A production assistant is a crucial component in the development of a film, TV show or play. Also known as a PA, a production assistant acts as the vital link between a director and a producer and must ensure that things run smoothly at all times while working on location or in the studio.
Roles in this field are highly technical, in addition to being creative and administrative, and involve supervising the operation of production equipment and instructing the necessary parties on which research needs to be carried out to create a strong and memorable script. Attending and timing rehearsals is an everyday job, as is distributing materials, liasing with audio and visual crews during recordings, and keeping executive producers informed on the progress being made.
Bonuses are common for production assistants that have completed a successful project on time, with average salaries around C
$40,000 per annum depending on experience.