behind the scenes

As you guys know, I’m an intern at FLF.  I’m also a production assistant on most of our shoots.  It’s a hard job, but a great opportunity to learn.  Here’s some advice if you’re considering working as a PA:

1)  As a PA, you always need to be on your toes.  If you’re not on your toes, they are bound to get smashed.  

2)  It’s important to remember that the impression you make during your time as a PA will affect your chances of being asked to do it again.  It is critical to always be listening and problem solving.  

3)  If someone asks you to do something, and you don’t know how to do it, try and figure it out by yourself before bugging someone else about it.  

4)  When you have not been assigned a task, there are plenty of things that can continuously be done to help out.  For example: you can always pick up trash, you can make sure clients are happy and have what they need, you can straighten up around the set.  Also, if nobody has asked you to do anything, take the initiative to ask the individual departments if they could use a hand.  

5)  The most important rule of being a PA is you should never sit.  Sitting down on set shows that you do not want to be there and you have no drive to put your creative self into a project.  

6)  You should always be prepared for any task no matter the size.  

7)  A PA should always have on them:

      A pen or pencil
      A little notebook or something to write on
      Walkie-talkie
      Callsheet
      Cell phone
      Petty Cash for possible errands

In a nutshell, the position of a PA is to make sure that everyone is happy and has everything they need to do their job effectively and efficiently.  Reliable PA’s make everything a little easier.  It’s definitely a tough job — you’re the first on set and the last to leave — but if the passion is there, time doesn’t matter and the learning experience will be gnarly.