Fuck-Up #37
“Anyone Can Be a P.A.”
What it really takes to pull off this difficult job effectively
“Executive ability is deciding quickly and getting somebody elseto do the work.”3
—John G. Pollard
The Fuck-Up…
When someone is just starting out working on film sets, there is an excellent chance his first job will be as a “production assistant” (better known as a “P.A.”). Since this job is at the bottom of the crew hierarchy, it’s often mistakenly thought of as an “anyone can do it” kind of job. Assuming that a P.A. doesn’t require intelligence, ability, and training is a serious misstep that can leave your set with a complete lack of functioning support.
How to Do It Right…
“Hey, my son/daughter/friend/friend’s kid wants to work in movies; ...
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