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Gofers: On the Front Lines of Film and Television
Paperback
TelevisionFilm & Video ArtFilmmaking
ISBN13: 9780578762609
Publisher: Passing Planes Productions LLC
Published: Oct 25 2020
Pages: 238
Weight: 0.71
Height: 0.50 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Winner: 2021 IndieReader Discover Awards - Entertainment Nonfiction
Finalist: 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Career Nonfiction
Ever hear of an entry-level job where the office moves daily, co-workers change constantly and responsibilities could range from unclogging a backed-up dressing room toilet to cueing the controlled explosion of a spaceship in the middle of a busy city park? Well it's a real job, the title of which is production assistant (PA for short, a.k.a. gofer).
This is the first position that many people have in the film and television production industry. After working hundreds of overtime hours as a PA, Daniel Scarpati learned that success in showbiz is all about who you don't know! Come behind the scenes of countless sets to hear about the plentiful, sometimes painful tasks PAs are asked to do so the show can go on.
Gofers places the entry-level role and hectic lifestyle of a PA in the spotlight. It explains, step-by-step, how Daniel went from making home movies in his backyard and having zero connections to working on dozens of primetime network series, major studio movies and big-budget commercials. Through stories from time spent with renowned cast and crew, Daniel explains how to forge your own path in the industry.
This isn't just another textbook. The street smarts, people skills and practical life lessons can translate to any industry.
I so wish I had this book when I was first trying to be a writer/producer in L.A. I started as a PA, but this would've saved me the two years it took to learn the protocol of Hollywood.
- Russ Woody, producer/writer of Parenthood, The Middle, Becker, Mad About You and The Drew Carey Show
'Gofers' is a must read for anyone interested in breaking into the motion picture industry. Full of how to, on-set knowledge, and peppered with anecdotes told through the eyes of veteran PA Dan Scarpati, it is informative, fun, and tells it like it is.
- Tom Reilly, member: the Directors Guild of America, author of The Hollywood MBA: A Crash Course in Management From a Life in The Film Business
Former PA Daniel Scarpati has written a book, and don't worry, he doesn't burn anybody. 'Gofers' is a fun, scrappy, very readable memoir/guide to being a PA... If you know anyone thinking of trying to break into movies, they will likely appreciate this book. It would also be good for directors and department heads to read it, if only to remember: Everyone on set might write a book someday, so be nice.
- Tim Molloy, Editor-in-Chief, MovieMaker Magazine
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