The Anonymous Production Assistant

Just Because It’s Free…

…doesn’t mean you have to eat it (ALL). I’ve gained twelve pounds on this show. Considering my size, that’s put me over the edge into the “overweight” territory. I’m not someone who obsesses over their weight, but the last thing I need is to be catching heat for being the tubby PA. The PA lifestyle […]

Connecting

Mr. Hart replied to a post from earlier in the week: Ok so lets say you have a well written screenplay or you are in the process of writing one, how does one go about selling it? For example, I am a PA on a television series and what if I wanted to write a […]

Job Postings on TAPA

I just received an interesting email from reader Ashley– Not sure if you do this sort of thing, but can I make a request to post a job on your site? I’m a personal assistant to a lit. film agent at a major agency, and since he just got me a reading job there, I […]

Where References Go

Man, I have been letting the mail bag pile up. Here’s an email from October 5th: I sent in my resume [to a production company] but in hindsight should have added a much better cover letter not my generic one. I have gone and read everything I can find on them and emailed just about […]

Going International

This week, the show I’m on leaves the friendly confines of Los Angeles for the unpredictability and authenticity of Eastern Europe. This means that for the last week, the entire crew has been running around like a bunch of toddlers, fearing “the move” like it were the pending apocalypse. I’m sure if these same people […]

A Time to Write

I’ve finally come to the conclusion that I can’t work a sixty-five hour work week and work on my screenplay at the same time. I sold a dollar option last summer, but I haven’t had a chance to develop the screenplay since I’m at work ALL THE TIME. So the other day, I told myself, […]

Act Like You’ve Been There Before

This week, our #2 actor started, so we sent him a bouquet of flowers to congratulate him. (It wasn’t until I typed that last sentence that I realized how stupid of a Hollywood tradition it is to congratulate an actor for starting a show. The only thing they’ve done up to that point is sign a […]

Saving Money

A friend of mine got a new gig recently. When introduced to the producer, the producer said, “Really? I wanted the nicer walkie talkies, but I can’t afford them and your rate, too. Fuck. Well, good for you.” This is not to say those walkies were expensive. It’s ridiculous to suggest a production couldn’t afford […]

Hollywood: Land of a Thousand Promises

A few years ago, I directed a web series that got a little bit of heat with an amazing sizzle reel. We got a producer attached, and the sizzle reel found its way to Kevin Reilly, and he said, “This made me laugh out loud, and very few things make me laugh out loud.” I […]

On the Merits of Internships

Last week, EMJ asked, regarding the Black Swan intern lawsuit: Unpaid internships are part of “the game”, but does that justify the way they exploit those trying to get into the industry? Let’s not forget all of the other hiring practices that were once considered fair game in the business world, that no longer are. […]

I Hate Your Work

Recently, I got rejected. Not by a significant other or a friend, or even an employer like this blog usually focuses on. I had a client hate the spec I was commissioned to create for them. It sucks wholeheartedly, of course, but it’s a testament to my progress these past long years that I wasn’t offended, […]

Good Enough

On my first show, I was copying blue crew lists, and the corner of page two kept curling in the copier, resulting in a tiny black smudge appeared on everybody’s crew lists. The secretary flipped through a handful of them, then gave them all back to me. “Do them again,” he said. “Figure out a […]