Television production assistant: Job description

A television production assistant (or PA) is responsible for the administration, organisation and secretarial work involved in producing a television programme. While duties do vary from production to production, the work includes assisting actors and the crew, issuing scripts, dealing with travel and accommodation bookings and sorting out enquiries and other paperwork.

A production assistant may work on different kinds of programmes, such as news and current affairs, reality television shows, soap operas, dramas and comedies. They are usually involved at all stages of a project, working alongside everyone from early stages until completion.

Production assistants can specialise in one particular area of assistance or be known by other names, such as production coordinator, script supervisor or production secretary.

Typical work activities

Tasks often include:

• attending production meetings;
• typing, editing, copying and distributing scripts;
• organising travel arrangements for cast, crew and production executives;
• organising accommodation for cast and crew;
• typing and distributing schedules, or call sheets;
• assisting cast members, and at times running errands for them;
• running errands between the production office and other departments;
• dealing with accounts and expenses.

Assistants can also be involved in:

• checking running orders and scripts;
• keeping track of timings during a programme;
• setting up pre-recorded material in the studio gallery;
• making schedules, shot lists, logs and other paperwork for post-production.