Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
UTA Update
In my last post, I forgot to mention a very important resource. The PRS (Production Reference Services) is a list of all the productions that are going into production. I still don't know how I got on this list, but if I was looking for a set job, this is a very important resource. It gives information like this, pulled straight from the latest one out today:
LIFETIME TELEVISION
LIFETIME TELEVISION
PROJ TITLE: HOSTILE MAKEOVER CONTACT: ARTURO INTERIAN
PROJ TYPE: CABLE MOVIE
ADDRESS: 2049 CENTURY PARK EAST
LOCATIONS: VANCOUVER SUITE 840
PRE PROD: EARLY LOS ANGELES CA 90067
SHOOT: FEBRUARY 19 PHONE: 310/556-7500
BUDGET: MID
FAX: 310/557-8317
GENRE: CRIME SOLVING MYSTERY FOR LIFETIME. PART OF A SERIES BASED ON ELLEN BYERRUM'S CRIME OF FASHION MYSTERIES.
CREW: DIRECTOR: JERRY CICCORITTI PRODUCER: ANNE CARLUCCI
GEN NOTE: NO OFFICE UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS!!!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Questions Answered
Amber Posted:
Im moving to LA to become a film set PA...so I can learn the industry more and hoepfully after I put my time in, move up. Ive always heard about the UTA list, but no one knows how do you get the list(s) sent to you? how do you become on the list serve? or how does it all work? Im dying to be sent the lists..any advice?
Ah, the infamous UTA list. I posted about it a while back. Basically, the easiest way way to get on the list is to know someone in the industry. Almost anyone in the industry who holds an entry level or higher position either:
a) got their job from the UTA list.
b) gets the UTA list in their mail.
c) posts to the UTA list for interns/positions.
d) knows someone who does any of those things.
The UTA list is the worst kept secret in LA. While no one admits it exists, everyone gets it. Personally, I get it from three different people every time it comes out. Not to talk out of school, but the first UTA list I got from the US_UK_EU_Producersalliance on yahoo groups. They post the executive positions whenever they come out. From there, I talked to some people on the list that got me the list. Then, after I moved to LA, I met several other people who just put me on their listservs, and I ended up getting lists in my inbox in triplicate whenever they came out. Before I moved to LA, I went to both yahoo and google groups and tried to gain entry into every listserv that had anything to do with LA and the industry, LAProducer, TheBudgetingGroup, US_UK_EU_Producersalliance, etc. If you are an aspiring screenwriter, I work with the Scriptwriter's Network and they help young writers. I'm sure there are the same sorts of things for directors, producers, DPs, etc.
However, I would tell you if you wish to be a film set PA, the UTA list is really not helpful at all. For the most part, the positions they post are for office assistants at agencies, production companies, and studios. Since I don't work on sets anymore, I don't know what the best way to get involved with on set productions. I would say try craigslist.com or mandy.com. They were a big source of information when I was working on sets. They also have PA training programs that claim to place you afterwards, but I would be very wary of those. You can try the HCD (Hollywood creative directory) and cold calling production companies to see if they need on-set work, but for the most part the people I know got their jobs by knowing people.
While I love being on set, there came a time when I just couldn't do 13 hour days, so I moved into offices, where the hours are a little more stable, but the work is more boring. Depending on what your aspirations are, you may not need on-set experience. However, I find it invaluable to have both in set and office experience when it comes to writing and esp. directing.
One other thing I might suggest is to try temp agencies. In LA, there are temp agencies like Co-op, Comar, and Friedman, just like other temps agencies, place specifically into entertainment professions. But with the "recession" in entertainment, they are cutting back on their temp pool. But it does happen.
Really, it's about being in LA if you are going to move here, the talent level is so deep, I don't know anyone who has gotten a job out of state. It's almost ALWAYS, they are in LA already. So, my advice is to take the leap, have some money saved up, and if you can do an internship, then another, then another, while working on set. It's all about connections. People want to hire people they know, and the nepotism is RAMPANT in LA. The first year is really, really, really hard. But, the only people who succeed are those who persevere.
GOOD LUCK!
Im moving to LA to become a film set PA...so I can learn the industry more and hoepfully after I put my time in, move up. Ive always heard about the UTA list, but no one knows how do you get the list(s) sent to you? how do you become on the list serve? or how does it all work? Im dying to be sent the lists..any advice?
Ah, the infamous UTA list. I posted about it a while back. Basically, the easiest way way to get on the list is to know someone in the industry. Almost anyone in the industry who holds an entry level or higher position either:
a) got their job from the UTA list.
b) gets the UTA list in their mail.
c) posts to the UTA list for interns/positions.
d) knows someone who does any of those things.
The UTA list is the worst kept secret in LA. While no one admits it exists, everyone gets it. Personally, I get it from three different people every time it comes out. Not to talk out of school, but the first UTA list I got from the US_UK_EU_Producersalliance on yahoo groups. They post the executive positions whenever they come out. From there, I talked to some people on the list that got me the list. Then, after I moved to LA, I met several other people who just put me on their listservs, and I ended up getting lists in my inbox in triplicate whenever they came out. Before I moved to LA, I went to both yahoo and google groups and tried to gain entry into every listserv that had anything to do with LA and the industry, LAProducer, TheBudgetingGroup, US_UK_EU_Producersalliance, etc. If you are an aspiring screenwriter, I work with the Scriptwriter's Network and they help young writers. I'm sure there are the same sorts of things for directors, producers, DPs, etc.
However, I would tell you if you wish to be a film set PA, the UTA list is really not helpful at all. For the most part, the positions they post are for office assistants at agencies, production companies, and studios. Since I don't work on sets anymore, I don't know what the best way to get involved with on set productions. I would say try craigslist.com or mandy.com. They were a big source of information when I was working on sets. They also have PA training programs that claim to place you afterwards, but I would be very wary of those. You can try the HCD (Hollywood creative directory) and cold calling production companies to see if they need on-set work, but for the most part the people I know got their jobs by knowing people.
While I love being on set, there came a time when I just couldn't do 13 hour days, so I moved into offices, where the hours are a little more stable, but the work is more boring. Depending on what your aspirations are, you may not need on-set experience. However, I find it invaluable to have both in set and office experience when it comes to writing and esp. directing.
One other thing I might suggest is to try temp agencies. In LA, there are temp agencies like Co-op, Comar, and Friedman, just like other temps agencies, place specifically into entertainment professions. But with the "recession" in entertainment, they are cutting back on their temp pool. But it does happen.
Really, it's about being in LA if you are going to move here, the talent level is so deep, I don't know anyone who has gotten a job out of state. It's almost ALWAYS, they are in LA already. So, my advice is to take the leap, have some money saved up, and if you can do an internship, then another, then another, while working on set. It's all about connections. People want to hire people they know, and the nepotism is RAMPANT in LA. The first year is really, really, really hard. But, the only people who succeed are those who persevere.
GOOD LUCK!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year/My gift to you
Happy new year, Grinders. As a belated holiday present, I wanted to share with you a BBC/MSN pitch opportunity which is free to enter and could lead to a development deal with the BBC.
follow this link, and enjoy.
http://www.miptv.com/en-gb/content-360.cfm
follow this link, and enjoy.
http://www.miptv.com/en-gb/content-360.cfm
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
I don't care if it's pc or not, Merry Christmas to everyone out there in Grinderland.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
In need of cool names, go to Montana
Okay, I know this is a weird segue, but I am just awful at coming up with new names. They always end up at Madison for a girl and Jimmy for a guy. It's idiotic. But, I found a fix in the weirdest place.
This year, I had several cross country flights. First, I went to visit a client in San Diego in February. Then, I flew into La to apartment scout in June. Finally, in June, we relocated to LA. During cross country flights, I like to view the map most airlines provide that tracks where the plane is over the country. And, during one of the trips, not sure which one, I realized that Montana, Nebraska, Idaho, and most of that area of the country have the most interesting names for towns. As many of those towns were named for the person who founded the town taking a map, or let's be serious mapquest, can provide you names you've never thought of. I used the system for all of my recent scripts.
Consider it my Holiday gift to you.
This year, I had several cross country flights. First, I went to visit a client in San Diego in February. Then, I flew into La to apartment scout in June. Finally, in June, we relocated to LA. During cross country flights, I like to view the map most airlines provide that tracks where the plane is over the country. And, during one of the trips, not sure which one, I realized that Montana, Nebraska, Idaho, and most of that area of the country have the most interesting names for towns. As many of those towns were named for the person who founded the town taking a map, or let's be serious mapquest, can provide you names you've never thought of. I used the system for all of my recent scripts.
Consider it my Holiday gift to you.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Why I'm not hating on Heroes
*** warning, season 3 Heroes spoilers ahead***
It seems to be the fad of the week, or the past two seasons to hate on Heroes. I, myself, have been driving that bus more than once. However, the thing that turned me around was watching season 1 on DVD.
See, if you actually sit down and watch it from the beginning, all of the idiosyncrasies that have ballooned up in the past two volumes were quite present from the beginning. The confusing shifts in time, the storylines that lead nowhere, the episodes where nothing happens, the people who are in one episode only to die in the next, the character who are inexplicably forced together. ALL of those things happened starting in episode 2 of the first season. What is the difference? In the first season, there was a purpose. A clear-cut purpose for all of the heroes to galvanize around. And that made all of the other idiocies...yes, idiot + idiosyncrasies, forgivable. I bet you don't remember that they saved the cheerleader in episode 8...that's right the biggest crux of season 1 happens 8 episodes in. Also, there are 2+ episodes where Hiro is lost in time. I mean, I've been through some of this, but if you bought it in the first season, it's hard to argue with it now.
I think that the episodes from the Eclipse on might be the great reboot of Heroes. Since that episode, the storylines have been strong, and the heroes have been fighting a common foe. Nathan has taken a strong stance, and Peter has taken the other stance. Yes, there have been some weak story-lines, but does anyone remember Nikki and Jessica the first season? Talk about groan. Everyone knew that Peter HAD to get powers back, he was the impedus for the entire show. And, on the flip side, Hiro had to LOSE his power because he was too powerful. Anything bad that happened, Hiro could just stop with his mind. It made everything else in the world unbelieveable.
I say, just enjoy the Heroes ride, even though the characters were...well, completely out of character, Matt Parkman helping Ted Sprague hold Claire's family hostage was pretty out of character...Then, having HRG team up with Ted and Matt immediately afterwards is even more out of character...oh, and all that was in the first season.
Next season looks like it's going to be filled with all of the heroes fighting for a common goal, which is what made season 1 so awesome. Just give me cool powers, semi-decent story telling, and a thinly veiled plot and I'm sold. And if you as the audience would watch the first season, I think your eyes would be open as well. The first season wasn't great, it was average, but it was also AWESOME!
It seems to be the fad of the week, or the past two seasons to hate on Heroes. I, myself, have been driving that bus more than once. However, the thing that turned me around was watching season 1 on DVD.
See, if you actually sit down and watch it from the beginning, all of the idiosyncrasies that have ballooned up in the past two volumes were quite present from the beginning. The confusing shifts in time, the storylines that lead nowhere, the episodes where nothing happens, the people who are in one episode only to die in the next, the character who are inexplicably forced together. ALL of those things happened starting in episode 2 of the first season. What is the difference? In the first season, there was a purpose. A clear-cut purpose for all of the heroes to galvanize around. And that made all of the other idiocies...yes, idiot + idiosyncrasies, forgivable. I bet you don't remember that they saved the cheerleader in episode 8...that's right the biggest crux of season 1 happens 8 episodes in. Also, there are 2+ episodes where Hiro is lost in time. I mean, I've been through some of this, but if you bought it in the first season, it's hard to argue with it now.
I think that the episodes from the Eclipse on might be the great reboot of Heroes. Since that episode, the storylines have been strong, and the heroes have been fighting a common foe. Nathan has taken a strong stance, and Peter has taken the other stance. Yes, there have been some weak story-lines, but does anyone remember Nikki and Jessica the first season? Talk about groan. Everyone knew that Peter HAD to get powers back, he was the impedus for the entire show. And, on the flip side, Hiro had to LOSE his power because he was too powerful. Anything bad that happened, Hiro could just stop with his mind. It made everything else in the world unbelieveable.
I say, just enjoy the Heroes ride, even though the characters were...well, completely out of character, Matt Parkman helping Ted Sprague hold Claire's family hostage was pretty out of character...Then, having HRG team up with Ted and Matt immediately afterwards is even more out of character...oh, and all that was in the first season.
Next season looks like it's going to be filled with all of the heroes fighting for a common goal, which is what made season 1 so awesome. Just give me cool powers, semi-decent story telling, and a thinly veiled plot and I'm sold. And if you as the audience would watch the first season, I think your eyes would be open as well. The first season wasn't great, it was average, but it was also AWESOME!
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