Should I Be a PA?
My first PA job on the set of Cold Comes the Night (2013)
That’s a good question. Working as a production assistant can be a great way to learn about how a set works and meet wonderful people passionate about film. I had some wonderful experiences observing the demands of actors and picking up lessons on how to conduct myself later on. For example, showing up on time takes a whole new meaning as an actor when you’ve been that PA tasked to physically track down a late actor whose holding up production.
You pick up how the star of the production sets the tone for the entire set. If they’re having a bad day, everyone has a bad day. But like extra work, working as a PA is meant to be a limited experience. Get in and get out. While PA gigs are great methods of supplemental income, you are an actor — not an aspiring assistant director. Go act. As much as I got from my experience as a PA, the thought of doing one more PA gig makes me a little sick to my stomach. It’s a thankless and grueling job and after a while, it really hurt my spirit to do everyday.
One famous example can be found in Paula Patton. She’s spoken openly about “[veering] off course.” Studying filmmaking at USC, she spent years working as a PA and making documentaries before finally returning to acting:
Paula Patton on set of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011) — IMDB Images
Paula Patton & Brad Bird on set of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
“I probably should have known that I was kidding myself at the time about wanting to be an actress because I remember I had gotten a very coveted gig to be a P.A. on a motion picture and I was driving up to San Francisco to work on this movie and I had heard that the lead girl had dropped out. I thought ‘oh my God, maybe they’ll see me and say ‘oh, you’re perfect for the role’. Instead they were like ‘hey kid. Get us some coffee and be quick about it’. After that I worked on documentaries. At a certain point I was working on this show called ‘Medical Diaries’ for the Discovery Channel heath network shooting surgeries; I know, strange. When that show was over with, I didn’t know why I didn’t want another job in that business and didn’t know why I didn’t have that passion you’re supposed to have like Bryan Barber to be a filmmaker, to make a film on the weekends. Something was missing. I was trying to write at my desk and thought ‘I’m lying to myself. Something’s not right here’. I asked myself ‘what did I love to do since I was a little girl?’ and I loved to act so I started taking lessons and classes and luck brought me here.” — Press Interview from BlackFilm for Idlewild (2006)
The lesson, Keilabytes (I just made that up)? BE NICE TO PA’s. Seriously. But to also answer your question regarding PA work…Yes, if you must…or just want to…and then no. But mostly no.
