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Name: Jay
Hometown: Hastings, Nebraska
Occupation: Set Production Assistant
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What attracted you to the Entertainment Industry, and what was your first job or big break in the business?
My first job in entertainment was at the Video Station in college where I watched scores of movies and developed a lifelong love of film in addition to honing a snobby attitude, which has served me well in this business.
What is the biggest challenge you faced trying to break into the industry, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I've faced is dealing with producers' bullshit, and I doubt I'll ever overcome it.
What advice can you give those trying to break into the "industry?"
Stay away. More competition means less work for me. But if you just can't resist the calling, be prepared to give up any semi-balance of a life while you're working.
Please describe your job for those who might not know what a Production Assistant is.
Thanks to a recent Saturn commercial, everybody knows what a P.A. is. If not, just know that P.A.s do all the shit work on set; all the stuff that nobody else wants to do.
Can you share any tricks of the trade that help you work faster/cheaper/better?
Pretending to talk into your walkie-talkie is a great way to get rid of unwanted queries from onlookers, not to mention producers.
Please illustrate the way the performance of your position can help or hurt a movie. Name a movie that you've seen (or worked on) that we could view and understand the difference between a good job and a bad job.
Any movie where the actors look particularly cranky is probably due to the P.A.s not coddling them enough on set.
Are you a writer, and if so, how many screenplays have you written?
Yep, I've been working on my first one forever.
What's the best lesson you've learned in regards to working in Hollywood?
I don't work in Hollywood, but hopefully someday, with a lot of patience and determination and a little luck, I'll make it to that glorious place.
What advice would you give to writers on how to craft a script that addresses practical production issues?
Fuck all that. Write from your heart. Don't "craft a script that addresses practical production issues." Christ!
What advice would you give a director on how to make production easier?
Get to know your crew. And for Christ's sake, chill out.
List your top 5 favorite films
In no particular order:
- Boogie Nights
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
- Dazed and Confused
- Kicking and Screaming
- The 400 Blows
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