Production assistants (PAs) are a film set’s support team. If each production is a finely tuned machine, they're the oil keeping everything running smoothly. Whether darting out for coffee or fetching talent from their trailers, PAs are on hand and ever-ready to ensure the production proceeds with minimal delay or disruption.
It’s a demanding role where you’ll think on your feet while acquiring experience and expertise in every aspect of the filming process. It’s a great introduction to a career in film. The go-to advice for anyone starting in the industry – be they aspiring directors or would-be DPs – is to start as a PA. Here’s how to do it.
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A film production assistant handles any task not requiring specific expertise, and they’re expected to support every department on the set.
Common duties include:
- Setting up before a shoot and wrapping up afterwards
- Swapping ‘cold-brick’ (dead) walkie-talkie batteries for hot-brick (charged) ones
- Performing 'lock-ups' before takes to ensure cast, crew, and even members of the public don't interrupt filming
- Running errands for cast and crew
- Assisting with camera and lighting
- Managing paperwork and answering phones
- Guiding people around set
Being a PA is a chance to familiarise yourself with filmmaking, and those who are successful in the job may eventually request to join a specific department. You may also advance to ‘key PA’, managing a team of PAs and reporting to a production manager or assistant director.
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Frequently the gateway to a career in film, this entry-level position is fiercely competitive, and demand invariably outpaces supply by quite a margin. You must anticipate disappointment, especially early on, but persistent effort can bear fruit.
Here are some tips for getting on set and staying on set.
1. Gain experience
PAs rely heavily on personal recommendations, so securing your first position is challenging without inside contacts. Keep putting yourself out there. All experience is good experience, and many get their start with:
- Student/independent films
- Colleges or universities
- Internships
- Friends’ short films
Ask everyone you know for opportunities – plenty a first job came via a friend-of-a-friend or distant cousin. Check online job boards regularly and join local Facebook groups for advice and assistance.
2. Take a course
PAs don’t need any qualifications, though relevant training can help secure that vital first job. A short online skills workshop, for example, can offer a valuable overview of the skills and knowledge necessary to launch your career.
Options include:
- First Steps into Film and TV: Production Assistant course from the National Film and Television School (three days).
- Skills Bootcamp for Production Assistants from All Spring Media (five days).
- Introduction to Production Assisting from London Film School (two days).
Level 3 apprenticeships lasting up to 15 months may appeal to those seeking a more extensive introduction to the industry.
Apprenticeships include:
- Broadcast Production Assistant from Blue Lion Training Academy.
- Production Assistant – Screen and Audio from Windsor College.
- Production Assistant from Creative Alliance.
3. Make connections
To find work as a production assistant, who you know is as important as what you know. Talk to people across departments, and not just who you deem important; fellow PAs can keep you in the loop as well as anyone. Take an interest, ask for guidance, listen more than you talk, and forge genuine connections.
Experienced PA Amber M Sherman recommends taking to the web: “Establish a strong online presence by creating a professional LinkedIn profile and joining film-related groups. Connect with professionals and participate in discussions.”
Never rely on one group, however robust it may seem. People move on. Groups fall apart. Projects wrap. Always keep your ear to the ground for new sources of work.
4. Be positive
There’s no sugarcoating it: PAs get given tasks others don’t want. You’re the bottom of the pecking order as a PA, and the most expendable crew member. Some cast and crew (though certainly not all) may be brusque or disagreeable, especially when you relay bad news, and the stressful situations that arise can erode even the sunniest of dispositions.
A good attitude is important. Asked to explain her success in one word, Kaitlin Cornell, who was a PA on Avengers: Endgame and Star Trek Beyond, said “positivity.”
When asked to do something, agree with a smile. PAs who bring negative energy aren’t likely to be rehired or recommended. It might not seem fair, but it’s likely those around you were put through similar paces.
5. Develop strong communication skills
PAs work constantly with others from all departments. You’ll often be given detailed messages to deliver comprehensively and diplomatically. Be aware of how you’re communicating. It might seem minor, but the ability to communicate directly and agreeably with everyone is essential for PAs – and likely to get you noticed for the right reasons.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help: there’s no shame in requesting clarification or asking someone to give paperwork a once-over, especially when you’re new to the job. Better to clear things up immediately than skulk back with nothing but apologies and questions.
6. Stay organised
A prepared PA is a successful PA. Among the first things you’ll learn is the importance of comfortable clothing and footwear. Dress for long days and manual labour – the job can be physically demanding, especially while serving as a runner (going on 'runs' for necessary supplies and carrying documents, messages, and anything else between crew members). Carrying a few basics can make your life easier and your work more efficient. Such items include:
- Paper and pens
- Pouch for carrying petty cash and receipts.
- Power bank and charger for your phone.
PA Colin West McDonald emphasised forward planning while describing an average day on set. “Try to think ahead,” he said. “Think of what people will need, and start doing it before someone asks you to do it… If somebody says ‘I need a Sharpie’, you can just be there. And that’s what gets you your next job. Being on your game. Being present and listening.”
7. Be flexible
PAs live unpredictable lives. Days may take unexpected turns, shoots may take far longer than planned, and you may land somewhere you’d never imagine, doing something you don’t enjoy for someone you’ve never met.
See it as a chance to build resilience and gain some skills along the way. Learning to sew as a costume department PA may seem dull, but so what? It could spark talents and interests you never knew you had. Washing the dishes may be boring, but volunteering for a tedious task today could mean getting an extraordinary one tomorrow.
The annual salary for a PA in the film industry depends on production budgets, experience, and how many projects you book. The industry average is reportedly £24,000, with entry-level roles starting at an average of £21,500 and more experienced PAs earning up to £32,075.
London-based PAs can expect a little more: Reed reports a £34,975 average for PAs in the capital.