Willing to Relocate
Sorry, you have to be here when the job opens up.
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know… And Also What You Know
You’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The second part is true; the first part isn’t. Occasionally, yes, some no-talent, lazy, good-for-nothing jerk gets a job because of who they know. It doesn’t really happen all that often, though. The truth is, INWYKIWYK is more often a bitter […]
I’m a Talent Assistant. Now, What?
An anonymous reader writes in: I am a personal assistant to a well known actress, and she’s bringing me onto a big-ish shoot with her for the first time in a few weeks. Before working for this actress, I worked in production for about 5 years, but I never paid any attention to the talent […]
Working in Another State
Reader Amy writes in: Do you know anything about working on a show in a different state while maintaining permanent residence in Los Angeles? I see posts about people wanting to hire locals but does that mean I have to have a license/ID from that state or do I just have to physically live there? […]
Commitment
Matthew asks: I was wondering how do you deal with a company asking for a 1-2 year commitment. Of course I’m going to say yes if they’re asking for commitment. Are they just trying to scare the non-committed away? What are the consequences of leaving for a better job? Is it right for me to […]
Should I Mention that I’m Moving?
Mike asks: In two months I am moving to Los Angeles, and am wondering how to go about mentioning this in my cover letter. Does it just take a sentence or two? I know you’ve stressed being as brief as possible. As per the advice of my industry friends, they have prompted me to get […]
When to Lie in an Interview
I interviewed recently to be the assistant to an EP on a network TV show. My interview philosophy has changed over the last few years. When I first started out, I lied my way through nearly every question in an interview. When they’d ask what I wanted to do in Hollywood for the rest of […]
PA vs. PA
This happens all the time with people new and/or unfamiliar with the industry: they get Production Assistant and Personal Assistant confused. PA vs. PA. Yet there is a distinct difference between these jobs. This should not be an official barometer, but if laundry is in any way involved in your job then you’re the latter PA, […]
What’s the Point of the UTA Joblist?
First off, there’s a new UTA Joblist on the TAPA site, dated 6/21 (thanks to the readers who sent me the new one). I don’t know why some people get the list earlier than others. If you ever happen to get a more up-to-date one than you see here, please send me a copy, so […]
How to Quit
Michael writes: I am a creative assistant for a feature film director. I like and respect the director, but, because of an array of circumstances, I am seeking employment elsewhere. My question is this: how do I quit without completely ruining the contact and relationship I have with him? Keep in mind it’s not going to be brutally ugly for […]
Conference Call
A friend of mine is working in post on a sequel to a big budget movie that you’ve heard of and probably didn’t enjoy very much. The director has that kind of psuedo-fame that comes from being a jerk. I try my best not to judge such people until I’ve worked with them myself, but […]