A Production Assistant is responsible for supporting and coordinating the activities of a film or television production. They're responsible for assisting with anything the crew needs, such as getting coffee, shuttling crew or equipment to and from locations, and making copies of scripts.
What skills do you need as a Production Assistant?
- Excellent communication skills.
- Adaptability.
- Enthusiasm.
- Determination.
- Perseverance.
- Ability to work well under pressure.
- Organisational skills.
- Administrative skills.
Is Production Assistant a good job?
Working as a production assistant is a great way to get started. The PA is the entry-level position for a filmmaking career. You rarely need any hard-and-fast pre-requisite skills or experience to land a PA gig, which means most new PAs are starting out on relatively equal footing compared to other crew positions.22 Feb 2019
Do production assistants get paid well?
The average salary in the U.S. for a production assistant is $32,149 per year. Salaries in this role can vary widely, depending on experience, education, additional skills, and certifications. Those who are paid at an hourly rate typically earn between $15 and $16 per hour.
How do production assistant make money?
The term of the project you're working on will impact whether you're paid a daily or weekly rate. Short-term projects often pay day rates for production assistants, and no overtime is offered. Long-term jobs may also offer day rates, although overtime usually kicks in within the film industry after 14 hours.
Is production assistant a hard job?
A production assistant's job can be one of the the most harrowing in Hollywood. Not that it's physically difficult. Going on coffee runs and copying scripts isn't hard, exactly. But it can be emotionally taxing to be blamed for everything all the time, while simultaneously having no control over anything.
Can you make a living as a production assistant?
If you work on commercials 45 weeks a year at $200/day ($1000 per week), that's $45,000/year, which is pretty good for an entry level job in any field. If you work on movies or television, you'll probably make $625/week, for a salary of $28,125 per year.
Should you become a production assistant?
While it's a demanding entry-level job, a production assistant (PA) is actually a great place to start out your career in the film/TV world. Whether you're hoping to climb the ladder and pursue bigger and better crew jobs or are just passionate about filmmaking in general, becoming a PA is a great first step.17 Dec 2021
What is it like working as a production assistant?
The job description of a production assistant is probably the simplest on the set. PAs do all sorts of things, such as escorting talent, getting water and snacks to crew members, running errands, making coffee, or anything else that would pull a dedicated member of the crew away from their tasks.22 Feb 2019
How many hours does a production assistant work?
Work Schedule Production assistants based on film sets usually work the longest and most inconsistent hours because their schedules correspond to the shooting schedule. However, even production assistants based in film offices often work between 10 and 12 hours each day.
Is it hard to get a job in film production?
The film industry is notoriously hard to get started in, and nowhere is that more true than behind the scenes. There are a lot of jobs that need to be done on a set, but landing that first one can be difficult, especially if you don't know where to start.19 May 2021