are one way of working part-time. Other possibilities are daily assignments (as additional staff or sickness cover) and ’normal‘, permanent part-time positions (e.g. at a film school, production company, film funding body). Then there is the option of increasing the total working hours in a department during shooting so that, for example, instead of two full-time positions there are two and a half; or five positions become six, i.e. with an additional (half) position for the department. This is what I call a Departmental Ensemble, see ffd PQF Arbeitszeitmodelle / Working Time Models (in German only).
And then there are shared jobs. The term refers to
Two people on a joint full-time position.
And this is how it works:
Find a partner – find out together how you want to work – prepare yourselves – apply as a tandem – start working.
Acknowledgement
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Amy Shaw from the BECTU Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union in Scotland. She gave me permission to translate and quote from the really wonderful materials of the Bectu Vision programme Take Two (c) Further&More 2019, and to use and provide their material in a German version here, including the job share blueprint for film & TV crew.
Of course, I’ve also researched shared jobs models outside the film industry, but the most important source of information for me was and is Take Two.
The Bectu Vision TakeTwo initiative was launched in Edinburgh in 2019 to support and promote Shared Jobs in the film and television industry. TakeTwo aims to help address the skills shortage by retaining experienced and talented employees in the industry; and to help provide flexible working opportunities for those who have commitments outside the workplace or are simply seeking a better work-life balance.
Incidentally, Amy Shaw applied for the position of manager at Bectu Vision together with Linda Fraser as a job tandem after taking a break from her family for several years and working on a number of temporary contracts in the film industry. They were told: ‘We won’t impose any working hours regulations on you if you keep to the total number of hours and fulfil Bectu Vision’s requirements.’ Both are still co-managers.
Cheers Amy, sending a big thank you over to Scotland for your invaluable support and solidarity!
Terms used here
- Shared job: a full-time position that is split between two people.
- (Job) tandem / duo, pair, partnership: the two filmmakers who share a full-time job.
- Tandem half, (tandem / job sharing) partner, (job) sharer: one part of the tandem, one of the two people.
Shared Jobs for Producers
What are the advantages of Jobsharing?
For an employer, shared jobs mean gaining and retaining knowledge, a synergy of employees, more capacity during high workloads and the better possibilities for replacing absent employees.
- Talent Retention
The Shared Jobs model helps to retain experienced and qualified specialists who, if they no longer want to or are unable to work full-time, either temporarily or for a longer period of time, can remain in the industry in this way. - Well-Being
Job sharers are less burdened or under stress professionally. They mostly avoid the conflict of full-time employment (easily 60-hour weeks in the film industry) with other commitments. The consequences caused by possible overtime also have a less drastic effect than for full-time employees, and they may cost the production company less money. - Creativity
Two heads are better than one, both when it comes to making decisions and developing creative ideas. - Flexibility
No two productions are the same, the flexible nature of shared jobs tandems offers more opportunities to adapt to changing needs and thus contribute to the success of the project. Ideally, the two sharers also find flexible solutions in the event of illness of one half or sudden overtime. There is no need to find and train a replacement. - Qualification
Both halves of the tandem often start the shared job on different levels of experience and can learn from each other as they are collaborating. This contributes to the success of the project and the further training of skilled workers.
How can you support Jobsharing?
Publicise the fact that you want to work and produce in a family-friendly way and that you are happy to receive applications from job tandems. Write about it on your website, on social media and in job adverts. Talk about it in job interviews and at the warm-up event of a production.
Look into the various ways in which jobsharing can be implemented. Talk to colleagues (including other producers) who have already had experience with shared jobs. Share your own experiences. Covering for the film sound mixer or camerawoman on individual days due to illness is also a form of job sharing.
Which Positions can be Shared?
Most crew positions – technical, logistical or creative – can be shared. Each department can develop a job sharing solution with the support of their management.
On screen, jobsharing is not really an option, except for children’s roles, where twins or triplets have been used as ,job sharers‘ in front of the camera for ages. And perhaps job sharing is also possible in the stunt sector.
Shared Jobs for Filmmakers
Why share a job
Frequently cited reasons include family caring responsibilities, a better work-life balance and a reduction in working hours until retirement or after an accident or operation.
Job sharing offers the opportunity to customise working hours and duration.
The fantastic blueprint from Bectu Vision mentioned at the beginning describes various stages from the idea to the employment contract, which are described below. To get you started:
Our best advice is to find a partner before you apply for a job. You will be much more credible and attractive if you already have someone and can clearly explain how your partnership works.
BECTU Vision + Further&More. TakeTwo
Finding the Other Half
Register in the tandem exchange as soon as it is ready (see below). Talk about the fact that you would like to work in a Shared Jobs model. Tell colleagues and friends that you are looking. If this suits you: ask them to spread the word that you are looking for a tandem partner. If that suits you: Also use social networks.
Who could be your perfect Job Sharing Partner?
The best partnerships cover a broader range of skills and experience than a single person can provide. Maybe your backgrounds and careers are different, maybe you’ve worked in different formats or genres, have different shooting experiences (regional, national, international), different strengths (eye for detail or big picture, communication) or leadership styles.
What applies to you? Create your job-sharing profile so that you can recognise what the complementary other half might look like.
- List your skills.
- See where you fulfil the requirements for a job/position and where there are still gaps (as a rule, no one alone meets all the criteria that are required – tandems are more likely to do so). Describe these gaps to your job-sharing partner.
- Determine what skills and experience a potential tandem should have (but remember that this is only a rough guide and not a must).
- Be clear about the crew position(s) you would like to work in.
You will soon have a shortlist of potential partners. What happens next?
- Start your dialogue digitally (emails, messenger) and then meet up for a cup of tea.
- Keep an open mind and don’t put too much pressure on yourself, don’t expect too much from the first conversation.
- Talk about your background, your interests and why you are considering sharing jobs as a form of work.
You will realise when you have found the right person:
- Your perfect job-sharing partner will fill some of the gaps you’ve identified. But don’t rule out anyone who doesn’t fill all the gaps – especially if the chemistry is right.
- Many well-functioning job tandems are not ‘mates without work’. You may be able to work so closely with a friend, but that’s not necessarily a good option. You should, however, like each other. And the best way to find that out is to spend time together.
- There’s never just one way of doing things. It’s part of the nature of shared jobs to live with the differences between the two of you.
Clarifying as a Team / Tandem
How do you want to divide the working hours, 50:50 or otherwise? Split the days in the morning/afternoon, weekly/alternating weeks or in some other way? How do you want to deal with spontaneous changes in the model? What about handover / overlap times? What are your logistics for working together, including sharing information?
Preparing
When applying, your aim is to build trust in your partnership and provide an insight into your skills and experience.
For this, you define how your sharing is structured and should function.
Applying
You can try to agree on productions that you would both like to work on, e.g. TV films, high-end series, cinema, i.e. what you would like to focus on first. Are shoots out of town or abroad an option or do you only want to work within a day’s radius of your home? Use these insights to find projects and jobs that you would both like to be considered for.
Draw up a joint offer/application with a combined CV. Make sure all information is up to date and well aligned. If you have similar strengths or complementary skills, your documents should reflect this. Your combined CV shows that together you bring more to the job than individually. Showcase the range of your overall skills and how they complement each other, but also emphasise an area/areas of knowledge/experience that you share. Show how your skills and experience intertwine.
Although many jobs are not yet explicitly for sharers, many production managers and heads of department are open to sharing once they are asked and learn more about this model.
In a job application situation or during an initial interview with a line manager, you should take the opportunity to demonstrate how your job share will work (to put the other person at ease) and emphasise the breadth of skills and experience you bring together (to generate interest).
If you get a Job (but before it starts)
Now work out how you will organise your job sharing to suit the job or the specific project. This doesn’t have to be set in stone, but it’s the first question you’ll be asked and you need to have a clear answer.
You should not only know your work rhythm and working methods, but also, for example, when you will be handing over.
Working
It can make sense to set up a shared email address. Indicate in your email signature that you are a job tandem and who works when. Use a shared diary. You may also want to share a work mobile phone that is always used by the person who is currently working. Then there is only one number for the position/you, which makes it easier for your colleagues.
If you lead a team as a tandem, it needs to run just as smoothly as your work. Make sure from the start that you both have a close relationship with your department. Always be available at your respective times. Always let the crew use your shared email address.
Overlap and handover
Whether your working hours overlap for a whole day, half a day or just a few hours per week depends largely on the employer and the production budget.
Clarify in advance what the overtime regulations are. This usually occurs in the second half of the day, so if you are splitting the days this will be important.
Use the handover to share updates and insights so that you can work seamlessly. Get into the habit of talking to each other about what went well and what was tricky. Look back over the last few days and forward to the week(s) ahead.
You should never belittle your job-sharing partner in public or to third parties. But during the handover, it’s good to explore how you could have done things differently and how you could approach a similar situation next time.
Thanks again to Amy Shaw / Bectu Vision Take Two
Most of the tips and suggestions for producers and filmmakers are based on the documents from Bectu Vision Take Two. (c) Further&More 2019.
Thanks again for letting me use them!
Shared Jobs in different Departments
(coming soon)
The Tandem Exchange
I would like to set up a service for people interested in shared jobs, a kind of ‘dating service’, a noticeboard. Among other things, the concept is currently being designed, then masks have to be programmed and data protection issues clarified.
There will be a protected area for registered visitors where they can post their profile / job application and read the profiles of other interested filmmakers.
No jobs offers will be placed on the exchange, instead it is about the initial phase, about finding colleagues who might be suitable as tandem partners. It makes sense to follow the path suggested by Bectu Vision (see above). There will also be further materials for you in the protected area.
Of course, you can also find these potential partners in real life, on set, when networking, through your professional association. But also here. Only filmmakers who are interested in shared jobs will be in the internal area of the Tandem Exchange. At a networking event or a film premiere, you might talk to 20 different people. But maybe only the 21st person might be interested in Shared Jobs. It’s quicker here.
If you have any questions at this stage, please feel free to write to me (contact).