Taking Advantage
So there you are, working your ass off as a PA, running around and doing ridiculous tasks that you will never be able to properly explain to your parents. You love what you do as much as you hate it and you know this is the bottom rung of the Industry ladder. But have you […]
Asking Too Many Questions
Tara writes in: I just graduated from college and got my first job as a Production Assistant for a talk show. I’ve done some freelance PAing and the biggest problem I seem to have is that I can’t find the balance between making sure I get everything right and asking too many questions. I understand […]
Should I Start as an Office PA or a Set PA?
Raisa writes in: I just started interning on an independent film and the producer has asked me whether I want to be on set or in the office. This is my first time working in the industry so I don’t know anything about anything. I think I eventually want to be a producer or an […]
10 Mistakes New Production Assistants Should Avoid
If you want to know what a PA does, you’ve come to the right place. Various TAPAs have been telling you what to do for a long time. You can still buy the TAPA T-shirt with the definition of a PA. But it’s not often that I tell you what not to do. So, as […]
Show Title or Job Title?
Today’s a good day to buy a t-shirt, don’t you think? * * * Mitch writes in: My current predicament is probably a caviar problem. I got hired to PA on a network talk show earlier this year, which was great, I really enjoyed it. Then we went on hiatus for the, and I began […]
Let Me Get Back to You II
It’s the last week to buy your TAPA T-shirt! Wear it to the next TAPArty. * * * Last week, I wrote a post titled Let Me Get Back to You. Reader Sam (an assistant production supervisor, so you should listen to him){{1}} wrote in– From the title, I thought this article was going to […]
Let Me Get Back To You
There’s certain key phrases every PA should know: “Yes.” (Except when the answer is No.) “It won’t happen again.” “It’s Thursday. Yes, payroll checks are coming today.”
Here’s another one to add to your quiver: “I’ll look into that.”
Is It Too Late to Start?
John writes in with a few questions: Should I find out who the production coordinator is before I start sending out cover letters? I graduated film school but have no paying job experience or internships. I’m twenty-four, am I too old to start taking Craigslist listings and no-pay jobs to just get contacts? Where to […]
The Definition of a Production Assistant
A lot of people asked why I don’t sell TAPA T-shirts. Honestly, it’s because I couldn’t think of anything clever or interesting, like Dollygrippery’s Ascent of Man-style shirt. Well, that’s all changed! Introducing the first TAPA Tee! The Definition of a Production Assistant. The back has the definition that dictionaries are too afraid to give […]
Career Crisis
An anonymous reader{{1}} writes in: I’ve been an appreciative reader of the APA blog for several years, throughout which I also worked in television and film development and production as a production assistant. I originally went into the industry because I was in love with the idea of doing something for a living that was […]
Good Enough Is Not Good Enough
It’s a little sad to think about, but the basic minimum requirements of a PA are easy to meet.
But not everybody can do it well.
Out of State PA
Morgan writes in: I currently live in the Austin area and for the last few years we’ve had a nice share of TV shows filmed in the area (The Lying Game, Friday Night Lights, From Dusk Til Dawn, etc). I was told by an extra that a lot of studios are becoming reluctant to film […]