PA- the next step (advice needed)

I

indiraider

Member
Hi, I don't know if this is the right area of the forum to post this but I'll go ahead anyway. I have PAed for about 3 very independent films (all with with no pay) I found on craigslist. When I mean independent, I mean first time directors who are shooting in their basements or outside using either rented or other people's equipment. Don't get me wrong all my experiences were very educational and positive (it is one thing thinking about what to tell actors or to fix a stupid problem on the set then actually doing it on the spur of the moment) but I just wonder what is the next step up? It would be great to go PA on a big set. I am a high school senior and I live in Baltimore. I think I just need to get in the process of working myself up, because after every one of my PA jobs, I am praised for doing a "really great job" but nothing higher ever results from this. Please can someone who knows the business give me some pointers?
 
The bigger the set, the less respect a PA will get. If I were you I would start training in something more specialized like electric, grip, camera, or sound. Find someone experienced in that focus and work under him. Soon you'll be qualified to do it yourself.
 
Derrick is right.

I've worked as a PA for 5 sets, two of them indy features. He's right that the bigger it gets, the less respect you get. On the biggest set, I felt like I was just some loose end. I was trying to prove myself, but I would constantly take of a day of work, then find out they don't need me on set last minute, or I would watch gear for 5 hours and even though they said they would replace me, they didn't. It was frustrating.

On the smaller sets they praised me, calling me a great PA and wanting to help me out.

I MAY do a PA job here or there, but I'm not going to do much. It was a great start, but I think it just helps your resume by letting people know you have experience on set and you understand how it works, but nothing more. And maybe some contacts from the small sets.
 
Try and get some grip and electric gigs. At least there you'll learn about lighting and you'll build your network. If you're going to work for free, you might want to try reaching out to professionals in baltimore with a well written query letter. Try to avoid the first time directors and research production companies in Baltimore to find seasoned professionals who know their craft. You'll learn more from a professional in one day than a week with a first timer who does things wrong.

And after each job is completed get a short recommendation in writing and a contact email/number.
 
Doing free jobs will get you more free jobs. If you're goal is to get paid then you should set a day rate for your services and start networking with your local production houses. If your goal is to do free work then stick with craigslist.
 
You must prove to others on these sets that you're more knowledgeable and useful than just a PA. Read DVXuser for hours a day and know more than the DP about technical information. Don't be quick to shout out something, or you will just piss everybody off.

Work hard and prove to be valuable and the smart crew members will remember you.
 
Meet as many people as you can in the business...when I started I went to every production company in the city...unfortunately nothing came from it but I did get to meet tons of people and become familiar with the locations of all of those companies.

My "in" ended up being a teacher(who used to be in the production community) of mine in college(it was my last semester). He had a friend who was producing a big corporate 100 year anniversary film, lots of locations/talent. My teacher asked if I would be interested in checking out a set, and gave me the name of the production coordinator.

I met with her, but there seemed to be some miscommunication. I was under the impression that I was going to be just watching the production, however she asked me if i had a reliable car. Strange question but I said yes...then she asked if i had a wet suit. Hmmm. I was so excited to be a part of all of this that I said yes(first off I didn't have a wet suit, and second I didn't know how to swim and was afraid of the water). Then she told me the location and to show up at 530am. I immediately went from the meeting to a scuba shop and rented a wet suit.

Next thing you know its 530am, pitch dark, by a lake, and I don't know anyone...the DP comes up to me and asks me to find out how far out it is until the lake is 6 feet deep (I'm 5'8" by the way). I said no problem! A grip gave me some combo stands and sand bags to set up at the 6' point...they were to function as anchors for a scene with a row boat.

Some how the miscommunication was that they thought I was an intern...I didn't argue with them and worked my ass off that day and as a matter of fact all 22 days of the production as well as working with the editors once the shoot wrapped.

4 months later just before the premier of the film...I got a call asking me to come to a meeting with the producer/director...what's this all about I thought? Anyway, I show up and its pretty much a meeting with the producer, director, coordinator, the corporate client...all the big guys...and me...I was nervous as hell...anyway the director says that they wanted to thank me for all my hard work and would like to present me with a small gift...they then handed me a check...it ended up being about 5 bucks an hour...but I did work about 750 hours on the thing.

Nearly every job I've had in the last 15 years can somehow be traced back to that first experience.

For every person in the business there is probably a different story...and a different opinion on how to get through the business.

I used to think that I completely lucked out in getting such a great first gig...but I realized later that you have to do everything you can to put yourself in the position to be open to those opportunities.

Meet everyone you can...make genuine relationships with people you like...they will last a long time.

Never be late...but be early...you will be surprised at what effect it has when you are always the first to arrive at a location. My thought has always been that if you are on time you are late!

Always be reachable...when I started I had a pager and a roll of quarters with me always...

Technical knowledge is good but when you first start out I think reliability and attitude are more important.

If you are having trouble getting paid gigs you may consider hooking up with a production company or corporate production division...the pay maybe poor but the experience is valuable.

Another avenue to explore is the local production guide, check the listings for contacts....also the local film board maybe of assistance.

good luck!!

RJS
 
You don't *have* to start as a PA, you know. You might consider developing your skill set in the field(s) in which you're interested, and go for an intro/apprentice slot.

For example, I started as a VFX model maker, and still don't actually have any PA work to my credit.
 
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