As one of the premier studio production companies in New York, Broadway Stages works to meet the growing needs of the film and TV industry while also focusing on the needs of our community. We provide the industry with a soundstage or location where they shoot their scenes, but they also need a skilled and experienced workforce. In this series, we look at the various jobs that make a production come to life. We hope it provides insight and encourages you to consider a career in the film and TV industry. This week, we look at the role of special effects coordinator.

What is a Special Effects Coordinator?

Our last post in this series looked at the roles of the key hairstylist and key makeup artist and how they and their teams ensure actors achieve and maintain the desired looks needed for a production. In some cases, these looks might include features such as scars or wounds, or even other-worldly creatures or monsters, requiring special effects makeup. In addition to this special makeup, the world of special effects (also known as practical effects or SFX) comprises many other physical aspects that happen during filming. (These days, the everyday filmgoer might think that most effects they see on screen are digitally produced — think explosions, fire, rain, monsters, etc. — but that is not the case.) According to MasterClass, some common physical special effects techniques used are: designing creatures, manipulating the environment, conducting vehicular stunts, depicting weather elements, and using miniatures, pyrotechnics, or stop motion. These are not the same as visual effects (known as digital effects or VFX), which are computer generated and added during post-production (and will be the subject of a future post). The role that oversees the special effects department is the special effects coordinator (or supervisor).

Job Description

As the department lead, the special effects coordinator is involved in the pre-production and production stages and works with other lead roles, including the director, director of photography, production designer, and art director. The coordinator plays a key role in the planning and execution of the various special effects. According to this Backstage article, the coordinator “oversees the design, creation, and operation of on-set mechanical, electrical, artificial, and explosive effects throughout a production.” This includes determining what equipment and crew will be needed, putting together a team of special effects technicians, such as stuntmen and robotics operators, planning the budget, and — of utmost importance — ensuring that the effects can be accomplished safely. Read more about the responsibilities of a special effects coordinator on MasterClass and Backstage.

How do I become a Special Effects Coordinator?

As with other industry lead roles, there isn’t a specific degree required to be a special effects coordinator, and there are various ways to establish a career path. This lead role requires many years of experience, working varios positions within the special effects department. In this recent LA Times article, several special effects pros offer advice on working in the field and suggest that some ways to get started are attending trade school, having experience in engineering, carpentry, or by working as a production assistant. MasterClass recommends that a degree in industrial design, animation, engineering, or film is helpful. Backstage adds that an educational background in the subjects of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry is helpful, and emphasize the importance of education and training “in hazardous equipment, such as explosives, safety protocols and regulations, and sciences.”

Key skills for this lead role include creativity and a knowledge of the various special effects and equipment used. And as practical (SFX) and visual (VFX) effects are commonly combined, it is helpful to develop digital skills to understand how these two areas work together, as noted in the previously mentioned LA Times piece. As the department lead, this role requires good communication, planning, and organizational skills.

More information: To see examples of various special effects in film, see this StudioBinder article. And, as always, you can learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages’ Industry Resource Guide. Our guide provides information about industry-focused job posting sites; links to general recruiting sites; education and training programs; and state, city, and borough industry information.