Production assistants, or PA, are the backbone of most productions. Their jobs aren’t full of glamor and glory, but these entry-level workers keep the film and television industry going. PAs assist other members of the production team by doing tasks that range from getting coffee to fire watch to wrangling background actors and many, many other things. Being a production assistant is the number one way to break into the industry. It gets you experience on film sets and helps you get to know how things work. But if you want it to get you anywhere, you need to be the best PA you can be. That’s why today we’re going to talk about how to be a good production assistant.
Be a good production assistant by staying humble
As I already said, working as a production assistant isn’t going to be the most glamorous job you’ve ever had. You’re going to be asked to do things that, well, assistants do. Things like going on coffee runs or guarding a door for a full 12 hour day. It’s important that you’re humble enough to know that these things aren’t beneath you, and they are in fact a big part of what makes the production work.
Because the film industry is full of tricky power dynamics, I want to make something clear here: being humble is different than being dehumanized. You don’t deserve to be bullied, harassed, or degraded. Before you step foot on your first set, make sure you know the difference; getting coffee isn’t degrading, it’s a necessary part of production, and it’s a stepping stone to something bigger.
Know your role
On smaller indie sets, PAs tend to be all around helpers, kind of a jack of all trades. You’ll be helping the AD one minute and a gaffer the next. However, on bigger union sets, it’s more likely that you’ll be assigned to one department and be their go-to guy. What does that mean? Well, if you’re in the camera department and an electrician needs help, don’t rush over; their own PA will take care of it. The reason for this is that it can be a liability to mess with equipment you don’t understand, so play it safe and don’t volunteer for jobs outside your department.
Part of knowing your role is being eager to help. That’s what you’re there for! If you don’t have a current task, be alert and aware; a PA playing on their phone is never a good thing.
Be reliable and responsible
Show up when you’re called. Do the tasks you’re assigned. Be thorough and communicate well. When given conflicting instructions, ask for clarification before proceeding. Be safety conscious. Be mindful of the chain of command. Being reliable and responsible is probably the most important trait a PA can have. If you want to work your way up, make sure you prioritize this.
If you keep all of this in mind, you will be a great production assistant! Producers, if you have other tips, drop them in the comments!
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