Following my great four months of interning, I have been able to get a few great new experiences in the television industry. One of the women I worked with is also the stage manager for every awards show you can think of; and she has been able to pull me into some Production Assistant work for some new and exciting projects.
When one tries to make it out here in Hollywood, there are two common tracks to follow. First is becoming an assistant to an executive, as I told you about over the summer. The other is to become a Production Assistant. That role is the lowest man on the totem pole, and it is your job to help out and do some of the lower level grunt work. Because PAs are highly sought after, and this industry is about who you know, once you prove yourself, you are in. One gig has the potential to lead to another and so on. Many people start off being a freelance PA. I never thought this would be my path, but I have been getting some PA gigs, that I guess that has
become my "title" if I were to have any.
My first real, paid PA gig was in February for Cartoon Network's Hall of Game Awards. It was the first time the channel has put on such a production, and since award shows are becoming a cable channel trend, I guess CN wanted to compete with Nickelodeon.
Anyway, the day was great. The show was filmed in an airport hangar, and I was in charge of working with checking in the kids and their parents with tickets. The
job itself was easy and straight forward, but I made some really great connections. Even better, I had already known some of the other stagehands from my internship. It proves that once you are in the circle of the industry you can get consistent work, but that is why it is hard to break in at first.
After the tickets were distributed, I worked in the mosh-pit and helped distribute props to the kids in the audience by the stage. It had to be done during commercial breaks, and since it was taped live, it had to be done quickly.
Overall, I met some really cool people, gained a handful of new industry contacts from executives to fellow PAs, and I got a production title under my belt. Working for the Hall of Game Awards was everything I love about entertainment: live, family programming and behind the scenes action.
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My second great PA gig was in April- the culmination and a life goal of mine to eventually attend- the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards!
This was everything to me. I watch the KCAs every year, and I always thought it would be years before I got the chance to attend, not just work, but attend the event. Well, I got the chance to work it, and I loved it!
This time, I was in charge of working with the kids who filled the mosh-pit. I worked with new people, but some of the old faces from the Games were there as well. I wore all black, and had my own walkie-talkie. I was in charge of keeping the kids calm as they arrived a few hours before the show. Closer to show time, I escorted them to the mosh-pit and had the glamorous duty of walking them to the bathrooms. :D
In all seriousness though, it really was an amazing experience. I had the option of getting slimed, and I wanted too, but it just didn't work out timing wise (long story). Looking back at it though, I was really happy not to get slimed! Those kids were dunked in it, and they had to stay drenched in it until they got back to their houses. I would not have wanted to drive looking like radioactive material! Plus, it smelled too.
The Kids were pretty well behaved for the most part, and I loved being on the floor during the taping. Because it was live, you never really know what is going to happen. Seeing the Black Eyed Peas and Jim Carry in person was not half bad either.
Working the KCAs was a wonderful dream come true, and affirmed why I want to be in this business. Kids, live television, top notch entertainment... what could possibly go wrong? :D I just felt like I was in the right place at the right time, and I wish I could hold onto that feeling.
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The other final Freelance PA work I did was a few weeks ago. It was for a Triscuit promotion held in three cities between NYC, LA, and Tampa. Although this was a way smaller project, my job was still the same- to help out wherever I am needed.
Triscuit was promoting self-farming within America's homes. We were at a university to promote growing personal plants and vegetables to help keep America green. This act was streamed live to a large exhibition in the middle of NYC and Tampa.
It was very interesting, and it paid, but it would not stand out as one of my most intense work experiences. I had to be there at 4am! Never again!! It was a good experience in the end.
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Overall, I have been able to get some really great production experiences as a PA, and that is what I came out here to do. Despite not having a job, I can show what cool experiences have come my way. I only hope to continue to get some freelance PA work in the future. Until then...
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