Note From Tongal: “What It’s Really Like to Work as an Assistant in the Film and TV Industry" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
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Ready to break into the entertainment industry? Taking on a role as an assistant or coordinator might just be the way to go. But, before you start sending out your resume to every production company or talent firm in town, you might want to hear what it’s actually like from people who are currently working as assistants and coordinators across the Film & TV industry.
Below, we’ve asked the same five questions to Jennifer Patterson (CAA), Joshua Smooha (Showrunner’s Assistant), Christopher C. Brown (Gotham Group), and Nik Barrett (NBCUniversal).
What is the hardest part of the job?
Nik: Knowing when's the right time to ask questions and what is the right question to ask. Everything is about how you couch it, and how timely your questions are -- there are days when everything is timely and the day has gone nuts, but you still have to find the "right" time to get things out of people or else you'll get shut down or, worse, shut out.
Jennifer: Trying to remember everything because you will be asked questions and need to have an answer right away.
Christopher: The stress, the monotony, the low pay.
Joshua: Honestly it’s a piling of the little tasks that you're always expected to be ready to do 24/7. Besides the blatant disregard for OT and separation, bosses still message and text on the weekends and after hours so you are always expected to be available. I like to refer to these small errands as "zombie tasks." In zombie movies, it's always easy to kill one zombie, it's when they overrun you that they become a problem. I feel like that is the issue with the entertainment industry. Pick up the dry cleaning at this time, then go get the Starbucks, then make sure to call the person back at 3:30pm SHARP, while taking notes for the conference call later. Any one task is not hard to manage, but when they pile up you get overrun and you scramble with your day. And the worst part is with all those things, sometimes one small thing falls through the cracks and then your boss gets that knowing look of disappointment and they say something like "It was just this ONE THING”, when they never realize it’s just one thing.
What is the most rewarding aspect of the job?
Nik: Pitching a story and learning the art of being a TV writer. My boss is brilliant and it's amazing to see how her mind works.
Jennifer: Getting clients job, getting projects off the ground, getting stuff on the screen whether big or small. It's a tough road to get to the end result, but it's rewarding when you've accomplished the reason why we're here. To make film and television.
Christopher: Listening in on important calls, dealmaking, and knowing the value of the information you're listening in on.
Joshua: Finally being recognized and credited for my contributions as a creative individual and not being seen solely as an assistant/slave.
How do you build your network that you plan on taking over Hollywood with, once you are no longer an assistant/coordinator?
Nik: Part of the reason I've stayed in this business is because I've made friends with some wonderful humans who I want to work with in the future - I'm talking to you, Laura - and I guess that's part of my plan to do just that. I've done my fair share of drinks and joined industry boards, and though they can be awkward at first, it really helped me meet people who I want to work with as we all continue to rise.
Jennifer: Find friends and keep them, people don't really work with acquaintances so you need to find your tribe so to speak. I've joined organizations such at JHRTS, WIF, and Film Independent to network with new people and those organizations tend to have various levels as you move up in the industry.
Christopher: JHRTS! Also, just doing drinks, coffees, breakfasts with people – getting to know people, trying to help others when you're in a position to help them, and being courteous, friendly and respectful over emails in your correspondence with other assistants.
Joshua: It's less "networking" and more just hanging out with good people and seeing what you can do to help them first. You hangout, you grab drinks, you meet people, and maybe the people you meet on Tuesday really would love to be connected with the people you meet on Friday and they'd get along too. Well if you facilitate that connection, catch up with people at parties and just hangout and get to know people as friends and not as a means to an end in business, then eventually you will get the help you need too.
What is the one part of your role that you wish you had known before you accepted the job?
Nik: Nothing. If I knew how hard my job was, I might have thought twice.....honestly though, I think I wish I would have known how emotionally taxing it can be. These jobs are hard, often thankless, and you get blamed for everything that goes wrong. FUN!
Jennifer: Personal assistant duties.
Christopher: I think the one part we always want to know and never really get a straight answer on is growth and upward mobility - how does this position help grow my career - what did the previous assistant go on to do, what's my timeline for moving up?
Joshua: I think when you accept a job you easily can fall into such a dynamic where you put your boss on a pedestal and you're the lowly assistant. That shouldn't be the case and you need to learn to stick to your guns, and occasionally stand up to your boss to defend your actions or decisions because most bosses also have no idea what the hell they are doing and sometimes being their "yes man" doesn't really help.
What’s your tip for a good work/life balance OR how do you turn off when you get home?
Nik: A mix of The NYT Crossword Puzzle, a large glass of red wine, and some Kacey Musgraves has really been working for me lately.
Jennifer: Stop looking at your phone, you're not doing yourself any favors by being with it all the time.
Christopher: Wake up really early and try to go hiking if you're close enough to a hiking area. L.A. is beautiful and it's important to remember what a breathtaking landscape it can be. If you can't hike, I would recommend doing an early morning jog or going for an early morning workout or yoga session. I think waking up early and going to bed early are paramount to long term well-being and growth in Hollywood. You have to resist the urge and temptation to burn out; maintaining your emotional and physical health works hand-in-hand with that. Also, it's important to be social. Go out and talk to other people who are doing what you are doing but also people who have nothing to do with the business. If you don't have friends outside the business, you should. It helps tremendously.
Joshua: D&D. It's nice to be someone else for a little while.
