Miles and Miles
Sorry for the late post today, but I was sent on a run the moment I walked in the door. Runs are one of the main differences between set and office production assistants. Set PAs stay on set all day, everyday (or longer; they’re the first to arrive and last to leave, other than teamsters). […]
It’s Rather Easy Being Green, Actually
In recent months, there’s been much discussion of shows “going green.” Don’t believe a word of it. I heard on some entertainment show or other that a particular show-that-shall-remain-nameless is reducing paper by giving all of the actors Kindles. I happen to know a guy on said show. When I told him about the story, […]
Colorize
This morning, the showrunner’s assistant came in the office and asked our intern, “Which pot has the decaf coffee in it? The orange or the brown?” The intern replied, “I think orange is always decaf.” “It is. That was just my polite way of making sure you knew.” Makes me wonder how many questions he […]
Identity
You may have noticed that I rarely mention anyone’s name on this blog. That’s partly to protect my anonymity, and partly because that’s how I actually think of them. It’s funny, after a few years on the job, you start to be able to identify most positions on sight. The camera guys are generally clean […]
Overheard in the Catering Line II
Or is it III, since I double posted the last one? Anyway. I was standing behind a couple of PAs from another department. Post, maybe? In any case, I overheard the following conversation, as they were perusing the food options– “What should we get for him?” (Their department head, I assume.) “I dunno. He said […]
Overheard in the Catering Line
I’m not certain, but I may have just witnessed the birth of the Revolution.
Overheard in the Catering Line
Gaffer: “The guys are complaining that they’re only getting ten hours, but when we’re working fourteen, sixteen hours, they’ll coplain then, too.” Best Boy: “Don’t worry about the crew… until they stop complaining.” This was accompanied by a meaningful look, to which the Gaffer nodded slyly. I’m not certain, but I may have just witnessed […]
Words, Words, Words
I don’t like music very much. This is a strange thing to say, but it’s true. I don’t get the notion of just listening. Which is unfortunate, because there’s not much else to do when you’re driving. I listen to NPR a lot, but it starts to remind me how pathetic my life is when […]
There’s Always Someone Below You
I went on a run today, to pick up something for the Big Awesome Show I work for. I went to the will-call window, and the guy’s eyes lit up. “You’re a PA on Big Awesome Show? How did you land that job?” I couldn’t really say. It was just a combination of experience, networking, […]
Game Show Casting
A few people responded to last week’s post about casting. One reader called himself “Max Powers.” Max writes: There is a large difference between game show casting and actual show casting. For a real show you have to find actors who fit into parts, coordinate their look if casting a family, make sure they fit […]
Reimbursement
As a PA, I try to be pleasant and accommodating. This used to extend to occasionally using my own credit card for production purposes, on the assumption that I would be reimbursed. No longer. I was on a show, a real show, with an actual budget. I was told to order sandwiches for the whole […]
No Pay
I received two different, but related, emails in the last few days. Matt writes: I’ve been combing Craigs List and Mandy.com for a while and I tend to notice that like, every single ad or call for a PA is indefinitely nonpaying. Is it as if there is some secret club you’re let into after […]