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Name: Cece
Username: TrudyLarue
Hometown: Los Angeles
Occupation: Production Coordinator (POC)
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What attracted you to the entertainment industry?
My first job in the industry was a P.A. I got the job through family friends as a favor, although at $4.25 per hour, I'm not sure who was at the receiving end of the favor. As far as "big breaks" in an industry where you might spend a month or more on unemployment between shows, they all feel like big breaks to me. I never knew this would be the industry that would interest me until I was wrapped up in it, and in that sense that first job truly was my big break.
What is biggest challenge you face in the industry?
My biggest challenge in this industry was getting to know enough people that I had some job security. In Production, you rely pretty much on word of mouth in order to get work, so with each show, my chance for future work increases.
What advice can you give to people trying to get a start?
Don't get discouraged because someone's receptionist tried to blow you off. Keep cold calling and sending out resumes to Production companies. You can believe what you hear, the odds are a hundred to one you'll ever get a call back, but if you don't have a job, you have the time, right?
Please describe your job
A Production Coordinator (POC) runs the Production office. They start a show by finding and setting up that office and hiring the Assistant Coordinator and P.A.s. Once that's done, the duties range anywhere from the distribution of all paperwork (scripts, call sheets, schedules, etc.), ordering equipment for the crew, generating actors' contracts, crew lists, cast lists, maintaining the production files, completing production reports, and sometimes random things like finding a doctor who can rush to the set to tend a sick actor or in rare cases making sure there is a P.A. standing by to get the director his favorite coffee. The POC is essentially the hub of communications or shortstop on a production and throughout the course of the day will maintain contact with each department on the crew.
Can you share any tricks of the trade?
A good POC should be a fast worker (or at least a fast thinker with a good assistant) because they're forced to juggle so many things at one time. A good Coordinator can also save a show money because through trial and error they've discovered which vendors to avoid and though experience they've made contacts who'll give them extraordinary deals because they know that POC will be back on their next show.
What advice can you give to directors?
I think the Director sets the tone for the making of the film as much as the finished product. Obviously, this can go one of two ways. Did I mention how much I love Pete Jones?
Top 5 films (Not in any particular order)
- Reservoir Dogs
- Caddyshack
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles
- Pulp Fiction
- Snatch
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