BLOG QUESTION ADV: PRODUCTION ASSISTANT'S HANDBOOK

What are the key responsibilities of a production assistant on a film set, and how do these tasks contribute to the overall success of a production? Reflect on how you would approach the role of a production assistant, including any challenges you might anticipate and how you would overcome them.

Some key responsibilities of a production assistant on set include fetching items for the crew or even cast (such as water or snacks), passing out batteries for walkies, and even being the connection between different departments. You're also responsible for doing "runs", which is fetching things off of set, usually in a production car. The tasks PA's are given may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of a production, but they truly keep the production running and organized. It's important for crew to stay hydrated and fed, walkie talkies are vital for communication on set, and someone needs to keep the different departments connected somehow. Runs are also really important as essential crew members can't just leave set in the middle of a production, and items need to be transferred to set by someone. If I were given a production assistant role, I would try to stay busy as much as possible, rotate my jobs throughout the production to get a feel for the different departments, and maybe even try to make connections with other PA's or crew (if approached). If I were ever faced with a challenge, for example, not being comfortable enough to drive a certain vehicle or being told to do something dangerous, I would try to speak up for myself and ask for a different task. I would try to find the department head or whoever is in charge of me, and see if I'm needed elsewhere.