Tips on Breaking Into the Industry
Posted on: Nov 05, 2024
Photo Credit: Grusho Anna // ShutterstockI get asked quite a bit about how to obtain jobs in TV production, whether by people who want to pursue this as a career, or just out of curiosity. For many of us, being a PA (production assistant) was a foot in the door to the industry, and a great way to learn all the positions, departments, lingo, and all the things that encompass film sets.
Of course, being in this industry is all about who you know (or who knows you), but there are other ways to approach getting these jobs for people who may not be as connected to those in hiring positions. Here’s a guide for newcomers looking to break into the industry, including tips on how to land that first PA job, the importance of attitude, and networking to gain experience.
How do I get into production?
The paths to many roles in our industry are not very linear. Some people don’t even start out as a PA. I’ve known people who started as a background actor (or extra). Personally, I started on a show as a stand-in for a recurring actress and spoke to one of the additional 2nd 2nd ADs (assistant directors) about my experience not only as a PA, but also about me and another stand-in having training from PA Bootcamp when it came to our town (before I relocated to LA).
Do I need an educational background?
The short answer is “no.” But as I mentioned earlier, PA Bootcamp, that’s typically housed in Los Angeles, is training for PAs primarily on-set. However, they do have programs to train office PAs in addition to 2nd and 2nd 2nd directors. Another program that provides training grounds is The Handy Foundation. There are others, but these programs give you tips and advice that you wouldn’t always get on-set. You definitely want to go into these jobs being flexible and open, even if you have a good deal of experience. Sometimes you can make unforgivable mistakes and do not get invited back, and you won’t always get told what you did wrong!
Can there be consistency?
If you’re fully staffed on a project, there’s consistency. If you’re an additional (in other words, you’re working as much as you’re needed), then that’s where things can get tricky and inconsistent. Subsequently, it depends on the type of project you’re on (awards show, scripted, reality, etc.) and how long they need PAs. It could be as short as a couple weeks, and all the PAs may only have a handful of days over the course of that time which again, would be inconsistent.
There’s so much to consider when starting a new career. If you consider the times we’re in, it’s not always an easy decision either. Luckily, you’re just trying to get a foot in the door and it’s not something you have to remain stuck in with no way out!
Andrea Tucker is a writer/producer in sports and entertainment.
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