The MFJF Academy
presents
A Production Office Workshop
Join us at Pearl Studios, Sunday, April 16th 2023 from 11A-2P. Doors will open at 10:45A.
Pearl Studios
500 8th Ave
3rd Floor - Room 406
New York, NY
10018
Closest Transit: 34th St-Penn Station
Office PA Workshop
This workshop is an informal instruction on how to get your foot in the door of working in a film/tv production office.
These jobs are rare and sought after and so we've gathered several industry professionals who work in varied roles in the production office and current office PAs to explain the ins and outs of how a film/tv production office works during prep, shooting and wrap.
The first two hours will be a presentation followed by a Q&A, followed by networking time. The networking time will give you the opportunity to have one on one time with industry professionals and hopefully make a contact or two with people who can hire you one day.
We are very fortunate to have industry professionals who are volunteering their time on a Sunday to come to speak with us.
Content
The day will focus on how a production office operates and what is involved in being an office PA for the first time.
- What are the responsibilities of an office PA
- The hierarchy of roles in the production office
- What is prep and what needs to get done during it
- Important skills needed for an office PA
- Different types of paperwork you'll come across
- The flow of the day in a production office
- How to prepare for your first office PA job
Course Leaders
Karl von Haas - Production Coordinator
Karl started in the production office as an office pa in 2015 on the NBC show, Shades of Blue. He then worked on the Netflix show, The OA, before starting to climb the ranks of the office. He just finished a 5 season run of the NBC show, New Amsterdam where he made his way up to the role of production coordinator.
Nicole Payson - Assistant Director, DGA
She started her media career working as a production assistant in live events in early 2013 before switching full-time to scripted shows in the fall of 2013 beginning with Broad City Season 1. Nicole joined the Directors Guild of America in 2019 and is currently a member of DGA East 2nd AD Committee.
Nicole has worked on notable productions and garnered 5 Directors Guild of America Award nominations for her work on Succession and What the Constitution Means to Me. Notable directors she has worked with as a PA/AD include; Noah Baumbach, Barry Levinson, Marielle Heller, Chris Storer, Steven Soderbergh, Mark Mylod, Paul Schrader, Lucia Aniello, Alan Yang, Thomas Kail, Ramy Youssef, Cherien Dabis, Desiree Akhavan
Nicole is particularly proud of her work helping PAs start their film careers; she has organized three PA workshops/networking events since 2018 that have helped launch people's careers, specifically in the AD dept.
She is Head of the MFJF Film Academy, running PA workshops and helping early-career filmmakers find work.
Tickets
Tickets are $30 per person.
The MFJF Academy is designed to be an affordable inclusive workshop relying upon volunteers and sponsorship. Tickets are however non-refundable. Light refreshments including pizza and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
Places are limited to only 25. So we are operating 'first come, first served' policy.
Eligibility
Anyone can attend regardless of prior film industry experience or knowledge.
The only strict requirement we have is you must be 18 years of age or older.
This workshop is ideal for:
-
those who may never have been on set
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career changers interested in knowing more about a potential new start in the film industry
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those that have had experience on shorts and student films
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or even those with several professional credits wanting to meet more industry professionals to seek advice
You do NOT need to be a member of My First Job in Film to attend the day.
FAQS
Is this a practical course?
The aim of the day is to provide information and debunk any preconceptions you may have about working in the film industry. Ultimately, if you have questions about getting into film and TV drama, this is an opportunity to find out what is available to you; from the roles on offer to the first steps of getting your foot on the ladder.
What do I need to bring with me?
Just a notebook and pen to take notes. A bottle of water would be sensible. Also think beforehand about the questions you would like answered, write them down so you don't forget them!
Is lunch provided?
We will be providing some basic snacks such as pizza and non-alcohol drinks. We recommend you bring a bottle of water.
Is there parking at Pearl Studios?
Unfortunately, there is no parking. It's midtown Manhattan so we recommend the subway. The nearest subway is 34 St-Penn Station.
What do I come away with?
Our hope is you come away with renewed confidence in establishing your film career, in particular, the basics of what to do as a Office PA and the career paths open to you.