SUN TZU QUOTES'..."You have to believe in yourself."

Dumb Dog Production is a full-service Film Production Company. We hope you find the site informational and answers any questions you might have about the entertainment industry.

We do not claim that this site is a be all and means to an end, but to help guide and learn how the entertainment industry work.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions.

Thank you,

Sherri (Bisbey) Rowe / Bruce Bisbey / James Bisbey

Email: brucedumbdog@gmail.com Dumb Dog Production Phone: +1 319-930-7978 Dumb Dog Productions LLC / Bus Lic.: 5084725 https://dumbdogproductions.com/ https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/

Thursday, February 8, 2018

ART DEPARTMENT PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (In the Entertainment industry. What does an art dept. PA do?)


Scout Skeleton Coast South Gate, Namibia. Awesome place, remote, dangerous, enlightening and beautiful. 
The park reserve staff are extremely helpful. Photo Credit: Bruce Bisbey

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com

ART DEPARTMENT PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

ART DEPARTMENT PA
Art department PAs help construct sets and props, dress the sets, run errands, perform clerical duties and deliver messages to the directors. Art department PAs maybe called on to assist costumers’ by labeling and organizing costumes, and by running errands or set dec, stunts, scene, special effects etc. They also might be responsible for laundering and steaming costumes. Art department PAs deliver water, construction supplies, photograph locations, create and deliver maps, hang signs to direct workers, run errands and clean up locations.

If you want to be a set designer or art director or even a production designer this is the department to start in. At some point you will be on the computer researching, designing, changing artwork, tracing etc. All aspects in the art world are covered in a film or TV art department. Work hard, listen, watch and unless ask for your opinion, keep quite. Trust me on this, I was a Art Department Coordinator for over a decade. Bruce Bisbey

You will also get to see the Director, the First, Wardrobe, DP (director of photography), Special Effects… on and on. A lot of them show up at the art department for meetings and briefings.

One of the down sides though is that most office jobs are NOT UNION JOBS.

That means the money you make is based on what you produce without the safety net of the powerful Unions. That means you can move quicker up the ladder, but also that if you’re not proficient at what you do, you could be out the door without any Union help or recourse.

That also means as the months and years pass, you don’t have the benefits such as health insurance included as part of your job. That’s something to think about.

So there you have it. A simplified view of what a PA is, what their responsibilities are, how to get a job as a PA and how you move up the ladder in the TV and Film Industry. This is only a brief overview of the job, but should be enough to be a good jumping off place for you to Jump Right In.

Skills & Education
This is an entry-level position, and as such there are few educational requirements. A college degree in film and television production is useful, but not necessary. For a gig as a PA, a film/television degree demonstrates to the person reading your résumé that you understand the process of production and have a basic skill level for working on set. Survivor or Transformers 3 will require more experience as a PA than a pilot for a new show or a music video; as you build skills, you can work your way up into larger productions. The most important skills a PA must have are attention to detail, a “get it done” work ethic, the ability to follow directions, and a willingness to take orders. You should be organized, polite, and know how to anticipate needs on set before they arise.

What to Expect
The truth is that the production assistant gets the tasks that no one else on set wants. It isn’t uncommon to empty trash cans or bring lunch to the second unit who is running over schedule on location. Yes, production assistants also get coffee, sparkling water, and Diet Cokes for the leading man. Work as a PA is like boot camp for the entertainment business. If you can do this job well, you have proven you have what it takes to move up the ladder. Be proactive; pass out bottles of water to the crew; be standing by with towels when the director calls “cut” on a pool scene. Going the extra mile to find tasks before you’re asked to do them will impress the people around you. Remember that there are always hundreds of people in line waiting to take your gig. Finding ways to help out and make the crew’s jobs easier will catapult you from nameless face to go-to person. The PA’s name that gets called out most often is the one who will be on the next shoot. A good attitude will get noticed, so be respectful and show that you want to be there.

After you have developed good relationships through your experience as a PA, this position can be a launching pad toward any mid-level position in film and television. Traditionally the next step up is as a production coordinator, but if your interests are in camera work or lighting, you can go after work as a camera assistant, electrician or grip. A good PA can also work toward entrance into the DGA (Director’s Guild of America) training program through recommendation by the production manager.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Entertainment Careers, Adhere Creative, In Deed, Glass Door, Pay Scale, Merriam-Webster, Job Monkey, Studio Binder, The Collective, Production Hub, Target Jobs, Work Chron

THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND BRUCE BISBEY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION. YOUR USE OF THIS INFORMATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK OF LOSS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED UPON A STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, RELATING TO THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION.



No comments:

Post a Comment

WHY DO ACTORS TAKE UNCREDITED ROLES? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Film Billing Credits / Photo Credit: Studio Binder – Bruce Bisbey WHY DO ACTORS TAKE UNCREDITED ROLES? (In the Entertainment industry....