First Day in the Production Office
Jerrica wrote in: I start an office PA position on a network show in a week and I was wondering If you had any advice for the first day/week. OR maybe a list of things to bring with you or make sure you have handy. I sort of want to be prepared since this a […]
PAing on a Live Show
Kate asks: I just landed my first ever PA gig, and it is for [a live awards show]… Looking through your blog posts, I haven’t seen any addressing PA’s for live shows. Is there anything I should know or be prepared for going into this position that may be different from regular set PAs? I […]
Shots Versus Setups
The following post applies to single camera shows. I honestly don’t know what they do for multicam series. I’ve noticed lately the some newbies confuse the terms “shot” and “setup.” These are related concepts, but they are distinct. In general, the “shot” is the image the camera operator is seeing through the lens.{{1}} The goal […]
Radio Silence
If you don’t read The Hills Are Burning,{{1}} you probably missed AJ’s most recent post, “Steppage.” She nicely illustrates just how fucking annoying it is when someone steps on you on the radio. So, here’s a little primer for you newbies, so you’re not the jerk annoying the shit out of everyone on set. When […]
How to Set Up a Courtesy Flag
It’s a grip’s job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Be Careful Who You Talk About
Celebrity gossip IS office gossip when you’re in Hollywood.
Annoying, Or Taking Initiative?
Ryan writes in: I recently got a job PAing at a fairly large production company for a couple of weeks. Due to lack of space, I was placed at a desk on a different floor than the people I am working directly for. When I arrive in the morning sometimes I am given a small […]
How NOT To Make a Microbudget Film
Last week’s post about why movies are so expensive got some interesting responses. The Burger King (probably a burger king, not the burger king) wrote– Most of this is very true, but you are wrong in implying that independent filmmakers can’t make movies unless they have $98,000. Dead Hooker in a Trunk, $2500, sold to IFC […]
The Minimum Wage and You
Several readers have asked how I think LA’s minimum wage increase will affect PAs. Well, it means we’ll get paid more. There’s a whole bunch of caveats to go with that, though. First of all, the $15 an hour minimum wage you’ve been hearing so much about doesn’t take effect until 2020. I would hope […]
Outdoors in L.A.
Wow, people were not pleased by yesterday’s post, where I criticized a fellow PA for getting the lunch order wrong. To be fair to me, this conversation didn’t happen outside my head. Sometimes I write these imagined conversations out on TAPA for your amusement, but clearly I failed in this regard. Takeaways for readers that […]
There Are No “Standard” Toppings
As an office PA, a good amount of your day is spent dealing with other people’s food. Taking orders, placing orders, picking them up, and most importantly, making sure your order is correct.
Recharge Your Batteries
I’m always looking for new ways to be useful on set. Anticipating the needs of the cast and crew is the best way to keep your job, and get hired in the future. So, when a fellow PA suggested I keep a portable phone charger in your ditty, I thought to myself: “Duh! Why didn’t […]