The Anonymous Production Assistant

Never the Right Number of Radios

Joe writes in: I’ve worked on several productions now ranging from commercials to reality shows and feature films. On many occasions I have been assigned to be in charge of the radios. Although it is much easier to manage with small crew reality shows or short gig commercials, I still haven’t found an efficient way […]

Hey, You! With the Face!

I’m not sure about you guys but one of the biggest problems for me on a set is remembering everyone’s name. Seriously, though. Especially when you are working a short commercial gig for one or two days? UGH.  Every single time a gig starts and you have to ask someone for the 50th time what […]

Walkie PA

Without a doubt, one of the most obnoxious jobs on any set is the “walkie PA.” It’s not like handling the walkies is your entire job; in fact, that’s part of the problem. Checking walkies in and out, getting them repaired, trading out headsets– these things take up a significant amount of your day, yet […]

My Twenty What?

“What’s your twenty?” This is a question you will be asked frequently when you’re a set PA. If you don’t know what that means, you’ll be recognized as the greenest greenie who ever greened. Luckily, you read this blog, and I’ll tell you what it means! Your “twenty” is your location. It comes from CB […]

Fun with Walkie Talkies

My wife says I’ve been too negative, lately, so I thought I’d tell you about some stupid fun a friend of mine got me into. Walkie talkies are omnipresent on film sets.  Anything bigger than a student film uses them.  Because of this ubiquity, the lingo we use (a bizarre mash-up of police codes and […]

10-1

Anybody who works on set and who is slightly immature, by which I mean grips, just giggled at the title. You see, channel 1 is the main production line on the walkies. Anyone could be listening, so you shouldn’t say anything that you don’t want other people to hear. You’re also supposed to follow certain […]