialist tools and powered equipment for the work activity.
- Complete pre-start inspections and performance checks and operating tools as per the manufacturers’ instructions and safety regulations.
- Liaise with the HOD to correct and deal with defects.
- Check action is taken to avoid accidents and damage to property and personnel.
- Liaise with the practical electrician for power tools and battery chargeable tools to be PAT tested every 6-12 months to ensure electrical safety.
- Check safe handling techniques for tools and powered equipment are being used.
- Check and confirm that all tools and powered equipment are stored safely and that no charging of lithium or harmful batteries in stages or workshops takes place outside of working hours.
- Check ventilation requirements and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) equipment as required in line with health and safety requirements.
- Check and confirm that any hot works permits are in place.
- Interpret the documentation to check if plant or machinery operations are required for the work to be carried out.
- Confirm the location and dimensions of the stage and, if a water tank is built into the floor, ensuring that crew are aware this needs to be avoided with heavy machinery.
- Liaise with the chargehand stagehand to confirm that actions have been taken to make a set safe where it contains a water tank, and that information regarding this is communicated.
- Work with other departments to ensure a correct sequence of events and that they are conducted safely.
- Identify risks and hazards, and procedures for dealing with these, within a given timescale and deadline.
- Liaise with the chargehand stagehand to ensure the preparation work required has been carried out and is checked and understood.
- Liaise with the chargehand stagehand to check and confirm that the lifting, transferring and striking of set pieces and items has been carried out as required.
- Check and confirm waste is disposed of during set strike in accordance with regulations and the production sustainability policies and processes.
- Interpret the documentation requiring plant or machinery operations and the work to be carried out.
- Identify and plan the work with the HOD stagehand checking and agreeing the sequence of work activity with other departments.
- Liaise with the chargehand stagehand to ensure preparations are complete for the operation of the plant or machinery.
- Liaise with the chargehand stagehand to confirm the plant and equipment has been operated safely and is shut down and ready for the next operation.
- Check the planned schedule for the sequence of work to be undertaken.
- Confirm and agree that the rigging has been erected to the required standard and weight limit to hold the set backing.
- Check and confirm that the work areas are free from dirt and dust, and the backings covered with craft paper or polythene sheeting.
- Ensure the backing is handled dirt- and dust free, and hung in line with drawing layouts from the art department.
- Use the correct tying techniques, tensioning out any creases.
- Operate and place machinery to access rigging and securing drapes to
the framework. - Liaise with VFX to arrange for blue or green screens to be positioned.
- Interpret specifications for a specialised finish.
- Delegate the production of set pieces to stagehands.
- Check and confirm the production of set pieces.
- Create wood effects and finishes using specialist techniques as required.
- Ensure the overall effect is as required
- Establish communication channels for the stagehands department.
- Check that all members of the team understand the requirements and specific activities they are responsible for.
- Monitor team performance to ensure that requirements are being met.
- Provide individuals with the opportunity to contribute to their own development.
- Devise a work plan to provide training for new members in the department.
- Provide advice and guidance as appropriate to enable work to be completed.
- Adapt work arrangements to suit production schedules and individual crew needs.
- Work in compliance with health and safety legislation, regulations, and protocols at all times.
- Ensure health and safety protocols are being followed, in particular for crew working at height.
- Agree action to address health and safety breaches or repeat offenders with the HOD stagehand or construction manager.
- Ensure self and crew dress appropriately and use required personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Familiarise themselves with latest versions of risk assessment method
statements (RAMS). - Identify and report any close calls, accidents, or breaches to health and safety, rectifying issues to prevent reoccurrence when applicable.
- Help crew members to report any safety items used so they can be replaced.
- Identify team medic, location of hospital, and mental health first aider, if there is one.
- Log close calls or accidents in the accident book.
- Assist victims or witnesses to bullying or harassment and report to HOD.
- Confirm that risk assessments for the work of their team have been undertaken and their team complies with health and safety legislation and procedures.
- Consider working hours for their team and ensure nobody is working longer hours than deemed safe.
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of supervising stagehand.
- Interpret stage and workshop plans and requirements.
- Share the HOD’s vision and effectively manage tasks and operations.
- Assist with training of stagehand labourers.
- Communication: building rapport and interpreting other’s requirements and communicating requirements to other departments and colleagues.
- Team-working: collaboration within own and with other departments, liaising with the set decoration team, grips, carpentry, props, lighting, VFX and camera teams.
- Problem-solving: contingency planning and ability to resolve issues while shooting so that productions remain on schedule.
- Resilience and enthusiasm: adapt positively and quickly 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 their actions and interactions. Respectful and inclusive of others, and meets the ethical requirements of their profession.
- Flexibility: willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements and has the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing production environment.