Enlist in boot camp this fall and you just might find yourself being deployed-to a film set of a major studio.
The sixth edition of the Production Assistant Boot Camp is now enlisting recruits for Saturday, Oct. 29, at Valley College's Campus Center lower level. The five-week program is free to all Los Angeles Community College District students who are serious about a career in the film industry.
"It was an experience of a lifetime," said Valley alumna Maayan Polus. "I think the P.A. Boot Camp is mandatory for survival in the entertainment industry."
Polus said the program opened her eyes to many different avenues of production and gave her the opportunity to explore different positions in filmmaking. She added that it looks good on a résumé and helped land her a job at Disney Studios, where she works for Buena Vista Home Entertainment in the publicity department.
The first P.A. Boot Camp meeting begins promptly at 9 a.m. and will be a general overview of the industry, followed by an interview session and the selection of candidates who will be part of the class.
Students should bring their résumé, proof of enrollment at an LACCD college, and the contact number of a faculty member for a reference.
New recruits will be notified on Monday, Oct. 31 if they are accepted-which means a commitment to attend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next four Saturdays.
By the end of the sessions, students will have a working knowledge of how a production operates in the office, on the set, and during post-production.
This "how to" course teaches the practical side of a P.A.'s duties, including writing call sheets, using walkie-talkies, working with background actors, making production reports, handling mid-day company moves and keeping it quiet on the set when the camera is rolling.
In addition, students will learn about breaking into the biz, keeping a job, creating opportunities for a promotion and knowing when to move on, according to Boot Camp instructor Dan Watanabe.
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