The Joint Industry Special Effects Grading Scheme provides a career structure for those involved in physical, pyrotechnic and visual special effects.
The Joint Industry Committee (made up of representatives from the BBC, ITV, PACT and BECTU) dictates the levels of experience, training and responsibility required to hold the various job titles (grades) within the scheme.
Special effects professionals are encouraged to join the scheme as trainees. As they receive training and their experience grows, they can apply for re-grading as technicians, senior technicians, and eventually, as supervisors.
The structure of the Joint Industry Special Effects Grading Scheme is also used by employers (production companies, producers, etc.) to ensure that they are employing suitably experienced, qualified and responsible individuals.
This system helps to ensure that productions are, or become, low risk ventures, both from the completion and health and safety points of view.
- View the list of individuals who are accredited special effects operators. This list, which is not restricted to BECTU members, will be updated regularly and can also be downloaded from this page.
- Accredited special effects operators can apply to appear on the list .
For more information about the scheme visit the BECTU Special Effects site at www.bectusfx.org.uk; for more information about the union's Special Effects branch contact national official, Tony Norton or branch secretary Nick Smith at sfxbranch@hotmail.co.uk.
