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What is the difference between above-the-line and below-the-line film workers?
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motion-picture technology
Director Steven Spielberg holding the movie camera, assisted by camera operator Michael Chapman, during the filming of Jaws (1975).
In the context of film production, workers are categorized based on the nature of their contributions to a project.1
- Above-the-line workers: These individuals provide artistic and creative input. This category typically includes directors, screenwriters, and actors and actresses. Because these roles are often filled by well-known stars, their contract negotiations can be particularly complex due to their significant bargaining power.1
- Below-the-line workers: These individuals provide the technical work necessary to bring a film to life. Examples include set designers, costume designers, and makeup artists.1
Historically, studios maintained long-term contracts with both groups of workers. However, since the 1940s, the industry has shifted toward a project-based approach. In this current model, a specific team is assembled for a single film and disbanded once production concludes, a change that has introduced a higher degree of professional uncertainty and precarity for below-the-line workers.1