What Makes an Awesome PA?

Where would 30 Rock be without Kenneth the Page? PA's, Pages, and assistants are the sturdy foundation of any film department or production company. Should you find yourself in an entry level position wondering whom to emulate, the qualities of this tireless, overachieving, entry level individual pictured left should be what you strive for. He is always the first one in and the last one out of the office. Instead of knowing what needs to be done he's already done it. He's freakishly efficient. He never complains. Most importantly, he does all this with a smile. Since Kenneth the Page is a fictional character on a television show, I was unable to sit him down for an interview. Here is something almost as good: I've enlisted the help of some friends who have PA's working underneath them to tell you what makes a great PA. Who better to hear from than someone who might be your future boss? Well, Kenneth the Page would have been great, but these guys have some excellent advice as well. Listen up.

[Note from CRC: The people interviewed in this article work in post production, but you can see how their anecdotes translate to all kinds of PAs, assistants, entry level workers, and even pages like Kenneth!]

GRACE WHITEHOUSE is a Post Production Supervisor on one of my new favorite shows, Sons of Anarchy. Post Production Supervisors are pretty near the top of the ladder, so she knows what it takes to move up. When I asked Grace if I could borrow the SOA box set what makes an awesome PA, here's what she had to say:

Going the extra mile without being asked - I think it's great when a PA offers to do something that you didn't ask, like 'oh I started looking for stock footage, just in case it comes up'.  Taking the initiative goes a long way because it shows that you care about your job and want to actually help the team, it's more than just a paycheck.  It's not only helpful to the rest of the staff, but I would imagine it gives the PA a sense of accomplishment, instead of just running around doing what they're told.

Memory - I should only have to explain how to do something once (or twice, maybe), if you have a bad memory, write down notes as we talk.  A lot of what we do in post repeats for every episode, so the last thing I want to do is explain the process every time it comes up.  For example, you should know what tapes you're picking up for dailies or after an online or for a final delivery and what to do with them.

Learn how to do my job - The way to move up is by doing work above your pay grade.  I'll gladly let go of some of my responsibilities so that a pa can learn how to do it.  Having that extra responsibility is key to moving up.  The next time you go on an interview, you can say, yes, I have scheduled ADR or yes, I have dealt with purchase orders and vendors.  I know it's hard to take on extra responsibilities when you're so busy with runs and what not, but part of it is learning how to juggle all of the work.  Whether you go the editor route or the coordinator/supervisor route, you have to know how to juggle multiple tasks at once and how to prioritize so you might as well get used to it as a PA.

Thanks, Grace. And about that box set...?

As an Assistant Editor, my friend Lisa probably isn't going to be your direct boss in the office, but she is definitely going to be someone you will want to impress if you enter into post production. Assistant Editors have a huge work load and PA's can either make their life a tiny bit easier or a living hell. Here's some suggestions Lisa has on what makes a good impression:

- Being proactive in such tasks as remembering the daily routine such as dailies paperwork and doing it before being asked.

- Knowing how to listen, thereby both learning things for yourself and assuring you do the job right.

- Having a positive attitude and being someone who adds, not subtracts, to the well-being of the group because we are, after all, a team.     

"If I think of the worst PAs I've ever had, they are always the ones who think they are too good to be PAs and know how to do my job better than I do.  They think their college experience has prepared them better than actual work experience, forgetting the fact that the people above them have most likely been to college themselves.  They treat people on the lower rungs of the ladder as unimportant without realizing that those are the exact people who will take them up to the next rung. They don't bother to do their own job correctly because they are too busy trying to move up. I have, on occasion, seen this tactic succeed but more often than not, it fails and people leave the business after a relatively short time because their unrealistic expectations are not met. 

In short, there is no difference between a Hollywood job or any other job.  If people like you and trust you, you will go far."

Ahh, Lisa, you must have read the Check-Your-Ego Checklist! 

As a Post-Production Coordinator on such shows as In Treatment and Flight of the Conchords, GORDON LI-RON is a post PA's direct boss. His equivalent in a production office would be a production coordinator. Post-production has Post-Production Coordinators, production has Production Coordinators. Get it? Good. Now get what he says:

"Be positive.  Thousands of people would kill to be where you are so remember that before complaining about a task you don't want to do.

Take initiative and ownership of your work.  If your being micro managed, you might be doing something wrong or you may be working for a tool."

Well put, Gordon.  Short and sweet, just how we like it here in SpartLa.

If you have any short and sweet questions or suggestions about what it takes to do an entry level job well, please feel free to continue the discussion below in the comments section!