The Post PA Handbook: Your Guide to Life as a Post Production Assistant in Television and Movies

1

Introduction

My name is Alyssa Carroll. I'm a television editor and the creator of TV-AE.com. In the beginning of my career I was a post production assistant for shows on the networks ABC, NBC, AMC, The CW, and more. I love research, and when I was starting out I found myself yearning for detailed information about how to be a good post production assistant. I found a lot of on-set guides but nothing for my specific career path. So, after a decade in the industry, I decided to write my own guide. This handbook is for people like me who love information and want to do their best work. If you'd like to learn more about my professional credits, you can find me on IMDb here: https://imdb.me/alyssa-carroll.

A Note on This Book

My experience is grounded in Los Angeles, California, where I began my post production career. Therefore, most of my examples will be from a Los Angeles viewpoint, and most of my advice is from an American perspective. That being said, there are lots of practical pieces of information in this handbook for any location, and this handbook will be helpful to most people in the early stages of their post production career.

2

Welcome to the Industry

Congratulations! You graduated from film school or you decided to take the leap and move out to Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, or another film and television hub. You have dreams of becoming an editor or the Head of Post Production at a major studio. Now, it's time to find your first job. But where do you begin?

In the field of post production, you begin as a post production assistant.

3

What is a Post Production Assistant?

A post production assistant or editorial assistant, colloquially known as a post PA, supports the editorial team on a film or television show. They support the editor, assistant editor, post producer, post supervisor, and post coordinator. A post PA's duties may include:

Getting meals and coffee for the team.

Delivering hard drives or other physical deliverables to various departments.

Keeping all written information up-to-date, like schedules, contact lists, and meeting notes.

Answering phones.

Taking notes in screenings, meetings, and note sessions.

Helping to schedule ADR* sessions.

Printing and distributing paperwork.

Keeping track of petty cash and receipts.

Post production assistants are the first step into the world of post production and a vital part of any production.

*DEFINITION: ADR is short for Automated (Or Additional) Dialogue Replacement. It refers to re-recording dialogue audio in a controlled setting to improve the audio quality or reflect a change in performance or word choice. You may also hear ADR referred to as looping.

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Do I Need to Move to Los Angeles?

You can create a film career for yourself anywhere in the world, but you will learn a lot more if you're in a major city for the first few years of your career. So, I suggest doing at least two years in a production hub like Los Angeles, California, or New York, New York.

Los Angeles and New York are not the end-all-be-all of the industry. There is post production work for film and television in other locations such as Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA and more. In addition, there is post production work in public broadcasting, commercials, and social media in almost any major city in the United States. You can also work abroad in places like Canada, England, or Australia. If you’re multilingual, there is a film industry in most countries. Wherever you want to live, there are options for you. However, the vast majority of film or television work will be in the cities of Los Angeles or New York. Your connections in those cities will serve you well if you ever decide to move away.

Moving to a new city can be temporary, and leaving a city is not a failure. Find what works best for you.

5

Should I Take an Internship?

Internships are worthwhile. I firmly believe that internships are a great way to make connections that last throughout your career. They're also a great way to get your foot in the door. Just remember - internships are about learning. As a post production assistant, you are paid to get coffee. As an intern, you are paid less than a PA and you still have to get coffee, but you are also given the opportunity to sit in with the editor, the assistant editor, the post producer, and anyone else in the cutting room to learn if their career path is the right career path for you. As an intern, ask for learning opportunities and take them seriously when offered.

Paid internships are becoming easier to find. Thankfully, most companies have woken up to the fact that only those who have the means to survive while unemployed can take an unpaid internship. It simply isn't an option for most of us. So, ask for compensation if you find a company that wants to offer you an internship. You do not need to work for free.

One internship that is well worth your time and energy is the American Cinema Editors (ACE) Internship. They're not a sponsor of this handbook. I just like the program. The application fee may feel steep, but as part of the application you get tickets to a lecture series that is absolutely