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TV/Film Production Assistant

Do you want to become a TV/Film Production Assistant? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

A production assistant (PA) plays an important part in the preparation and production of any performance, live or recorded, in TV, films, in radio or the theatre.

In TV, production assistants:

• run the office of the producer/director
• do most of the secretarial work
• plan meetings and make programme arrangements
• book hotels and look after the artists
• ensure that scripts are available and work out timings
• manage the budget and control expenses.

In film production the duties are similar.

Production assistants work long, irregular hours, including shifts. Places of work vary, from offices and meeting rooms to darkened and enclosed studio areas. During transmission, a production assistant may sit in the production gallery, surrounded by banks of monitors.

Trainees earn around £15,000; experienced PAs earn up to £25,000.

A production assistant needs to be:

• able to work to time and budgets
• able to organise, and relay messages with confidence
• a good communicator
• able to deal tactfully with a variety of people.

They work for television companies, independent production companies, film production companies, radio stations and theatre companies.

Many entrants have A levels/H grades, GNVQs/GSVQs, BTEC/SQA HNDs, or degrees. Training is often on the job. Entrants work with more experienced production assistants and gradually take on greater responsibility.

There are opportunities for promotion to senior production assistant posts, but most production assistants now work freelance and the most experienced can pick and choose their jobs.

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