OFFICE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (In the Entertainment industry. What does an office PA do?)

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OFFICE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (In the Entertainment industry. What does an office PA do?)

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

OFFICE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Office PA

As an office PA, your day may be different than that of the Film PA. You show up at the Production Offices at 6:30 AM and are home by 8:30 PM. Your day consists of getting coffee, running errands and typing reports.

You may work exclusively for the accounting department or you may be an all-around PA working for everybody who needs your help. If you’re not out getting lunch or people’s laundry, then you will be working on office matters. The good thing is that you will hear executives and producers and writers working through day-to-day production matters.

You will be exposed to how things operate behind the scenes, how deals are made and shows get produced. This is invaluable information if you want to move up in the film industry. And why not? Somebody has to.

Talk about the office. An amazing place most people don’t think of…but that is where the action happens…not just on the set. This is where it begins to come together. Where meetings are held. The set design and artists have their offices as well as props, wardrobe, locations and transportation. Accounting keeps track of money along with the unit manager. This is where people call to get through to someone on the set. This is your entre into production and other support services.

Most everyone passes through the office.

Dailies arrive here from the set to be shipped to the processing labs. This is where all the cameras and set equipment are ordered and guided thorough. Casting and extra casting can happen here.

A production office PA will answer phones, make copies of scripts, run errands, and do any other administrative task the staff requires.

In some ways you have the opportunity to move up the ladder more quickly than the set PA. It’s a much more intimate surroundings and therefore you get to meet people quicker. And sometimes it’s easier to make a lasting impression. The pace in some ways is just as quick, but in some ways it’s a less stressed situation.

BUT, because of it being a more intimate setting, if you’re not good at what you do you possibly will be noticed a lot quicker. A lot quicker. And there’s nowhere to hide.

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 office 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,

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