Email Miscellany
I’ve noticed a trend in emails, lately– footers that are dozens of lines long. This is a bad trend. Don’t do it. The end of your email should look like this: Best, [name]{{1}} (###) ###-####{{2}} That’s it. Done. Press send. Maybe put your email address, if you want to be doubly sure the recipient has […]
I Have Experience… Should I Still Go to PA Bootcamp?
Lonnie writes in: I have two questions: First, what kind of help are you requesting for your new video? I’d like to be involved. That’s easy. Since there have already been several TAPAs, I got the idea that we could all be TAPA. So, I’m asking a bunch of readers/listeners to record themselves giving the […]
Want Your Own Office?
A lot of you, like me, are aspiring writers. You write from home, or at a coffee shop, or even while at work. That’s all well and good, but wouldn’t it be nice to have your own space? Well, The Office is offering just that. Announcing the 2015 Fellowship to theOffice If you’re looking for […]
Suing for Unpaid Overtime
Steve writes in: I am an executive assistant working for a production company. I am paid hourly, fixed at 44 hours/week, whether I work 40, 44, or 70 hours. Basically, I am trapped in the office until my boss leaves at night. Through my employment, I have been shorted about $10k in overtime, lunches, and […]
Want To Be in a TAPA Video?
The new season of Crew Call is fast approaching, which means the Kickstarter campaign is approaching even faster. And what Kickstarter campaign would be complete without a video? That’s where I could use your help. If you’re a fan of the podcast (or just really like the blog), I could use your help. Shoot me […]
What Kind of PA Was I?
Jo asks: Does one usually specify the department they PA’ed in? For example, I just PA’ed on a TV show pilot, but it was in the costume department. Do I need to specify that in my resume? Or just list it as PA? The great thing about sending your resume electronically is, you can change […]
Living at Home
Alexandra writes: I am a graduating senior in college, and I have plans to move with another student to LA after graduation. I wouldn’t be relocating far (my family is in north Orange County). My mom has been very supportive, but she worries. She advises me to stay home for a year and save money, […]
Dogs at Work
I love my dog. She’s great. She’s adorable and fun and a very good listener.{{1}} We spend hours at the dog park every weekend, then she curls up in my lap and we watch Transparent together. She even sleeps in my bed, and if she doesn’t approve of a date I bring home, he’s gone. […]
Don’t Use an Email That Ends in .edu
The headline says it all. I’m a little surprised it has to be said, but it’s come up a lot recently while fixing up readers’ resumes. Several people have left their .edu address on their resume. In a way, I sort of get it. When you’re 22, college has taken up almost a fifth of […]
Outliers
Pam commented on yesterday’s post: Eli Roth was a production assistant who made connections and found success as a writer/director/producer. Bill Hader was a production assistant who went on to be a regular on SNL. The list goes on… it all seems so easy. First of all, let’s not use Eli Roth as an example […]
Fake Address
Erica writes in: First, I want to thank you for all of your awesome advice– I know it’s greatly appreciated by your readers and once-blind-wanderers like myself. Secondly, I want to ask about getting work before moving down to LA. I know that in previous posts you’ve said you need to be in LA to […]
Big Announcement
When you work in production (and if you’re reading this blog, I assume you either do or want to), plans change all the time. As the saying goes, the reed bends with the wind, where the mighty oak breaks. Such was the case yesterday. We had planned for Crew Call producer Chris Henry to make […]