Location Manager

The production manager handles the logistics of a film shoot: permits, sets, transportation, lodging, meals, and set safety. Reporting to the production manager, he or she ensures that the crew has all the equipment it needs, in the right place at the right time.

What does a stage manager do?

During the preparation phase, he participates in location scouting, negotiates with the owners of filming locations, and obtains the necessary permits—particularly from city halls and prefectures—to film on public roads. He arranges for vehicles, accommodations, catering, and dressing rooms, and prepares maps showing how to get to the locations.

During filming, he opens the set in the morning and closes it at night. He manages truck parking, the catering, the crew’s transportation, and handles any unforeseen issues: a set location that’s unavailable, a disgruntled neighbor, or weather that disrupts the shooting schedule. He also ensures the safety of the public and the crew around the set.

After filming, he restores the location to its original condition and settles any production expenses with the production company.

Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, or Location Stage Manager: What's the Difference?

The production manager leads the production team and is responsible for all logistics to the production director. The assistant production manager supports the production manager, often on set. The location manager is in charge of natural settings: they scout them, negotiate their rental, and arrange access to them.

In theater and concert settings, the term refers to a different profession: the stage manager coordinates the technical aspects of a performance, including lighting, sound, and the stage. France Travail classifies both activities under the same code: production management.

Who does the stage manager work with?

He reports to the production manager, who sets the budget, and works closely with the first assistant director, whose daily schedule determines the control room's needs.

He is in constant contact with outside parties: set owners, city halls, law enforcement, car rental companies, and caterers. On set, he coordinates the drivers and stagehands.

What skills do you need to become a stage manager?

You need strong organizational skills, the ability to plan ahead and negotiate, and a good understanding of the rules governing a film shoot: permits, safety, and insurance. A driver’s license is required.

The job also requires stamina and a calm demeanor: the production manager is the first to arrive and the last to leave, and spends the entire day resolving other people’s problems. Interpersonal skills are very important, because a film shoot often depends on the goodwill of local residents.

How much does a stage manager earn?

On a film set, the minimum wage for a production manager is €1,479.49 gross per week, based on a 39-hour workweek. The minimum wage for an on-location manager is €1,310.82, and for an assistant production manager, €1,070.37.

These amounts are taken from the wage scale in the collective bargaining agreement for film production (IDCC 3097), effective as of May 1, 2026. For low-budget films covered by Appendix III, the base salary is lower but is supplemented by a profit-sharing arrangement based on the film’s box office receipts. Television and live performance are governed by other collective bargaining agreements.

Work is done on a project-by-project basis. For production management (ROME code L1509), France Travail reported 160 job openings over a 12-month period for 1,510 job seekers in the second quarter of 2026; 94% of the hires were for fixed-term contracts lasting less than one month.

What kind of education do you need to become a stage manager?

France Travail states that a career in stage management is open to those with a high school diploma through master’s-level di degree s in technical specializations related to the performing arts, or to those with professional experience but no specific di degree s. In the film industry, people often start as stagehands or assistants before becoming assistant stage managers and then stage managers.

At ESRA, the ESRA Cinema program is a three-year course leading to a state-accredited “ degree ” degree at the Bac+3 level, with more than 700 hours of instruction per year and at least two productions per year, which are screened before a jury. In the third year, the production specialization focuses on organizing a film shoot, from management through to final delivery. The DHEC in Production and Distribution extends this program to a state-accredited “ degree ” degree at the Bac+5 level.

What career opportunities and prospects are there?

Production coordinators work for film, TV series, advertising, and music video production companies, as well as for foreign film shoots taking place in France. Location coordinators also work with regional and city film commissions.

The natural career path leads from assistant stage manager to stage manager, and then to production management.

Sources: Légifrance, IDCC 3097 collective bargaining agreement, pay scale as of May 1, 2026; France Travail, ROME code L1509. Verified on September 29, 2026.

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