The Importance Of Production Assistants On Your Productions!

When a movie is filming on a public street and the camera only photographs cars and people who are working for the production, how do they manage to keep all of the public’s cars and regular pedestrians from driving or walking through the scene? When something, or someone, is needed on set quickly, who makes it happen in a safe and efficient way to keep the production moving on schedule? How does everyone involved on set get vital information wherever they happen to sitting or standing? And if the director needs to communicate with cast and crew members not physically present who manages this? These questions and so many more can be answered in two words... the "Production Assistant".

What Is A Production Assistant?

Production Assistants (or P.A.s) work directly with and for the Assistant Directors and in many ways are the backbone of a physical production – a movie, a TV series, a music video, a student film, you name it. The Assistant Directors are responsible for running the set, directing the Background Artists, and making sure that all the moving parts circulate in precision so that the production can move on schedule. And the best resource that Assistant Directors have, and count on, are the Production Assistants.

Production Assistant is an entry-level position in the film, TV, and digital production industry, the one job a person can do without ANY prior film experience. This IS the classic “foot-in-the-door” gig. The production assistant’s tasks are numerous and range from securing the set safely and quietly for filming, keeping members of the public safe in their designated areas, helping to direct cast and crew to other areas of the production’s locations, and much more. A P.A. is one of the few jobs that interact with all crew & cast members including the producers, the director or showrunner, key department heads, literally everybody.

Imagine being hired on a TV show or motion picture as a P.A. and not knowing the intricacies and expectations of the job you were hired to do. You might not make it through your first day. But if you are prepared and can hit the ground running – and you do your job well – you will get invited back… again and again. Production Assistants who are effective, enthusiastic, and who can communicate effectively will succeed and there is no limit to their success. Many famous Producers, Directors, and Studio Executives got their first job on a movie set as a standout P.A.

Learn more by clicking HERE or on my video below!

Stage 32's New Production Assisting Certification Courses!

The various responsibilities that a Production Assistant handles on a film or TV show may seem daunting, especially if you haven’t done the job before, but they don’t need to be!

That’s why I am teaching Stage 32’s new Production Assisting Certification Courses. In these Stage 32 Certification Courses, I break down the vital on-set protocols, etiquette, and skills in three individual certification courses that not only explain the importance of each task and role that a P.A. executes, but I also show how the job is done and what skills you’ll need to master in order to be a great P.A. to kickstart your career.

Being a part of the production team that makes a story come to life on screen is what makes working on films and TV shows an amazing experience, but the importance of this position cannot be overstated. Our Stage 32 Production Assisting Master Certification track examines and explains the real job of a P.A. at every step during a production.

You can get a quick sneak peek of my class by clicking HERE or on the video below!

Who Am I?

I am a Directors Guild Of America First Assistant Director, a Producer and I started out as a Production Assistant with no experience or relationships. I began my tenure as a PA outside of the traditional production areas of LA, New York, Toronto, Atlanta, and London. As a PA, the feature films and TV shows that I’ve worked on in these capacities include HOMICIDE, A FEW GOOD MEN, IN THE LINE OF FIRE, THE FIRM, MATILDA, GET SHORTY as well as commercials, PSA’s, industrials, and “live to tape” events. As well as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, ROSWELL, BLADES OF GLORY, RENDITION, BODY OF LIES, RUNAWAY JURY, OCEAN’S ELEVEN, ALL AMERICAN, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL, SONS OF ANARCHY, and many more.

After gaining the skills and understanding of the job of a PA and how it fits in the hierarchy of filmed entertainment, I was hired on OUTBREAK to work in Hollywood and Hawaii, THE DEVILS OWN in NYC and Ireland. THE PELICAN BRIEF in Washington, DC, and New Orleans among other projects.

Learning how to be a Production Assistant and succeeding at it means being part of the collaborative process and experience of filmmaking. It is exciting to play an important role in telling stories cinematically. And the industry needs more qualified Production Assistants who know what they are doing from the moment they land the job. That’s why I appreciate Stage 32 for creating this extensive and thorough certification course.

How Can You Get Started?

If you're interested in registering for Stage 32's Production Assisting Certification Courses, or any other Stage 32 Certification courses, you can do so NOW! 

And to help out, Stage 32 is offering 50% off ALL Stage 32 Master Certifications during the month of June. All you have to do is use coupon code JUNE50 at checkout and you can take 50% off as many Master Certifications as you’d like.

You can become Master Certified in any or all of the following:

• Line Producing
• Production Accounting
• Key Production Legal Agreements
• Feature Film Production Management
• TV Production Management
• Script Supervising
• Production Assistant
• Location Management

Each course requires you to take a test at the end that you must pass to be entered into the Film Commission & Production Company Database. To see this for yourself, click HERE!

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