Following Up or Pestering?
Reader Janice emailed this question: I’ve been a PA for three gigs now but never on a “visiting” set, where the main production happens in, say, NYC, and small portions are filmed in, say, DC. The PA from NYC called on Monday and said that I’d be working today through next Monday on a feature […]
Questions, Questions
In response to yesterday’s post, univoked asked if writers’ conferences could be helpful in finding an agent. Ugly Deaf Muslim Punk Gurl! replied: Writers’ conferences aren’t really for screenwriters, they’re for BOOK writers. So if you’re looking for a literary agent for a BOOK you’re writing, then you could go to a conference. Otherwise, don’t […]
Sympathy
I’ve found a distinct lack of sympathy for my current joblessness. In the business, you’re in and out of work all the time. You get used to it pretty quickly. But when you’re friends and family hear that your show just got cancelled, you get barraged with, “Oh, I’m so sorry! Do you have another […]
Fun with Walkie Talkies
My wife says I’ve been too negative, lately, so I thought I’d tell you about some stupid fun a friend of mine got me into. Walkie talkies are omnipresent on film sets. Anything bigger than a student film uses them. Because of this ubiquity, the lingo we use (a bizarre mash-up of police codes and […]
Why Are You Even Here?
While I may be replaceable, she doesn’t even need to be replaced.
Production Assistant Portfolio
Reader Drew commented on an old post, yesterday: I’m just starting to put together a resume for future jobs – I have two independent films under my belt – and for the examples I find, they have a portfolio section. What goes into a PA’s portfolio? Production photos of them? I think they just crammed […]
Starting from Scratch
Reader Alan writes: I’m enjoying your blog, got a question. How do I get in as a PA on a upcoming pilot or a show currently in production. I’ve been in the biz for a couple years now as an editor on the east coast, don’t have any contacts in LA. Kinda like starting from […]
Who Needs a Car?
Reader Jeff writes in: I’ve been interested in film for so long, however after graduating from college as an English/Film major, I still don’t really have a production skill I’ve mastered, so I think my best resort is to start out as a PA. Of course, I want to move out to California where all […]
Where to Begin…
Reader Robert has a few questions– I have no experience in the entertainment industry – do productions ever consider or hire candidates with absolutely no experience? Having no experience is one of the key qualifications of being a PA. If you had experience, you’d find a better job. But the truth is, you do have […]
Life Cycle of a Show (Act III)
Step Nine: The News You might think that there is a fixed schedule, by which you can determine when your time on a show will be up. You would be wrong. Even when you can see the ratings drop week by week, the producers put on a happy face. “They’re giving us time to find […]
Life Cycle of a Show (Act II)
Now you’re on the job! What happens next?
Whenever
Do you ever get this at your work? “Hey, [your name here]. Can you do X?” “Sure. When do you need it by?” “Whenever.” When, exactly, is “ever? ” Are we talking by the end of the day? By the end of the week? What? It’s worse when they give you multiple whenevers. Which ever […]