So I know that lately I have been absolutely terrible at posting on this blog, however, I have a very good reason why. I have been given amazing opportunity to be the Festival Producer for the San Diego Film Festival! It so happens that this amazing festival is happening next week September 26-30! If you are in the area you should check it out.
For more information and to buy passes go to www.sandiegofilmfest.com
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Hashim Warren over on Career Greenlight interviewed me about Staffing season for the film and television industry.
We talk about:
Make sure you check it out here!
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Within the world of scripted television there are a few different “seasons”. There is staffing season, where all the writers a hired to new shows, and then there is pilot season which is currently happening now.
What is pilot season you ask? Well pilot season is where show pilots begin production and start to pitch to the big networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW) near the end of the season. For those of you that don’t know a pilot is a either a full episode or a demo reel of the show being pitched to the network.
Normally you hear of actors flocking to LA and NY for pilot season because it could be their big break, but I got to say, pilot season should be just as important to us production assistants and other crew members as it is to actors. Because of the high amount of pilots being shot there is a good chance you could land a network gig if the pilot you are working on gets picked up.
So instead of sitting around trolling craigslist for your next gig, purchase a copy of Variety or The Hollywood Reporter or even subscribe to email lists like The Mercury Report or Production Weekly. In these publications they list several shows as well as movies that are in development or pre-production and they usually have some form of contact information.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear anything back because if the pilot has already been shot, then the production company is just in the fun waiting game with the network. While some shows may get picked up right away others will have to wait until staffing season in April-June when networks start to officially announce and order their lineup for the next year.
So get those resumes polished up, and your interview clothes ready to go because who knows how many calls you could end up getting.
Happy pilot season everyone!
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Here is a link on careergreenlight.com about my interview. I hope you all tune in January 16th!
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Video Assist
On film sets in order to allow multiple people to watch what is being recorded on the cameras monitors will be set up for the director, producers , DP and script supervisor.
The person that operates, controls and manages this feed and makes sure it is set up and working is called a video assist.
To get to this position, you need to start out as a production assistant. On set make friends with the current video assist and find out how they got there.
You should learn all you can about technical side of filmmaking, for example; learn about all of the cameras, what monitors are used, how to set them up, and most importantly how to troubleshoot when a feed is lost.
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Have you ever come across this type of job ad online?
SEEKING CREW FOR INDEPENDENT FILM
Looking for crew with own equipment for Independent Feature film. Filming will take place in New York.
Any film students who are looking to work on his/her reel are encouraged to apply ASAP.
Looking to shoot in early December and end early January. This is a non-paying job but all participants will receive credit on film and copy of finished film on DVD. Meals also provided. This film will be entered in film festivals upon completion. There will also be a red carpet premiere event in June.
During my job hunt I cannot tell you how many of these types of ads I have come across, and let me tell you it can be extremely frustrating.
I have debated with numerous PA’s on the pros and cons on working for free and I have to say that I am still on the fence about it depending on what type of project it is. Here are a few scenarios:
Short Films
If you are asked by a good friend to work on a short film of theirs for free over the weekend then I would say yes work on the short film. As long as they offer to feed you for the day be a good friend and help your buddy out. You never know when you will be working on your own short and realize you have no money and need to call in favors.
When they offer you a position you are trying to break into
Here is where it starts to get tricky. Say you get asked to be a coordinator or a scripty on a short film for free. The producers of said short decided to bring you on because you have tons of PA experience and you know how to be in this position even though you do not have any credits for it. In this situation I would say to take the gig to get this credit on your resume. That being said I would be super careful about how long the gig is and that you don’t spend any of your own money for it.
Indie Feature for free
Here is where I will draw the line. Yes it takes money to make a feature film, however, you are now asking people to work for long periods of time for no money. Shoot days are not easy days, they are usually 10+ hours and when you are working for free, those 10+ hours can start to become miserable for your crew. A unhappy crew means an unhappy set which really means stress and bickering making it a very unpleasant filming experience.
These days because of things like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, it has gotten easier to begin to raise money for your film. With all the resources available to producers today I think it is an insult to ask your crew to work for free for long periods of time.
What are your thoughts on working for free?
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I have been super MIA lately so I decided to get back into the swing of things with answering Kristi’s reader question:
Hi Rachel,
I just found your blog and I thank you for putting all the information out here. I had a couple of questions I wanted to ask you about becoming a Production Assistant. I have completed several internships within the entertainment industry this past year, and my last internship was with Fox Broadcasting in the department that handles all the reality programming. So I’ve worked on the network side of the business, but I really want to begin working on set, and naturally start at the Production Assistant level.I have names and contact information of people that are in charge of handling all the hiring of crews and PA’s, but I was wondering when the best time to start reaching out to them would be. For example, a couple of shows that I am interested in working on are on hiatus until January. Do I wait to contact the production managers until early January, or do I start contacting them now? My main question is when do shows start hiring PAs for the season? Do they do all the hiring at the beginning/pre-season, or do they also hire during mid-season?Thank you so much for any help you can provide!
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The current show I am on is completing production in about a month or so, and I am now entering what I like to call the find work panic.
It is always at this point in time when I start to hear other crew members already talking about their next gigs and unfortunately I have no idea what I am going to be doing after this yet. I start to have minor panic attacks as I realize, well crap I have to find another gig too.
To ease this find work panic I start to email everyone, and I mean everyone I know in the industry letting them know my availability. Most of these contacts are people I have worked with before and hopefully one of them will know of another show crewing up around the time that I am available. I cannot stress enough oh important it is to keep up with people you have worked with before. This entire industry runs by word of mouth and recommendations.
This time I thought I would utilize my blog as well, so starting mid-September/ October I will be available for work! If anyone knows of anything please send the info on over 
What do you do to find your next gig?
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The Hollywood Reporter (THR) came out with their ranking of the top 25 film schools to attend, and I have to say I’m shocked that my alma mater, University of Miami, was not on the list. I am even more shocked that Florida State made the list instead of us. When did FSU get a film program?
Side note: If you know anything about me personally then you know I hate Florida State.
As much as I loved college and the program I was in at University of Miami I have to say that I have learned more about the industry while actually working in it than I ever did while taking classes. Film schools don’t offer a Production Assistant 101 or an Executive Assistant 101, and those positions are usually the first ones that aspiring filmmakers get right out of college.
That being said, don’t completely write off college if you want to work in Hollywood. Despite their insane expenses and lack of classes focused on how to actually work in the industry, college does help you learn and grow as a person. And I think that is the most important part of it, no matter if your school is in the top 25 or not.
What schools do you think should be on the list?
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