Aka Gofer, Production Assistant. Runners are basically general hands who are used for various duties both on a film set and in the production office. Starting as a runner is one of the most common ways to break into the film industry as the position provides an opportunity to meet people higher up the food chain and prove one’s worth.
Being a runner is generally an entry-level position, sometimes with very low pay, but more often than not it’s on a volunteer basis. The tasks taken on by runners can be anything from making tea in the production office to speeding off down to the shops to buy replacement batteries for the mission-critical piece of kit on set which has just stopped working.