Production assistant
Encyclopedia
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in film
making and television
for a person responsible for various aspects of a production. The job of a PA can vary greatly depending on the budget and specific requirements of a production as well as whether or not the production is unionized
.
Production assistants on films are sometimes attached to individual actor
s or filmmakers.
and feature film
, production assistants are usually divided into different categories: "Set PA", "Truck PA", "Locations PA", "Office PA", or "Set Runner" and "Extra PA or Daily" - Variations exist depending on a show's structure or region of the United States or Canada.
Office PAs' usually spend most hours in the respective show's production office handling such tasks as phones, deliveries, script copies, lunch pick-ups, and related tasks in coordination with the production manager and production coordinator
.
Set PAs work on the physical set of the production, whether on location or on a sound stage. They report to the assistant director
(AD) department and key set PA if one is so designated. Duties include echoing (calling out) "rolls" and "cuts", locking up (making sure nothing interferes with a take), wrangling talent and background, facilitating communication between departments, distributing paperwork and radios, and related tasks as mandated by the ADs. Set PAs usually work 12- to 16-hour days with the possibility at the end of a shoot to work more than 20 hours a single day and are regularly the "first to arrive and the last to leave"
Set PAs in commercials 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.
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.
department) or driving a passenger van (teamster
/transportation department).
In British Columbia, which has the third largest film and television production sector in North America, PAs are represented by the Director's Guild of Canada. Production Assistant's represented by the DGC work in the Locations Department and work both on and off set with duties including locking-up the set, traffic control, echoing rolls, firewatching, and liaising with the public and location owners. The Key-PA is in charge of all the PAs and is the 1st ADs' right-hand man when it comes to do with the on set aspects regarding a location. From this position DGC PA's can move up through the Locations Department or the Assistant Direction Department as either a Training Locations Manager (TAL) or a Training Assistant Director (TAD), respectively. Office Production Assistants work in the production office as an Office PA and they work for the Production Manager, Production Coordinator, Assistant Production Coordinator, and / or other office staff in maintaining the work-flow in the office. From this position, Office PAs can work their way up through the office by becoming and Assistant Production Coordinator (APOC) which is unionized under IATSE 891. Pay for PAs according to the DGC Collective Agreement in BC is $179.38 (non-members) to $197.00(members) for a 15 hour day. An 8 hour day is approximately $96.00. For further information consult the Director's Guild of Canada. Often these employees are treated with little to no respect from both the public as well as co-workers. Also due to the adverse weather conditions in Vancouver these workers tend to be left in the cold/rain/blazing sun/ect... with no protection other than what they bring with them and very rarely have "breaks" including the mandatory 30 minute lunch break required by DGCBC union rules, the catering provided is instead brought to the PA and more often than not is cold and there just isn't much on your plate. If you value human rights you should steer clear of this job as it violates many aspects of them and your rights as an employee are severely infringed upon.
In Quebec, The Set PA is part of what is called the "Unit Department" or "Régie". Usually, there is a Unit Manager, Asst. Unit Manager, Set PA, Truck PA, Set Runner, and the "dailies" as needed for street blocking and extra set ups. In other states and provinces these duties are often taken care of by AD Dept., Locations or Transport. The Unit manager and his/her team are the ones who deal with the daily logistics of shooting on location and/or in studio.
There are two film unions in Quebec: IATSE 514 and AQTIS: L’Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l’image et du son. In both cases the PA's are unionized.
) is heavily utilized on set to communicate between the AD staff as well as all other departments. In addition a PA might also carry an assortment of pens and markers, spare radio batteries, a multi-task tool, aspirin, gloves, small light and a surveillance headset.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
making and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
for a person responsible for various aspects of a production. The job of a PA can vary greatly depending on the budget and specific requirements of a production as well as whether or not the production is unionized
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.
Production assistants on films are sometimes attached to individual actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s or filmmakers.
Television and feature film
In unionized televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, production assistants are usually divided into different categories: "Set PA", "Truck PA", "Locations PA", "Office PA", or "Set Runner" and "Extra PA or Daily" - Variations exist depending on a show's structure or region of the United States or Canada.
Office PAs' usually spend most hours in the respective show's production office handling such tasks as phones, deliveries, script copies, lunch pick-ups, and related tasks in coordination with the production manager and production coordinator
Production coordinator
A Production Coordinator is a unionized position in stagecraft under the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and is governed in Los Angeles by ....
.
Set PAs work on the physical set of the production, whether on location or on a sound stage. They report to the assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
(AD) department and key set PA if one is so designated. Duties include echoing (calling out) "rolls" and "cuts", locking up (making sure nothing interferes with a take), wrangling talent and background, facilitating communication between departments, distributing paperwork and radios, and related tasks as mandated by the ADs. Set PAs usually work 12- to 16-hour days with the possibility at the end of a shoot to work more than 20 hours a single day and are regularly the "first to arrive and the last to leave"
Commercials
Commercial Set PAs share the same responsibilities as their Television and Feature Film counterparts (see "Set PAs" above),but also inherit additional responsibilities traditionally encompassed by other departments in the television and feature film structure. These responsibilities range from providing both critical and mundane 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. A commercial set PA is often viewed as being more apt to tackling the tough role of working as an Assistant Director due to their varied experience within departments giving them greater perspective. 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. 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.Set PAs in commercials 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.
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.
Union vs. non-union
No union currently exists for production assistants, but the affiliation of a production with a union (or unions) can affect the job responsibilities of a PA. Less unionized shows have more positions that can be serviced by non-union personnel; consequently, PAs on such productions may take on a greater variety of non-traditional duties. Examples of this would be a PA setting a light bounce (gripGrip (job)
In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the filmmaking and video production industries. They constitute their own department on a film set and are directed by a key grip. Grips have two main functions...
department) or driving a passenger van (teamster
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
/transportation department).
In British Columbia, which has the third largest film and television production sector in North America, PAs are represented by the Director's Guild of Canada. Production Assistant's represented by the DGC work in the Locations Department and work both on and off set with duties including locking-up the set, traffic control, echoing rolls, firewatching, and liaising with the public and location owners. The Key-PA is in charge of all the PAs and is the 1st ADs' right-hand man when it comes to do with the on set aspects regarding a location. From this position DGC PA's can move up through the Locations Department or the Assistant Direction Department as either a Training Locations Manager (TAL) or a Training Assistant Director (TAD), respectively. Office Production Assistants work in the production office as an Office PA and they work for the Production Manager, Production Coordinator, Assistant Production Coordinator, and / or other office staff in maintaining the work-flow in the office. From this position, Office PAs can work their way up through the office by becoming and Assistant Production Coordinator (APOC) which is unionized under IATSE 891. Pay for PAs according to the DGC Collective Agreement in BC is $179.38 (non-members) to $197.00(members) for a 15 hour day. An 8 hour day is approximately $96.00. For further information consult the Director's Guild of Canada. Often these employees are treated with little to no respect from both the public as well as co-workers. Also due to the adverse weather conditions in Vancouver these workers tend to be left in the cold/rain/blazing sun/ect... with no protection other than what they bring with them and very rarely have "breaks" including the mandatory 30 minute lunch break required by DGCBC union rules, the catering provided is instead brought to the PA and more often than not is cold and there just isn't much on your plate. If you value human rights you should steer clear of this job as it violates many aspects of them and your rights as an employee are severely infringed upon.
In Quebec, The Set PA is part of what is called the "Unit Department" or "Régie". Usually, there is a Unit Manager, Asst. Unit Manager, Set PA, Truck PA, Set Runner, and the "dailies" as needed for street blocking and extra set ups. In other states and provinces these duties are often taken care of by AD Dept., Locations or Transport. The Unit manager and his/her team are the ones who deal with the daily logistics of shooting on location and/or in studio.
There are two film unions in Quebec: IATSE 514 and AQTIS: L’Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l’image et du son. In both cases the PA's are unionized.
Tools
Efficient relaying of information is a critical job function and a radio (walkie-talkieWalkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
) is heavily utilized on set to communicate between the AD staff as well as all other departments. In addition a PA might also carry an assortment of pens and markers, spare radio batteries, a multi-task tool, aspirin, gloves, small light and a surveillance headset.
External links
- http://www.dgcbc.com Director's Guild of Canada
- http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/ BC Film Commission
- The Production Assistant's Pocket Handbook Popular how-to written by a PA for PAs. Used by professors at several film programs. Available as a PDF or handbook.
- The Anonymous Production Assistant A daily blog written by a working production assistant.
- Cash B's How To Become a PA A guide to all things related to a PA.