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Ready for another thread? This one is for filmmakers trying to get on sets. Are you ready? Make yourself a cup of tea, get cozy and let's go... 1/
Your goal is to get onto a set, right? To live your dream? If you've never been on a budgeted union set before and you don't have anything on your resume and you keep getting passed over, it's time for some strategy. 2/
99% of the time, you're going to have to start as a PA (production assistant). The grunt of the film crew. There are some anomalies out there, but they're far and few between. I'm being realistic with you bc I don't want to lie to you. So. You need to be a PA. How? 3/
Usually the jobs are given by referrals. HOWEVER. Contact your state's film commission. They should have a list of projects that are coming to town and crewing up. Scour those every day. Submit a resume. And you don't need to put your education or your goals. They won't care. 4/
Don't stop reading.. there's a method here, I promise. Ok, make your resume in Excel so everything is edged and looks great. ONE PAGE only. If you don't have ANY experience, did you help out with a church play? Congrats! You were a production asst! Put it down. All of it. 5/
So you have a resume now. Great. Find those emails of projects and submit it. But don't ask for PA jobs. (This is the secret): Ask to be a part of the COVID team. NO ONE wants that job. It's boring. You have to clean door handles and light switches. But you know what? 6/
Those Covid PAs? They have access to all the people you want to talk to. They wipe down the director's offices. The producer's. The writer's. Set PAs don't even have access to those places. In fact, there are some PA's who refuse to be on the Covid team bc they'd rather 7/
...be on set. Valid. However, the Covid team goes through a TON of pushback. Not only are they working through a boring job, but they have people who don't want to listen to them when they say to keep their mask over their noses. Why? Because... 8/
... they others have "been in the industry for years" and don't want to listen to a younger person giving them orders. Now, when this happens, PAY ATTENTION I am about to drop some FREE GOLD ADVICE here. When you get pushback and someone starts treating you horrible... 9/
This is your time to freaking shine bright in the most supernova way EVER. How? You REFUSE to let them phase you. You stay nice. You remain calm. You don't freak out. You stay POSITIVE. You know why? Because EVERYONE SEES THAT. 10/
Your behavior will probably amp up THEIR negative behavior (it's just the way humans are). DO NOT LET THEM BREAK YOU. Remain cordial. Remind them, hey, you're there to keep them safe and you RESPECT them too much to ever tell them how to do their job. No matter what... 10/
... always walk away with a smile. You may feel alone, but I'm telling you YOU ARE NOT. The person making life hard on you is being watched just like you and guess who's going to get the glowing referral to the next job? You, the precious Covid PA. True Story: 11/
I worked on a series and some folks were horrible to our Covid PA leader. He never let it get him down. He never got flustered. All smiles. Would shrug off insults and not let him affect him. I found out he actually was trying to get into accounting. He had a great attitude 12/
It was his ATTITUDE that opened the door for him to be able to sit down with the head accountant and have a meeting. He wasn't asking for a job. BUT ADVICE. (he's brilliant). ALWAYS ask a person for THEIR wisdom. They love sharing it and it makes them feel good! so.. 13/
He would periodically swing by and ask minor questions now and again. He was making sure he stayed in the mgr's mind. (Didn't I say he was brilliant?) Pretty soon, this "lowly Covid PA" was able to have socially distant lunches with the mgr. And guess what? 14/
His next job was as an accounting clerk on a movie that everyone is going to lose their mind when it's announced and released. HE DID IT! Because he DID NOT say: "i'm sorry, I am an accountant and I will only accept those jobs". He humbled himself and took the job and used...15/
..it to MEET other people in other departments. And everyone loved him! His attitude was right. He wasn't sour or surly. No matter what, he was always polite. And I'm happy to day we're still friends to this day and he is my accountant! LOL So... 16/
With the industry opening up, there is a WHOLE department needing these PAs. They hire anywhere from 12 PAs or up depending on the size of the project. They get paid MORE than regular PAs. (But they go through more) But Now is the time when you ask yourself: 17/
Is this something I can do? How bad do I want connections? How badly do I want on that set? You may have to do it a few times before you get to move over, but you know what? You have a bigger project on your resume now. NEVER despise the day of small beginnings. 18/
If you want to hold out for a different position, hey that's fine! Do it! I'm just saying right now, during this pandemic, the best and easiest way to get on these sets is to take the jobs nobody wants. Keep a good attitude. Every job is to get you to the next job, right? 19/
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Plz understand I'm not knocking other ways to get in. I'm focusing on an opportunity and letting you know about it. Hugs to you all!
