PA Pocket Handbook Endorsements and Reader Reviews

• The University of Central Florida bought 500 copies for their film program. Used at a workshop by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers.

• Line Producer Alton Walpole recommends it.

• It is required reading for Lisa Cook 's classes at University of Central Florida's film program.

• Michael Fischer uses it in his advanced film production classes at Burlington College.

• The Texas Film Commission also likes the P.A. pocket handbook.

Unsolicited Quotes Sent to Author:

• "I just finished reading your book and I must say I am impressed and grateful that you took the time and grace to offer all this advice to nervous Nellies stepping into the position. I’ve been a classical stage actor for 20 years and am hoping to break into TV and Film by getting onto a set. I have an upcoming opportunity to work on set, (covid willing) and this is the most solid and clear advice, tips and tricks I have stumbled upon. Its a fun and quick read the way you’ve structured it, not intimidating and filled with unexplained language as other texts I’ve found. I really appreciate you! I hope you stay safe and well, and I’ll see you at work someday. - Thank You again. - Renee"

• "Loved the book. I'm working as a 3rd/2nd AD and Production Coordinator now. I will be sure to recommend your book to new PAs! - Jessica in New Zealand."

• "My name is Charlee Collins, I am from Northland, New Zealand and am a big fan. Just writing to say thank you. Your 'The Production Assistant's Pocket Handbook' is great. I know when I move over to LA in a few months your book will be with me as I embark on the journey that is hassling every darn production in the country until I get a job. Kind Regards, Charlee."

• "I have been working in Production for many years and had a blast reading this handbook, could relate myself to so many stories. I also find it extremely useful for those who will be working in my team, I wish I had had this book when I started! Thanks for writing it!" - Belen G., Spain

• "I produce photo shoots and have had many production jobs over the past 17 years. How I wish every PA was required to read this. I love this booklet! I loved it in 1992 when it first came out. Nice job!" - Helen, Los Angeles

• Thank you Caleb for this wonderful piece of PA art! I mean it! It sums up the whole process wonderfully and prepares you be a proud shit-kicker (as they say in Australia). I worked my way up as a runner to production coordinator to UPM in Australia after I finished film school." - Sameer, Australia.

• "I read the free pages and I will purchase the handbook. I want to say thank you, because I am getting started. I have been a production assistant for 3 productions and completed some internships. My situation is unique, I am not a twenty something individual; I will be turning 40 in May; however I don't look my age. Your handbook gives me hope that I can be successful in this field." - Dawn.

• "I found out about this booklet shortly after getting hired for my first set PA job in New Mexico. I didn't have much experience and was a bit nervous, but after reading this great booklet I felt confident that I could do the job without worrying about my shortcomings."- Miguel, Albuquerque, NM

• "I've ordered your book from the writers store and have found it very helpful. I was a production assistant duing my last year in college. That was back in 1996. I have taken a long brake from the business because I needed steady income. After getting this handbook about 3 weeks ago, it has motivated me to get back into the film industry. I have gotten a P.A. gig with BET's "Sundays Best Season 3" in N.O. Louisiana. This will be a month long production but I feel very comfortable with your book to refresh my memory. Thanks, that was a good thing to provide."- Trey Williams.

• "I just bought your book! I was observing a workshop Justin Muller did in the Dominican Republic this week. He made reference to the book. I just got hired as a P.A. I devoured your book before I went into set. Every single piece of information in it is useful and every detail you should keep in mind. I kept repeating to myself STAR. Swift, Tactful, Aware and Resourceful. That is ALL you need. They love it in a set when you are quick and get things done before anyone else does. It someone needs something make sure you bring it first. IF someone else has done it first, then its useless. The levels of stress and concentration managed on a set NEED us PAs to be discreet. Know when you are not interrupting or bothering. No chit chat in the morning transportation while riding with the AD, Director or any cast member. You must always have 20 eyes on everything that moves around set. You must never let a pedestrian walk into set. If you are asked to block a street you BLOCK it. Get to know everybody, specially drivers, gaffers, set medic, and those people that are always out of the SPOTLIGHT but in a second could be needed in case of any emergency on set. It always looks good when you know who is who and where they went while everybody else was paying attention to the scene and the star. That is being aware of everything. Sometimes production forgets certain details. Or maybe there just isn't time for you to run over and get things. Be resourceful. Make a tool out of everything you can. Who said being a PA isn't being creative? No scissors? Try cutting in half that pile of dailies with a knife. It won't look great. But if you're shooting in the middle of the jungle and production forgot those scissors, something must be done. Always bring ALL production phone directories with you. Every paper yo get your hands on. Save it. You never know. There should be a whole part on radios. Some PAs get to do the radio coordination. Giving out radios and keeping the set full on fresh hot batteries. Always carry some of those around." - Marivivita Sin Mar

Other Help for Production Assistances: Information, Resources, Books and Sites for PA Work in Film, TV, Features, Commercials, etc.

Books on being a Production Assistant

• Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set, by Tony Bill. Link: http://amzn.com/0761143599

• Getting it Done: The Ultimate Production Assistant Guide, by Joshua Friedman. Link: http://amzn.com/B00696HEMQ

• Production Algebra: A Training Manual for Production Assistants, by Mark Adler. Link: http://amzn.com/1933916400

• The Hollywood Assistants Handbook: 86 Rules for Aspiring Power Players, by Peter Nowalk et al. Link: http://amzn.com/0761147462

• The Complete Film Production Handbook (American Film Market Presents), by Eve Light Honthaner. Link: http://amzn.com/024081150X

Getting a Production Assistant Job

• List of US State Film Commission Sites. State film commissions alphabetically.

• List of world wide Film and TV Commission Sites. From the Producers Master guide, in publication since 1979.

• Film Commission List By Country. By the web site New Zealand Films.

• Media-match.com. Entertainment job site for freelancer and employers.

• FilmStaff.com. Crew placement service site for entertainment jobs.

• ProductionHub.com. Film, TV, video and digital media job site.

• EntertainmentJobs.com. Entertainment job site.

• How to get a production internship. From about.com. Internship sites at NBC, Time Warner HBO, ABC

• InsideHollywood.info. A site by 25+ year industry vet Alicia Hirsch. Includes "ask a veteran" service and an e-book.

• TheFutonCritic.com. Site that tracks TV productions that have been approved for production.

Production Assistant Training

• PA Bootcamp. Two-day intensive training programs taught in Los Angeles.

• How I got that first job in Television. A PA's personal blog. Includes journal from the set, and office PA for a day.

• Work as a PA article from Monster.com job site.

• So You Wanna Work in Movies? General site by successful cinematographer Oliver Stapleton

• So you wanna be a TV Production Assistant? General info from soyouwanna.com.

• How to get a job as a TV and/or film extra? From essortment.com.

• Film Production IQ Test. Online test by Brian Heath, IFP Chicago member photographer.

• Film Crew 101. Lighting tech. Peter Clarson's manual on set etiquette from 30 years in the business.

• Short video of a PA talking about what they do. From howstuffworks.com

Miscellaneous Production Assistant Information

• Wikipedia PA entry.

• Wikipedia History of Film. Know from whence we came...

• Production Lingo. Old school film talk, but still relevant.

• Association of Independent Commercial Producers

• The Anonymous Production Assistant blog.

Movies About Making Movies

Hearts of Darkness a filmmakers apocalypse (1991): This is my favorite movie about movie making. It is about one of the most famous location shoots of all time, the making of Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola in the Phillipines in the late 1970s. It is an extreme example of what it can be like on a set to be sure, but all movies have a bit of what you'll see happening here. Movie making is always an adventure and story unto itself with interesting characters, drama, comedy and intrigue. There's not much about PAs directly, but you can see the PAs in the background if you pay attention.

Burden of Dreams (1982). From IMDB.com, "A documentary on the chaotic production of Werner Herzog's epic Fitzcarraldo (1982), showing how the film managed to get made despite problems that would have floored a less obsessively driven director. Not only does he have major casting problems, losing both Jason Robards (health) and Mick Jagger (other commitments) halfway through shooting, but the crew gets caught up in a war between Peru and Ecuador, there are problems with the weather and the morale of cast and crew is falling rapidly. Written by Michael Brooke."

State and Main (2000). Nice little comedy about a film crew that goes to Vermont to shoot a movie. Directed by David Mamet.

Hijacking Hollywood (1997): I haven't seen it, but I hear it's about a PA.

The Production Assistant (1994): A funny 1 minute short featuring a PA.