I started this blog one year ago., and it’s time for a little reflection, I think.
My goal was to write something, every day, even if it was just a silly story on a blog. I haven’t posted every single day, but as this is my 243rd post out of 261 possible weekdays, I came pretty darn close.
Five people read my first post. 206 read yesterday’s. (A record 504 people visited the site on April 7th.) That first month, I got 70 hits; now I never get less than a hundred in a day, even if I don’t post.
My original focus was on describing what it was like to be a PA. (Sure, I’d sometimes go on a rant about politics or the news, but I basically stuck with the PA thing.) Exactly six months into the blog, someone decided I was some kind of expert and asked me a question; now I get several questions a week.
A few friends have told me they’d like me to go back to the funny stories, and give advice less often. So, I wonder what you, the reader, thinks. Am I not funny enough anymore? Should I give out more advice? Am I striking a good balance now?
Some of my most popular posts include:
Good Mornin’ (this one’s number one mainly due to a link from Alex Epstein)
How to Move Up from Reality TV to Real TV
Something I Will Never Understand
Hm. They seem evenly split between advice-giving and general PA nonsense. It’s hard to judge what’s really capturing my audience’s imagination.
In fact, I’m not even sure who my audience is. Other production assistants? Below the line crew? Writers? Bored housewives in the midwest? Who the hell are you people?
36 Responses
Happy Anniversary! I’m an art department slave in film and television in Toronto, mainly an independent production designer. I just found this blog yesterday and I can’t stop reading. I’m going to start linking it to my art department group page and to my art department rant and rave blog. You hit the nail on the head with the stories and the advice. Great stuff.
I’m a student (non film) in Detroit looking to make some extra money. Michigan has a burgeoning film industry and I want to get in learn the ropes so that when I make my big move to NYC after graduation I can easily find a job as a PA when my industry (fashion) isn’t hiring. I would also like to make documentaries on various subjects of my interest. I always had a love for documentaries and would love to make a few of em one day. I found your blog on someone else blogroll and after reading a few posts, I find it pretty interesting. I have added you to my RSS feed.
I’ve e-mailed them the link to this blog post. If they feel the need to defend you against anything I’ve said, they certainly have the opportunity. I’m not going to put their names out in the open. That’s up to them.
Before you say you should keep their names confidential. We have signed contracts of all attendees with their understanding that their names will go public in order to get them work, referrals or recommendations. So, please, if you don’t mind, go ahead, and share with us whom of our graduates you have had the pleasure of working with. You may have had the experience of working with some who did not pass the camp experience. If they can not hold their own on the radios we do not provide their names to productions. We do give them all the resources they will need to get work. We simply don’t endorse them. Our “campers” are aware of all of this when they attend.
Name em.
We know for a fact who has worked and who has moved on to different industries. IS IT “your” opinion of their performance or productions?
MANY of our graduates have moved up from working as P.A.’s to working in other departments within the first 2 weeks of their production exposure whether it be set or office. Name em.
I’ve worked with plenty of P.A. Bootcamp attendees that might as well have been completely new to PA-ing.
Poor kids could’ve used that $285 in this economy, too . . . hope you’re happy.
HOW do YOU KNOW that p.a. bootcamp is a scam?
Have you attended?
Do you know anyone who has attended and done well enough to get employment assistance through p.a. bootcamp?
…or is this starting…
D’oh!
Is it just me, or has this starting to resemble a birthday party where Aunt Gertrude gets sloppy drunk and the dog eats half of the cake before you get to blow out the candles.
Happy Anniversary TAPAB!
XD
Well, I made a promise. I’ll continue to steer production assistants away from your scam.
Continue to warn who about what?
YOU made this up. YOU created this. WE are NOT A SCAM. WE never have been. These are your words. They are empty, mean nothing and individuals will judge for themselves.
It’s hilarious how defensive you people get. It’s quite telling, really.
Anyway, I have a feeling if you had my last name and contact info, you’d harass me to no end. I’d rather not deal with that, thanks.
What I WILL do, however, is continue to warn production assistants about your scam of a business. That’s a promise.
Josh, with no last name, and no contact information is asking what legit business defends them selves on a blog.
1.) We aren’t defending.
2.) If you are so established in the industry why do you have no last name, no link to get in touch with you…
-Kim Richey
And yet, we still do not defend. You may say what you like, and we stand by who we are and what we do. You have no proof that we are a scam. We are however “Some of my most popular posts include:”
In the top for the most popular topics hosted by this blog.
Good Mornin’ (this one’s number one mainly due to a link from Alex Epstein)
How to Move Up from Reality TV to Real TV
Something I Will Never Understand
I Hate Directors
Memo to Anyone Sending in Their Resume
Is PA Bootcamp Worth It?
You’re doing much better at this blog this than I am!
Find a legit business that constantly defends itself on blogs.
Can’t find one?
Guess that means PA Bootcamp is the only legit business to do so. Or a complete SCAM!
Cockroaches, I tell ya.
That’s right. You do not “need to attend P.A. Bootcamp.” We never said anyone “needed to attend P.A. Bootcamp” to become a working P.A. anywhere.
It is a service that is available to anyone if they need some help at becoming a P.A. and making a living in any department within the entertainment industry. Its not about getting the 1st job. ANYONE can do that. Its about the job after the first, and then the next, and then the merging into the industry easily without having to swim or sink. -Kim Heath
well, before i was a reader i was just a so so nobody hoping to break into the industry. now, after having followed you for a few months, i can proudly say i am an employed pa in los angeles. of course i attribute all this to reading your blog!
guess you don’t need to attend pa boot camp AFTER ALL
aspiring writer/director in LA here .. in other words, aspiring PA.
keep the content the same — love the advice, love the stories. just post more! 🙂
I read because I’ve known you for nearly 10 years, so I’m kinda obligated. 🙂
As you know, I’m not in the industry, so I read for teh funniez. I find the advice kinda boring, but only because it doesn’t apply to me at all. If it did, I’d be all over it.
Anyway, happy first year!
Hey, Happy Anniversary!
we are not defending anything.
we are READING.
we are like cockroaches? so what of it? its a free country and a web of free speech, so? what’s your point?
I’m a PA on the other side of the world, and although my job differs greatly from yours, I enjoy your stories, insights and experiences.
Keep up the blog, it’s nice to read.
(Suggestion: Perhaps an FAQ section for all the kids hoping for basic advice?)
And I quote, “We as a staff will no longer be participating in this chat until we need more sign ups” –PA Bootcamp, circa April 7th
Hmmm…makes you wonder why they posted here defending themselves again, despite the fact the topic has little to nothing to do with them, except for the link to the original post.
God, PA Bootcamp staffers are like cockroaches.
Hello to ANONYMOUS.
We read, and we send congrats to you!! We link to you, and thank you for linking to us. Though you have no respect for us, and our services we remain loyal readers.
We feel that although there are differences of opinion, we respect all views. One can always help another, whether it be by accident or courtesy and professionalism.
We stand by our open invitation to you, to your readers, though no one has RSVP’d as of yet. We welcome you to a session of P.A. Bootcamp. We STILL hope to see you in the future.
We re-posted: to clarify that this is to the attention of “Anonymous”. We find it humorous that some readers hear will copy and paste our comments to their blogs in hopes to make something out of us that we are not. But no matter, bloggers will write what they write to get it read, whether or not its confirmed. We decided to address you specifically. We hope you ‘don’t mind’.
We read, we send congrats to you, we link to you, and though you have no respect for us, and our services we remain loyal readers.
We feel that though there are differences of opinion, we respect all views. One can always help another, whether it is by accident or courtesy and professionalism.
We stand by our open invitation to you, to your readers, although no one has RSVP’d as of yet. We welcome you to a session of P.A. Bootcamp. We STILL hope to see you in the future.
Hey anonymous,
I think you should keep a balance of funny and serious. I am about to write about things that are appreciated on set and not appreciated on set right now, but in a funny way;)
Lyric, the NYC Production Assistant
Middle-aged copywriter and translator in Europe. I’m here mainly for the funny stories.
I’m an aspiring writer and film guy who found your blog a couple months. Since then, I check up on your posts regularly.
I love your stories, though I’ve never worked on a Hollywood set or in a production office. I also like when you answer questions. Maybe you can do half and half every once in awhile if you have the time.
I sent you a question about PA interviews via e-mail and you still haven’t answered it yet! Haha. Keep the great posts a-comin’!
Fellow below the liner. Always love reading your insight. Congrats on the anniversary!
bored, twenty something in the northwest here…I like some of the advice, its interesting and I wouldn’t want you to forgo it all, but I’m more for the funny myself. I tend to gloss over the advice, I’m not in the business, nor do I have any intention to be, I’m simply a fascinated lurker.
I do like the advice AND I like the funny stories. I think they both compliment each other, actually.
Happy Anniversary!
congrats. and ditto to the first comment above. although I’m a screenwriter wannabe and a struggling playwright and I don’t do any PA work, your insight into the biz is very fascinating and helpful for us not in the know.
I am a software engineer by day and a casual spectator by day and occasionally at night. I have no connection to the entertainment industry in any way shape or form but I do like watching movies. I just wanted to learn about how someone’s idea becomes a movie and Google reader suggested this blog.
I read your PA general nonsense and briefly glance your advice.