Atlanta Isn’t Burning (With Jobs)
Kyle writes in: I recently stumbled across your blog and have really enjoyed the reading. I have a few questions I was hoping you might give some advice on. I have interned as a P.A. on a few different occasions for editing studios in Atlanta, Ga. However, now that I have graduated I am finding […]
Does Age Matter? – II
Adam writes in with another age-related question: How old are most office and set production assistants? I mean, ignoring the happenstance of Hollywood, not to mention just finding those first few jobs, isn’t one looking at a commitment of several years just as PA before even the possibility of moving to a position higher up […]
Does Age Matter?
Reader Dan writes: I am 17, soon to be 18. When I am 18, or sort of maybe a few months after I’m 18, I wanted to be a PA for reality tlelevision. I’m worried I’m a bit too young to do this. I’ll be ready late this year or early 2010, depending on how […]
The Curse of the Origin Story
Not everyone starts their career the same way.
Is There a Lawyer in the House?
Reader Matt writes: I, like you, am a PA/aspiring writer. I met a producer recently and pitched a script. To my surprise, he said he wanted to make the movie! He’s drawing up a contract, and now my writing partner and I find ourselves in need of an entertainment lawyer. I’ve asked the writers on […]
Overheard in the Production Office
I was filling out my mileage form yesterday, and I wondered how much it was going to be worth. The current rate is 50.5 cents, and that extra half cent threw me off. “Goddamn it, why can’t they just use whole numbers? Decimals just screw me up.” Without looking up, the coordinator said, “Use improper […]
Insults
A friend of mine wrote in response to yesterday’s post: What’s the difference between a grip and a PA? A PA can spell “grip.” Now, I like grips, but I had to laugh at that. It’s strange how making fun of each other is a way of bonding on set. People are constantly busting each […]
Useless
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again– nothing we do in Hollywood matters. We’re not doctors or soldiers or police or fire fighters. No one’s going to die if we make a bad TV show. There are a few individual exceptions. People can get hurt if a grip or an electric or a […]
Friendly Reminder
The other PAs and I got an annoying boss-emails today. You know, the kind that starts with, “Just a reminder…”, and then goes on to re-explain all the basic PA duties that you already do. This kind of note always fills me with a combination of fear and annoyance. Why is he reminding me to […]
Picky Picky
Whether you’re on set or in the office, lunch is always provided (unless you work on a cheap-ass reality show; then all bets are off). Of course, if you’re somewhere else, as I am right now,{{*}} you might miss out on the food. If you’re lucky, someone will remember to set aside a plate for […]
You Outta Be in Pictures
There’s a great big photo hanging in our office of the entire crew, save for two people. The set photographer (obviously), and me. They gathered everybody on stage, but of course, the producer couldn’t leave the office completely unattended. What if somebody called to, you know, ask when episode ten starts shooting? (Agents do this […]
Pet Peeve
Scripts change in TV. They change a lot. The first draft distributed to department heads is usually just a rough guide. You know, so location managers can start scouting, construction crews can start building, casting directors can start casting. That draft will be rewritten at least a half dozen times before filming begins. Sometimes these […]