PA Quiz

1) What 2 pieces of paperwork should a Set PA have on them at all times?

2) On a call sheet, 'SWF' stands for...?

3) Does an actor show up on set when they are 'On Hold'?

4) As a Set PA, who do you work for?

a) Director

b) AD

c) Producer

d) Location Manager

5) Who is the Head of the Electric Department?

a) Best Boy

b) Prop Master

c) Gaffer

d) Key Grip

6) An Office PA works for....

a) UPM

b) Production Coordinator

c) Producer

7) On set, if asked to get a Shooting Schedule, where would you find it?

8) When do you fill out your "start work"?

9) When an AD announces "Rolling" over the radio, what do you do?

10) Which of the following do you NOT shout out when heard on the radio?

a) Lock it up

b) On the move

c) New deal

d) 2nd Team

e) Bring in 1st Team

f) Picture's up

g) 10-1

h) Background action

11) What do you do when the AD says "Lock it up" over the radio?

12) What info would you not find on a callsheet?

a) The props needed for the day

b) The weather forecast

c) The budget for the day

d) The AD's cell phone number

13) Who informs the CREW when we will be changing locations?

14) List 3 other names for Extras.

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ANSWERS:

1) sides, callsheets

2) Start Work Finish

3) No

4) B

5) C

6) B

7) AD Kit in Prod Trailer @ Base Camp

8) Day you start on set, before you actually begin

9) Repeat loudly

10) A,E,G

11) C

12) C

13) PAs! Job= to provide info to crew!

14) Background, Skins, Atmosphere, Cattle, Props that Eat, etc.

Turnaround

What does the term "Turnaround" mean?

Turnaround is the term to describe a studio abandoned screenplay that can legally be picked up by another financier or movie studio, granted that the studio pays back the costs incurred by the first studio, plus interest. As only 1/12 of purchased scripts end up getting produced, it is important to get a turnaround clause if you take your screenplay to a studio. Many successful films have been picked up in turnaround after the first producing studio abandoned the project, some examples include Forrest Gump and ET.

What does it mean if a project goes into turnaround with 500,000 dollars against it?

If a project at a major studio goes into turnaround with $500,000 against it, the new purchasing entity must first repay the original studio for the funds spent developing the project, as well as interest. ET was bought by Universal in turnaround from Columbia. The film made so much money that Columbia made more money that year on interest on ET from the turnaround clause than on any of their own films.

Types of Deals To Know

Explain the following types of deals between a studio and a writer, a producer, and other producing entity and how they differ from the others.

1. Development Deal – this is a non-exclusive agreement between two parties to develop a screenplay from an original idea, or a novel, play, magazine, article, etc. into a screenplay. This arrangement usually exists between a writer and a producer or producing entity, but it may include other elements like a director, or producer.
2. First Look Deal – A term agreement lasting three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity on a first look basis. Writer, producers, directors, and stars can act as producers in this arrangement. Basically, any idea, whether original or based on other material, gets pitched to this particular movie studio first. If the studio chooses not to develop the idea, the producer is free to take it to another studio or financier.
3. Exclusive Deal – A term agreement generally lasting three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity on an exclusive basis. Writers, producers, directors, and stars can act as producers in this arrangement as well. Any idea whether original or based on other material gets pitched to the movie studio. In this arrangement, if the studio does not wish to develop the idea further, the producer CANNOT take it to another studio or financier.

What is a Producer?

The Writer's Guild and Director's Guild have clear cut guidelines to what a writer and director are, but the Producer title is much more vague. It's is a funny term, because it encompasses a bunch of jobs. But here is an overview of the different types of producers and their functions.

A Producer....

• Organizes and INITIATES a project.
• Options rights to a book, finds a writer, goes into a studio, pitches, develops the screenplay, and gets paid a fee.
• Gets the money for the film, either from studios or outside funding.
• Gets a project off the ground
• Walks on stage to get the Academy Award for Best Picture!

Most producers spend much of their time in an office, either buying and pitching, so once a film gets greenlight, they start on their next project and the film gets passed to....

The Line Producer....

• This is a former production manager who has worked their way up. They know union agreements, when you have to break for lunch, how many tracks the camera crew needs, and know when you have to stop spending. They deal with a lot of numbers.
• Oversee everything and make sure all the bills get paid.

The Executive Producer...

• This is a person who brings name recognition to a project;
• The one brought in to finance a project;
• Or the person who brought the whole project together.

The Associate Producer...

• Might be the Line Producer;
• Or could be someone who has never done anything but brought a script to the film;
• Or someone who works for the Producer;
• Or even just the Producer's girlfriend.
• This is a flexible title and can mean a lot of things.

The Writer can also get a Producer credit...

• Often times in turnaround or other unique situations the Writer will say they want more.
• Example: In Shakespeare in Love, Mark Norman got the Writing and Best Picture Academy Award.

A Manager (or an Actor or Writer) can get a Producer credit...

• This is often done as a little gift or kudos to the manager
• There are a lot of people who manager Writers and they don't make much money, so this money is how they stay afloat.
• Agents CANNOT get producer credits though.

Keep in mind that everything is different in TELEVISION. In Film, the most important person is the director; but in TV, the most important person is the Writer...also known as the Executive Producer or Showrunner.

• Executive Producer/Showrunner is usually the writer of the Pilot...if not, then its probably the person who hired the writers.

So there is a little overview, hope that's helpful!