What is a Production Assistant?

Many people who want to get into the movies ask what a production assistant does on a daily basis. These assistants work for actors, film staff, directors, and other people who work to make movies happen. They do a little bit of everything. Often these PAs are called the grunts of the movie business, because they do a lot of things similar to an intern. It's a lot of work without the glamour. They are typically called 'gophers' because they go-for-this or go-for-that. But PAs claim that their jobs are rewarding and get their foot in the door to work in the movie industry.

In a nutshell, production assistants take care of the administration, organization, and secretarial work that goes along with producing TV programs. This basically means they do a little bit of everything, from scheduling to coordination to implementation. The PA is responsible for attending production meetings, preparing correspondence, making copies of scripts, running errands, managing expenses, typing call sheets, and assisting cast members with various requests. They set up materials, keep track of deadlines and remind directors of time constraints, and place orders.

They are responsible for booking hotels and other accommodations, booking travel, typing and and distributing schedules, distributing call sheets, dealing with budgets, accounts, and expenses, getting food, checking running orders, checking scripts, making shot lists, logs, and other paperwork for post-production, running various errands, assisting cast members with their call times, typing, editing, copying, and distributing scripts, setting up pre-recorded material in the studio gallery, and putting away the material after it's been used.

Some PAs are given extra responsibilities. They drive and manage the production and camera cube trucks. This responsibility is often given to the more senior PAs because it provides several extra days of pay. Junior PAs can work their way up to this position.

They call out rolls during each shoot to determine if everyone is on set. If someone is missing, the PA must go and find them and determine what the delay is. During filming the PA makes sure everyone knows their call time and when to walk on set. They also manage the craft services table and place fresh food and drinks out for actors, camera crew, and directors to munch on while they are filming.

After filming has stopped for the day, the PA is responsible for sweeping up debris, collecting props, and putting away costumes. The costumes and props need to be put away in an orderly fashion so that they can be easily accessed the next day. They make sure all the props are cleaned. If the costumes need cleaning, they take them to the cleaners and pick them up.

Typically a production assistant isn't required to have a degree. They may have a bachelor's degree, but it isn't mandatory. Great PAs have a lot of experience and a ton of tenacity. They must be thick-skinned and able to handle criticism and negative comments. Often people on film sets are tasked with major deadlines that could cost a lot of money if they are not met, so PAs may get the brunt of the misplaced stress.

How to Become a Production Assistant

The production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production. The production assistant assists the director, actors, producers, key grips, and just about anyone else on a film to ensure the filming goes smoothly.

PAs provide production support equipment such as dollies, cranes, director's chairs and pop-up tents to standing in for talent and even filling in for other departments who might be shortstaffed. It is not atypical for a commercial set PA to be seen handling trash one minute, and the next minute assisting the electricians or grips with a set-up. This is how much their job duties vary. Sometimes PAs are attached to certain actors and actresses and are responsible to catering to their needs.

The work includes assisting actors and the crew, issuing scripts, dealing with travel and accommodation bookings and sorting out enquiries and other paperwork.

A select group of commercial set PAs are given the responsibility of driving and managing the production and camera cube trucks. This responsibility is often given to the more senior PAs because it provides several extra days of pay. Junior PAs can work their way up to this position.

Set production assistants work directly on the set. They may shuttle actors and actresses around, set up equipment, clean up debris, fetch food and drink, and generally assist others. They are more commonly hired by the production coordinator and/or production manager as opposed to an AD or key set PA. However, many commercial ADs will.

A production assistant may work on different kinds of TV shows and programs and movies, such as news and current affairs, reality television shows, soap operas, dramas and comedies. They are usually involved at all stages of a project, working alongside everyone from early stages until completion.

According to a recent article, the standard rate for a commercial PA in the Los Angeles area is a flat rate of 200 dollars per day. On February 1, 2008, benefits for qualifying freelance PAs became available through the Producer's Health Benefits Plan.

To become a production assistant you must be tenacious. Typically no degree is required by it is helpful to go to film school. Often you'll work from the bottom up and you should network with people to get jobs on films. It can be a competitive area to break into. Almost all TV producers, writers, directors and executives start out in the entry-level position of production assistant.

PAs learn about the entire film process, from beginning to end. If they're good at what they do, they might get to do things like sit in on production meetings and observe the director or editor working.

Other duties include attending production meetings, booking hotels and other accommodations, booking travel, typing and and distributing schedules, distributing call sheets, dealing with budgets, accounts, and expenses, getting food, checking running orders, checking scripts, making shot lists, logs, and other paperwork for post-production, running various errands, assisting cast members with their call times, typing, editing, copying, and distributing scripts, and setting up pre-recorded material in the studio gallery.

Best Jobs For Production Assistants

Becoming a production assistant is one of the best ways to enter into the television and film industry on the ground floor.

Production assistants take care of the administration, organization, and secretarial work that goes along with producing TV programs. They assist actors and ensure each actor has the proper script and hair and makeup instructions.

They are responsible for ensuring the production quality of all promotions, commercials, and public service announcements.

The production assistant books travel and accommodations for everyone on staff. This requires attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple schedules.

In reality, these job duties aren't set in stone and can change day-to-day, minute-to-minute.

The assistant works on every facet of the program, from conception to filming to completion.

Other typical work activities include attending production meetings, preparing correspondence, making copies of scripts, running errands, managing expenses, typing call sheets, and assisting cast members with various requests. They set up materials, keep track of deadlines and remind directors of time constraints, and place orders.

The PA also calls out rolls and cuts during a shoot. If an extra hand is needed on a set and if the production is off and he is working in the office and he is allotted as an office production assistant he must be able to do interchangeable office or set chores.

Production assistants make sure everyone knows their call time and when to walk on set. They also manage the craft services table and place fresh food and drinks out for actors, camera crew, and directors to munch on while they are filming.

Because production assistants are on set most of the time, it's not uncommon for them to actually appear in the film of TV program as an extra. Or he or she manages the hiring and selection of extras.

At the end of the day the production assistants are responsible for sweeping up debris, collecting props, and putting away costumes. The articles need to be put away in an orderly fashion so that they can be easily accessed the next day.

They also handle the distribution of paper works, radios and other equipments needed on the set.

The best production assistants jobs are those that lead to more opportunities if the programming has a limited schedule. Most PA jobs are entry-level and in the entertainment industry.

Work days are often very long for production assistants, sometimes 12 to 15 hours. Because you are assisting other people, the work can be grueling and you'll be managing several different tasks at once.

Being an excellent listener and a multitasker are important traits of a good production assistant. They are typically called 'gophers' because they go-for-this or go-for-that.

Jobs in film and television are the most ideal for production assistants. They'll get to work with many talented actors and directors and will be able to see a movie or TV program made from the ground up.

To become a production assistant, some companies prefer an associate's degree or its equivalent with 0-2 years of experience in the field or in a related area. They also prefer that the PA has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within his particular field.