SET PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (In the Entertainment industry. What does a set PA do?)

Fly over the C 119 crash site on the feature film, Flight of the Phoenix, with the Supervising Art Director. I was sitting with both legs hanging out of the plane with a safety strap around my waist talking pictures. If I had, had a parachute on I would have jumped. Was awesome. Cheers Bruce.

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

SET PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

SET PA

Set PAs perform the widest variety of duties. They work for the assistant directors, relaying information from the director to each department. Set PAs have numerous and varied job duties--such as escorting actors and actresses to and from their trailers, helping with crowd control and lockup, giving out schedules or scripts, collecting paperwork, delivering film to various locations and managing extras.

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, Target Jobs, Work Chron

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