Does ‘Video Producer’ Experience Count for Anything?
Elsa writes in: I’m a long time TAPA reader, first time question asker. I’m a video producer for a media company with 2 years of experience. I’m trying to move into film production, but I’m having a hard time figuring out what roles I should be applying for. Does my experience with pitching/producing/directing/writing/editing videos for […]
That Special Connection
Aaron writes in: I work for a writer (I walk her dogs), and she knows that I want to be a writer, as well. She used to work at one of the major networks, and has sold several scripts. She has told me that she will look around for PA jobs, and specifically writer PA […]
Can a Writer Help a PA?
Felecia writes in: So there are some people that I’ve worked with before who now write on other shows. I was wondering if I sent them my resume and they forward it to whoever does the hiring on their show, does the fact that it came from one of the writers matter? Or would it […]
There’s No One Way to Make It
C.J. tweeted at me: @TheAnonymousPA Hey do film producers require film school? Think Jerry Bruckenheimer. should I go to college? — C.J Davis (@lifeischess027) July 21, 2015 Film school is a topic that comes up often on this blog. There are some good reasons to go to film school,{{1}} but a degree isn’t one of […]
Outliers
Pam commented on yesterday’s post: Eli Roth was a production assistant who made connections and found success as a writer/director/producer. Bill Hader was a production assistant who went on to be a regular on SNL. The list goes on… it all seems so easy. First of all, let’s not use Eli Roth as an example […]
You Can’t Beat Stupid
Some days, I’ll read a script that’s inspiringly good. “This is how I want to write,” I think to myself. “This well-crafted story, these original characters, these hilarious jokes.” Other days, the writers will turn in a real stinker, and it’ll inspire me in another way: “Shit, I can write better than this.” And then […]
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 […]
Perfection
Following yesterday’s post, I had a few more thoughts on mistakes. I used to be a personal assistant to a producer. He asked me if I ever wanted to be a director, and I said I did. He told me I could never do that job until I could do this job perfectly. This statement […]
The Right Attitude
I have a large backlog of questions in my in box, but this comment from a few days ago is just desperately crying out to be answered. Hi, currently I’m in my senior year of college, and I will be graduating with a B.A. in Cinema and Television arts.My goal is to be a television […]
Whoooooo are you? Who, who? Who, who?
It’s virtually impossible to tell, by eye, an office PA from a young producer. Unstylish clothing, disheveled hair, four-day beard growth. (Of course, you’ll know immediately if you see them getting out of their car.) But if you see me on the set without a walkie or a pair of gloves on my belt, I […]
Missed Opportunities
When you work on a studio lot, you see people you may not see elsewhere. When they were shooting Rush Hour 3, I saw Jackie Chan rolling around on a segway all the time. (Of course, I wasn’t allowed to rollerblade on the lot, because it was too dangerous.) The other day, I passed Larry […]
But What I Really Want To Do Is Direct
People often ask me what I eventually want to do. It’s a tough question to answer without resorting to platitudes. It’s an old Hollywood cliché that everyone wants to be a director, so I try to avoid that, even though I graduated from what amounts to a director factory. What surprises me, though, is that […]