Technical Director
What the work is
Controls the quality of pictures and sound for film, television, audio programs, live performances or digital content by directing technical teams, and planning and organising all technical facilities.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Plans, coordinates and collaborates with producers and directors on all technical aspects of a television or audio program, live performance or digital content
- Supervises the installation and maintenance of technical equipment for television, audio, live performance or digital content
- Directs and monitors technical teams to ensure the quality of pictures and sound
- Monitors and adjusts technical equipment such as lighting, sound, rigging, animation or visual effects, to ensure optimal performance
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a short film shoot at a series of locations around a regional town. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A scene comes together after a long day and everyone on set feels it
- A tricky location problem gets solved and the shoot stays on schedule
- You watch the finished film with the whole crew and see your own small decisions on the screen
Hard days
- Rain on the day you had planned for sunshine, with a crew waiting for you to decide
- A creative disagreement between two people you both respect
- A long day that ends with tomorrow's call sheet still not written
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 231438, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.