How NOT To Make a Microbudget Film
Last week’s post about why movies are so expensive got some interesting responses. The Burger King (probably a burger king, not the burger king) wrote– Most of this is very true, but you are wrong in implying that independent filmmakers can’t make movies unless they have $98,000. Dead Hooker in a Trunk, $2500, sold to IFC […]
Why Are Movies So Expensive?
For longer than I’ve been in the Industry, we’ve been hearing how cheap, digital cameras and readily available editing software would democratize cinema. There would be a revolution in independent filmmaking that would tear down the studio system. Except… that hasn’t happened. The reason is, equipment is no where near the biggest expense on a […]
Booking Agent for PAs
Martin writes in: I was wondering if you had ever heard of Booking Agents for PA’s. I found a job posting through a networking group on Facebook for a two-day PA gig which pays the normal rate. The contact person sent me an email stating this “Thank you for your submission. I would like to […]
The Minimum Wage and You
Several readers have asked how I think LA’s minimum wage increase will affect PAs. Well, it means we’ll get paid more. There’s a whole bunch of caveats to go with that, though. First of all, the $15 an hour minimum wage you’ve been hearing so much about doesn’t take effect until 2020. I would hope […]
Outdoors in L.A.
Wow, people were not pleased by yesterday’s post, where I criticized a fellow PA for getting the lunch order wrong. To be fair to me, this conversation didn’t happen outside my head. Sometimes I write these imagined conversations out on TAPA for your amusement, but clearly I failed in this regard. Takeaways for readers that […]
There Are No “Standard” Toppings
As an office PA, a good amount of your day is spent dealing with other people’s food. Taking orders, placing orders, picking them up, and most importantly, making sure your order is correct.
Recharge Your Batteries
I’m always looking for new ways to be useful on set. Anticipating the needs of the cast and crew is the best way to keep your job, and get hired in the future. So, when a fellow PA suggested I keep a portable phone charger in your ditty, I thought to myself: “Duh! Why didn’t […]
Sometimes, You’re Wrong
A couple months ago, I wrote a post about giving yourself extra time to complete tasks: Whenever you’re given something to do, you need to factor in “shit happens.” If you think you can get something done in five minutes, say it’ll take ten. If you think it’ll take an hour to get across town, […]
Personal Lighting
Germainicorn{{1}} replied to the PA shopping list I created– @TheAnonymousPA in addition to flashlight, I’d recommend a headlamp to free up your hand from using flashlights at night. External battery 2 — Germainicorn (@JudgeGermaine) July 22, 2015 This a great point, and I wish I had mentioned it earlier. Obviously, a headlamp would be useful […]
The First Time You Get Paid For It
Lauren writes in: How many things/what sort of things did you have on your resume when you started applying for PA jobs? PAing my be the bottom rung of the ladder, but unless you know somebody, your first day on set will not be paid. Before I ever applied for a real PA job, I […]
Names Are Important
Did you catch the mistake in the tweet I responded to yesterday? No? Here it is again: @TheAnonymousPA Hey do film producers require film school? Think Jerry Bruckenheimer. should I go to college? — C.J Davis (@lifeischess027) July 21, 2015 Who the hell is Jerry Bruckenheimer? To tell you the truth, I didn’t notice the […]
There’s No One Way to Make It
C.J. tweeted at me: @TheAnonymousPA Hey do film producers require film school? Think Jerry Bruckenheimer. should I go to college? — C.J Davis (@lifeischess027) July 21, 2015 Film school is a topic that comes up often on this blog. There are some good reasons to go to film school,{{1}} but a degree isn’t one of […]