Regular readers know I have a spotty history with PA Bootcamp [sic]. It was fun baiting them for a while, but it got to be repetitive and dull. I still get emails asking about the service pretty regularly, and I just refer them to my comments section.
Just today, though, I got an incoming link from another blog, called “Constant Ramblings.” This blogger has actually attended the PA bootcamp, and in the interest of fairness, I decided to reprint some of his positive comments:
PA Bootcamp’s job was to train me to be a fully capable production assistant. I honestly believe that they fulfilled their obligation. I’m confident that I can get a radio on my hip and not piss off the AD. I’m confident I can look at my paperwork, including call sheets, sides and anything else they would throw at me (as a PA, that probably isn’t much… but it is still more than you think) without scrambling.
I could write, “Congratulations, you learned how to press the ‘TALK’ button before talking! That’s $200 well spent. (Yes, they dropped their rates by $85 in the last year. You can’t afford not to go.)”
But I won’t say that, because, as Constant Rambler points out, I never took their class, so I don’t actually know what I’m talking about.
Of course, neither does he. If you’ve never been a PA before, there’s no way to know if PA Bootcamp [sic] was worth it. Maybe you would’ve learned “terminology, radio etiquette, what not to do, sides, call sheets and what it will take to move up the ranks” anyway, and saved $200 to boot.
13 Responses
Here is a review from my yelp account:
Love it !!!!
I went to PA boot camp last week, I was very skeptical at first and I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed, its worth it.
Leigh and her crew compress more than 20 years of experience into a 2 day weekend hands on class on ‘everything P. A’. We had experienced P.A attendees that were eager and prepared to get back into the entertainment industry and try out P.A bootcamp’s new skills. I learned a lot about making film from prep to post and every departmental functions and my involvement as a P.A
I wasn’t bored because they kept us busy and we all enjoyed every aspect of the class.
Highly recommend Quixote P.A Bootcamp.
I forgot to mention, they genuinely want to see every attendee succeed; they are helping me with my resume and they have my name on their work data base. They are very busy but they still find the time to email me and answer questions. I also know a few people that have found work after attending PA Boot camp.
THANK YOU QUIXOTE P.A BOOTCAMP
Sure, you can flounder around on set and learn the way of PA life like many others have in the past in a trial-by-fire. And yes, there are those in the industry who do laugh at the idea of PA Bootcamp: “Why do people need to pay to learn how to be a PA?” PA Bootcamp is a great option for those who want to be ahead of the game, who want to be prepared. I bet a bunch of people who start off as PA’s on set have NO IDEA about the industry and PA Bootcamp can give them a head start. I’ve employed PA’s who have passed the bootcamp and have been impressed with their attention to detail, their follow through, and how much they “get it.” Having risen up the ranks from onset PA-life I know that not all PA’s are created equal.
Susan Elder | December 16, 2012 at 9:26 pm | Reply
for one who knows as much as you do why are you anonymous? why can’t you tell us who you are and some of your credits. Might give us more trust in you, your advice, your credibility to know maybe of your imdb page or … something….? OTHER than being anonymous P.A.
for one who knows as much as you do why are you anonymous? why can’t you tell us who you are and some of your credits. Might give us more trust in you, your advice, your credibility to know maybe of your imdb page or … something….? OTHER than being anonymous P.A.
meh, he will still get sand bags tied to his feet and c-47 clipped to his shirt.
Then when they find out that he when to “pa boot camp” it will be worse.
I can guarantee it.
That applies to classes of any subject, really. You could always learn what you need out on the field.
Sometimes a way to get to the field is through a class which hopefully gives you confidence or connections or both.
Sometimes a class in a subject helps you speed things up. What takes years to learn out on the field is covered over a month. When it comes to e g safety, you don’t want to learn by your mistakes.
Sometimes a class gives you the wrong ideas of things and nothing works out as you thought it would.
I am sooooo keeping my big mouth shut!
I’ve heard this applied to film school in general. You can either pay to learn how to make movies, or get paid to learn how to make movies. It just depends on what you’re more comfortable with.
Well half of set work/relations is just being confident. If that what it takes for someone to feel confident I guess that’s a good thing. But yeah you could do it for cheaper i.e free or get paid to learn if you get on a set.