An Unusual Route to Becoming a Writers’ Assistant
Reader Andrew writes in: There’s a small independent film company looking to break into TV. I know the producer, and she’s offered me a writer’s assistant position while they develop a pilot. So it’s really more of a development assistant position, but she calls it “writer’s assistant.” This makes me very nervous. On one hand, […]
Make a Good Last Impression
First impressions are important; they go a long way towards determining whether you land the job. But last impressions are almost as important; they determine whether you get the next job. People are busy. They’re not going to remember every little thing you did or didn’t do over the course of a season. Your boss […]
Motherhood
Is it possible to make it in the business while still being a good parent?
“I’m Not Negative, I’m Just Honest”
You’ve probably heard this, or something like it, from jaded old crew members. (Or young ones who like to think they’re jaded.) And whatever it is they’re being negative about, odds are they’re right. But in the words of The Dude– Outside of the context of discussion with a very good friend, “I’m just being […]
Resume Paper
Eric writes in: When I go to an interview, should I print out my resume on nice resume paper or is regular copy paper okay? In the past, I used nice resume paper because I had a lot, but now I am out. I’m wondering if I should spend the money when they usually print […]
How to Book a Food Truck
A coffee truck (or food truck or ice cream truck) is a great treat for the crew. It’s a nice excuse to get away from the stage and mill about with your co-workers, without actually having to do anything. But finding the right truck can be kind of a pain in the ass. Luckily, Diana […]
Mail Boxes
Here’s a weird conversation I had recently. A teamster came in and asked to check his [glossary]start work[/glossary]. He wanted to make sure his paycheck was going to his P.O. box, rather than his home. Curious, I asked, “Why don’t you want it going to your house?” “The jerks won’t deliver to our house.” “Really? […]
The Importance of Variety
No, not the magazine. I mean variety in food. As a PA, food will unfortunately take up quite a bit of your brainspace. It can be frustrating, because you didn’t go to film school to become a caterer, right? Often times, this means you’ll go into auto-pilot when it comes to crafty, second meal, or […]
Music Video Shoot
No post today, because I’m PAing on a music video for the first time today. I’m actually kind of excited. Anybody have any advice for me for once?
Transportation Coordinator Michael Perrotti
Today’s guest is one of my favorite people in the world, even though he doesn’t know I’m me.{{1}} Michael Perrotti has been a transportation coordinator since before I even had a license. He’s done movie, TV shows, commercials, you name it. He’s currently the head of the transportation department on Teen Wolf, which should tell […]
All My Friends Are Employed
If you’re not reading All My Friends Are Employed, you should be. It’s a funny comic about life as a PA, written by Naomi Shepherd. Check it out: And these are so true– And here’s an honest list of things you need: And I definitely relate to this story.
Start Campaigning Now
People often say that the first thing a politician does after winning an election is running for re-election. As a PA, or any freelance crew, you should be thinking the same way. You never know how long a show will last. It could get cancelled in the middle of the season, or even in the […]