Studio production: Specialist skills

Specialist Skills: Assistant Producer, Gallery PA

Assistant Producer

(1) AP's are often people within production companies who have played an important role in the development of the script or screenplay.

The take on responsibilities that are given to them by the Producer, these duties can range from supervising the production design ream or cover other work not already covered by another role.

They work in the development and pre-production stages, and on the production.

You need to be:

(2)

• Be well organised

• Be highly flexible

• Have good planning and organisational skills

• Have good communication skills

• Be good at time management

• Be confident and enthusiastic

• Have excellent clerical skills

• Have a good work ethic

• Have a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility

• Be highly computer literate

• Have a keen interest in the business of filmmaking

Gallery PA

Gallery PA's work directly with the Producer's during the pre-production and production.

(3) The role of the Gallery P.A. is to keep the show on time, it includes counting down interviews and VTs as well as counting into a live programme in a 2 min/1 min, 30 second/20 second/10,9,8....A show can also include other counts such as:

• Counting into a rehearsal

• Counting down to the beginning of a live show or recording

• Counting into, through and out of every pre-recorded item or insert

• Timing the length of each section of the programme whether that is scripted or as directed

• Counting down to the end of the show

• Counting character generators onto air

• Counting presenters into live voice-overs on videos items and into, through and out of interviews

• Counting to pre faded music

All of this is done with multiple stop watches. It's the PA's job to remind the director of any time problems with the schedule or the script. However it's the directors and producers jobs to work out what to do when/if the show over runs.

Over all this research helped me to understand what would be required of me in my job roles. I understand what I need to do and how I can do it to the best of my ability now.

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(1) Associate Producer or Assistant Producer creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3067_associate_producer_or_assistant_producer

(2) Producer's Assistant creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3084_producers_assistant

(3) 'P.A./Script superviser' - Cue and Cut