Reimbursement
As a PA, I try to be pleasant and accommodating. This used to extend to occasionally using my own credit card for production purposes, on the assumption that I would be reimbursed. No longer. I was on a show, a real show, with an actual budget. I was told to order sandwiches for the whole […]
No Pay
I received two different, but related, emails in the last few days. Matt writes: I’ve been combing Craigs List and Mandy.com for a while and I tend to notice that like, every single ad or call for a PA is indefinitely nonpaying. Is it as if there is some secret club you’re let into after […]
Casting Called Out
I asked an AD to look over my resume, and make some suggestions. He pointed to two listings for “Casting PA,” both on game shows. “Get rid of these” “Why?” “No one respects the casting department. They don’t do any work. It makes you look lazy.” Wow. The thing is, I knew he kinda had […]
Mail Bag
I haven’t kept up with the ol’ mail bag like I should’ve. Time to play catch up. Rob writes: You had mentioned that you walked into an interview and impressed them despite wearing a t-shirt and jeans and being unshaven. You got the job. Do you have any tips on how to ace an interview? […]
What’s in a Title?
Lyric writes: I am a new PA with big goals and I was called by a production company to be an Assistant Coordinator for a video game commercial. I am not too sure what the job entails but they know and I know that I can handle the workload. I wanted to know if you […]
And I’m Freeeeeee! Free-Lancing!
Analis asked recently: Once you get the low/no-budget film job and it ends, what do you do next? Should I assume that I made great connections and the next production I apply for will swoon upon my arrival? I wish. It’s true, after that first credit, landing that next job will be easier. But remember, […]
Responses
I mentioned Desiree in my blog yesterday. Turns out, she has her own blog, where she posted a response. Even though I disagree with her view, it’s a well-written blog, definitely worth reading, and I recommend you all check it out. Along with her own post, she commented on mine: I’ve never justified him yelling. […]
No Jerks
Yesterday, Desiree said: His outburst was cocky and out of the map. But when you say “astonishingly, this outburst did not get the operator fired” I get a little scared. Everybody must also be allowed to have an own opinion, a freedom of speech and by all means a bad day. Maybe I didn’t properly […]
Happy Anniversary!
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 […]
Intimacy
I was working on a short film this weekend, and we shot an “intimate scene.” Basically, the actress was nude. As is common practice, we kicked out everyone who didn’t absolutely have to be in the room. This was all well and good, but it reminded me of a terrible AD on one of my […]
A Side Order of Sides
“Sides” can mean to a couple of different things. I’m not sure how either of them are a side of anything, but whatever. When I found out that ADs are assistant directors but ACs are camera assistants, I stopped trying to make sense out of movie terms. During casting, actors are given a scene or […]
Oh, Canada!
AQBemp writes: I’m in the UK and just about to finish uni (nothing film related). There is a scheme here where you can get a work permit/visa for Canada for a year once you’ve graduated as long as you get there by January 2010. At the moment I am really considering going to Vancouver. One […]