The Anonymous Production Assistant

What is a Low Budget Movie?

Low Budget

I often write about the difference between working on a low budget or big budget production. But I realized, I’ve never defined the terms. If your understanding of the film business comes from entertainment websites, you might be under the mistaken impression that, say, a $12,000,000 film is “low budget.” When you’re comparing it to […]

Unions Don’t Work That Way

Elle writes in: I’m a production assistant on a talk show. I’ve been in Los Angeles since 2012 after my relocation from Florida to pursue a career in the motion picture industry. I’m still very new and learning everyday, but at this point, I’d like to know what the next step should be. My goal […]

Do Your Own Damn Job

Reality TV shows don’t have “writers,” per se.  They have what are called “story producers.” Their job is pretty much twofold.  First, they come up with the wacky situations for the contestants to get into.  They’re the ones who send the rich debutant to a farm, and the ghetto-fabulous girl to Morton’s. Once all this […]

Job Search

I’m on a job hunt right now, much sooner than I’d expected.  While perusing Craig’s List, I came across this ad.  After the usual rigmarole about being diligent and hard working, the ad ends thusly: Please send a RESUME (with contact info)and a PHOTO. Wow. I like how he staunchly avoids using the feminine pronoun, […]

Where It’s At

Yesterday, Nathan wrote, “You want to write… write!” This is the best, most important advice any aspiring writer can get. But if you’re sitting at a desk in Nome, Alaska, typing away on an Underwood by candlelight, filing your scripts in a drawer, you’re not going to have a writing career. There’s an old saying […]