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Scenic Painter

Paints and finishes sets to design specification on UK film/TV stages and locations under Construction Manager / art drawings.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Scenic finishes
• Ageing and textures
• Maintenance on set

Reports to

Chargehand Painter / Construction Manager / Scenic Artist lead

Works with

Scenic team, Carpenters, Art Department, Graphics for matched finishes

Career path

Painter → Chargehand → HOD

Day to day

Prime and paint; match samples; age as briefed; work around other trades; protect floors.

Call times

Workshop/stage builds often early day shifts; night builds around shooting stages happen. Standby construction matches unit when covering; strike days run long.

What to wear

PPE: boots, hard hat, hi-vis as required; gloves; eye/ear protection; outdoor layers for yards. Follow Construction Manager site rules.

Tools & kit

Trade tools as carpenter/painter/plasterer grade; PPE always; site tool stores as managed by CM.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Colour matching refs
• Design PDFs
• PDF drawings / Bluebeam
• Excel labour & materials schedules
• Call sheets when on standby
• ChatGPT for cut-list drafts (Chargehand/CM verify)

Bectu rate cards for this role are in the app.

Related roles

Carpenter

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