Scout Skeleton Coast South Gate, Namibia. Awesome place, remote, dangerous, enlightening and beautiful.
The park reserve staff are extremely helpful. Photo Credit: Bruce Bisbey
Bruce
Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com
ART DEPARTMENT PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
ART DEPARTMENT PA
Art department PAs help construct sets and props, dress
the sets, run errands, perform clerical duties and deliver messages to the
directors. Art department PAs maybe called on to assist costumers’ by labeling
and organizing costumes, and by running errands or set dec, stunts, scene,
special effects etc. They also might be responsible for laundering and steaming
costumes. Art department PAs deliver water, construction supplies, photograph
locations, create and deliver maps, hang signs to direct workers, run errands
and clean up locations.
If you want to be a set designer or art director or even a
production designer this is the department to start in. At some point you will
be on the computer researching, designing, changing artwork, tracing etc. All
aspects in the art world are covered in a film or TV art department. Work hard,
listen, watch and unless ask for your opinion, keep quite. Trust me on this, I
was a Art Department Coordinator for over a decade. Bruce Bisbey
You will also get to see the Director, the First, Wardrobe,
DP (director of photography), Special Effects… on and on. A lot of them show up
at the art department for meetings and briefings.
One of the down sides though is that most office jobs are
NOT UNION JOBS.
That means the money you make is based on what you produce
without the safety net of the powerful Unions. That means you can move quicker
up the ladder, but also that if you’re not proficient at what you do, you could
be out the door without any Union help or recourse.
That also means as the months and years pass, you don’t
have the benefits such as health insurance included as part of your job. That’s
something to think about.
So there you have it. A simplified view of what a PA is,
what their responsibilities are, how to get a job as a PA and how you move up
the ladder in the TV and Film Industry. This is only a brief overview of the
job, but should be enough to be a good jumping off place for you to Jump Right
In.
Skills & Education
This is an entry-level position, and as such there are few
educational requirements. A college degree in film and television production is
useful, but not necessary. For a gig as a PA, a film/television degree
demonstrates to the person reading your résumé that you understand the process
of production and have a basic skill level for working on set. Survivor or
Transformers 3 will require more experience as a PA than a pilot for a new show
or a music video; as you build skills, you can work your way up into larger
productions. The most important skills a PA must have are attention to detail,
a “get it done” work ethic, the ability to follow directions, and a willingness
to take orders. You should be organized, polite, and know how to anticipate
needs on set before they arise.
What to Expect
The truth is that the production assistant gets the tasks
that no one else on set wants. It isn’t uncommon to empty trash cans or bring
lunch to the second unit who is running over schedule on location. Yes,
production assistants also get coffee, sparkling water, and Diet Cokes for the
leading man. Work as a PA is like boot camp for the entertainment business. If
you can do this job well, you have proven you have what it takes to move up the
ladder. Be proactive; pass out bottles of water to the crew; be standing by
with towels when the director calls “cut” on a pool scene. Going the extra mile
to find tasks before you’re asked to do them will impress the people around
you. Remember that there are always hundreds of people in line waiting to take
your gig. Finding ways to help out and make the crew’s jobs easier will
catapult you from nameless face to go-to person. The PA’s name that gets called
out most often is the one who will be on the next shoot. A good attitude will
get noticed, so be respectful and show that you want to be there.
After you have developed good relationships through your
experience as a PA, this position can be a launching pad toward any mid-level
position in film and television. Traditionally the next step up is as a
production coordinator, but if your interests are in camera work or lighting,
you can go after work as a camera assistant, electrician or grip. A good PA can
also work toward entrance into the DGA (Director’s Guild of America) training
program through recommendation by the production manager.
Sources,
References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked
In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The
Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative
Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film
Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of
Credits, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Entertainment Careers, Adhere
Creative, In Deed, Glass Door, Pay Scale, Merriam-Webster, Job Monkey, Studio
Binder, The Collective, Production Hub, Target Jobs, Work Chron
THIS ARTICLE
IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
AND BRUCE BISBEY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY DOES NOT GUARANTEE
THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION. YOUR USE OF THIS
INFORMATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK OF
LOSS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY WILL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE
DAMAGES OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED UPON A
STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGLIGENCE) OR
OTHERWISE, RELATING TO THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION.
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