Growing up, the word "nice" was a four-letter word. You may be taken aback to hear this for those who know me professionally since my reputation tends towards nurturing and empowerment. Yet my position has not wavered over the years. In a work atmosphere, I'd rather respect come before affection and efficiency before comfort. Why? We delved into the heart of it in Part 1 of this series: trust. Without it, no amount of gifts or affirmations will make up for the loss.

For those of you who are nodding in agreement, however, there is one way we may differ. I believe that respect goes both ways. Gratitude, setting clear expectations, and supporting the efforts of those who work for you are versions of concern that set us supervisors and managers up for the best possible work ethic. Whether working as a Production Assistant (a.k.a. A PA) or coordinating their tasks as a Production Coordinator (a.k.a. A PC), it has been my great pleasure to put care into my work so that its effectiveness is felt by every person I come in contact with.

Today's reflection is on the PA training I used on Shane Stanley’s Double Threat and my observations on what worked from the bottom up. This information is for the direct benefit of anyone looking to get on set and make a good impression in that essential role - the Production Assistant. Ideally, anyone who hires or manages PAs will also find value in today's post, as I believe we, their on-set mentors, have a unique opportunity to shape them into the strong foundation we need to have a thriving set.

For example, I will totally be stealing this idea from Greta Gerwig (currently being discussed in the Producing Lounge) - she had all of her crew wear nametags. How cool is that?! When you set the tone like that as a mentor, you permit your PAs to contribute meaningfully. So what did her PA do? She added a "question of the day" so that people's answers would be part of their nametag to help ease conversation and allow everyone, even day players, to get to know the crew better and faster.

This approach is very much in line with Shane Stanley's leadership - you never know what people are capable of, so give them as many tools to succeed while you can. That said, Shane and I discussed that there would be a wide range of experience for the PAs on Double Threat and that they may need some guidance. After developing and implementing a PA training program for my high school students, I knew I could create an amended on-the-go version of the required prep for our set. Learning on the job, after all, is the intention, both as a PA and on a Shane Stanley independent feature.

PART 2: GROWING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE RUNG

There are plenty of qualifications for all the crew roles (and are debatable as we're discussing the qualifications for a Gaffer in the Cinematography Lounge). Still, to be a Production Assistant, there are shockingly few prerequisites: be available and don't waste time. That's pretty much it. How to interpret that, however, has far-reaching implications.

Beyond being at the base of the crew hierarchy, a Production Assistant also has the most significant potential for growth. While every person can learn something new, not every position can be receptive to mentorship. Mentorship is the active participation of guiding someone from one stage to the next. If you are a PA, making yourself "available" includes leaving yourself open to that guidance. Be receptive, but don't focus on your own goals (as we discussed in Film Production Mentorship Part 1).

No one will ask how fast you run before hiring you when it comes to not wasting time. However, your superiors will notice if you shuffle, stride, or jog around the set to complete a task. They will also notice if you spend time between tasks chatting or checking your phone. Better to spend that time talking with your Point of Contact to see if there is anything else you can do or get ahead on any pre-assigned tasks (more on that below). Ultimately, if you can find ways to save your superiors time, they will notice and want to respond in kind. In fact, since you saved them time, they now have an extra few minutes to ask you a few questions (and they are more inclined to since you've helped them). That's a win-win! Just don't overstep - no one is asking you to solve camera department problems on your first day, no matter how much you may know on the subject.

We're all trying to solve problems in this industry, some bigger than others (like this post in the Animation Lounge about creating content that helps to solve conflicts without violence). In development, you have the advantage of more time and resources, including an entire community to weigh in. In production, however, you have a limited amount of time and a tangible restriction on resources. Thus, don't waste time on set.

In the big picture, your primary job is to make everyone's lives easier. Your secondary job is to get to that task before they ask you to do it and complete it before they do. Simple, right? Of course not. For example, many of our PAs on Double Threat were first brought on as interns, which set the expectation that they would be told what to do. However, through check-ins throughout the day, it became increasingly clear that they would have to be proactive if they were to be effective PAs. Let's look at this another way.

As an intern or a PA, you are looking for something beyond what you are currently doing. Whether it's learning something new, looking for the next gig, advancing into a bigger role (on this set or on another one), securing a referral, or even crewing up for your own passion project, you intend to gain something from every person you come in contact with. Doing what you're told is a zero-sum game. They ask, you do. They get their footage, you get your paycheck. Done and done. If you can give something of value to that person first, then they will be in a position to want to help you. Show up and bring value three times before you ask for anything in return? You're well on your way to leveling up! Bringing value to others is something you will constantly be doing, whether you are in-person or online (like this fantastic video in the Acting Lounge giving insight into Actors Access), so make this a regular habit.

When you bring such immediate value, the recipient will likely begin to ask you questions that indicate they are interested in mentoring you. This is when you must be clear about what you want (like this animator who needs help pitching her own projects). So before you start building your wish list (or "Favor List" in this case), let's make sure you make the most of your time on set as a Production Assistant.

The Basics:

1. Dress Appropriately

Best to have a jacket or coat if it's chilly, gloves & scarf if it gets cold, head covering if it's hot, comfortable & durable shoes. NO OPEN-TOED SHOES! This still happens, but it immediately disqualifies you to lift anything heavy, which you will be asked to do. NO BAGGY CLOTHING! Wear a belt, tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your shoes if you have to. If you trip, fall, and knock over something because you didn't follow this rule, they will take the damages out of your paycheck. I would say not to wear a skirt on set, but some professionals have begun wearing Utili-kilts. As long as you have your full range of motion and your clothing doesn't catch on anything as you move, then you should be good.

2. Show Up Ready to Work

Alert, good attitude, ready to assist. Do whatever you need to to put yourself in this headspace. Sleep, coffee, stop talking to negative people, reach out to your best friends, pack the night before, clean your space, speak to a therapist, get a massage, etc. Take care of yourself so that you are entirely able to take care of others on set.

3. Print Out Copies of the Call Sheet

One for you and two extras should anyone ask to keep yours. If you cannot, take a screenshot of the document, so you don't have to waste time bringing it up from your email.

4. Know Who Your Point of Contact is

This is the person you check in with upon arriving & report to throughout the day. Generally, the expectation is the rest of the crew will want you to stay AWAY from them unless you have a particular reason for talking with them, like taking lunch orders or asking if they need water.

5. Don't Be Late

Be sure to check in with your Point of Contact by your call time. This extends to assignments on set; your superiors will want you to be faster than anyone else. IF you are running late, be sure to communicate that to your Point of Contact as soon as there is even a hint that you could be late. If you're feeling proactive, text them when you leave with an estimated time of arrival (ETA), so there is no question. Full transparency gives decision-makers more information to better make those decisions. For example, if you let them know you're on your way, they may ask you to pick up something on the way to set.

6. Be Completely Available

If you have any time constraints, do not sign on without communicating that to your point of contact. Don't make plans for after work, even if you're an Office PA. You can still be pulled into a situation where the set will need you to run and pick up/drop off something. As you work up the crew hierarchy, you'll get better about taking time off between gigs to ensure you get additional rest and social time. *Creating boundaries about when you are and are not available is an ongoing process in the entertainment industry, so begin by making it a conversation you have with your direct supervisor early and often. As Shane would say, "we're only making a movie; there's no need to risk your life."

7. Travel Light

PCs, ADs, and many other roles will have plenty to carry, and you are there to help them. That will be infinitely more difficult if you already have a ton of stuff weighing you down. Fanny pack and forget about it!

8. Come Prepared

Gas in the car, fully charged phone, phone charger, pen & pad (and extra pens, should the one go missing), a Sharpie (or a clickie-Sharpie, if you're super-cool), zippered pocket (as part of your clothes or as a pouch), plastic Ziploc bag (to protect receipts), sunglasses, sunscreen, hat/bandana, umbrella, hand sanitizer, etc. Oh, and fully rested. *You'll get better at this as you advance. The best PAs have their own surveillance (i.e. earpiece for radio) and bring it to every set.

The “basics”, as described above, are all the things we expect you to already know about the job, but may not tell you. These are the things to know and do to come in and do your job (i.e. “be available” and “don’t waste time”). Fulfilling your base function is what we hope will save the production time, and help the rest of us breathe a little easier.

But fulfilling expectations is akin to learning the rules of a card game, where you are allowed to play but there is no indication of how best to win. The rules, not the strategy. The strategy is what I revealed to all of my PAs as a PC so they would know my immediate expectations on their first day and every day moving forward. Ideally, as a mentor, it’s what we all should be sharing to empower our crew at the bottom to rise to the top. What are some of your strategies you shared as a PA or with your PAs to maximize your efficiency? Share in the comments!

Thanks for reading about how to receive mentorship while on set as a Production Assistant! For strategies on how to be the best PA, how to know if you’re ready to be a PC, and creating the systems that work for everyone, be sure to check out Part 3!

Enjoying Kay’s insight into networking? Be sure to check out these previous blogs to help build better relationships in the industry:

How to Make Friends in the Film Business: Resetting the Intention of Networking

5 Ways to Explore and Network in the Stage 32 Lounges

#SocialSaturday - Mining for Gold in the Stage 32 Lounges

#SocialSaturday - Connecting the Facets of Filmmaking

#SocialSaturday - The Calm is the Storm

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Taylor at taylor@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

Please help support your fellow Stage 32ers by sharing this on social. Check out the social media buttons at the top to share on Instagram @stage32 , Twitter @stage32 , Facebook @stage32 , and LinkedIn @stage-32 .