Customer Reviews

Breaking and Entering: Landing Your First Job in Film Production

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book should be called "How Not to Get Fired From Your First PA Job." There is a good amount of detail about what a production assistant position is, but April Fitzsimmons' book does not even begin to cover what you need to do to GET the job in the first place (and I suspect that's what most people are really looking for).

If you don't have connections and want a book that will actually help you get a foot in the door, this is definitely not the one. Maybe check out Kenna McHugh's "Breaking into Film: Making Your Career Search a Blockbuster." That book covers networking, different PA organizations, effective resume writing, and so on. Breaking and Entering provides none of this.

Anyone who is even considering a career in the production side of the TV/Film industry should buy and read this book. As a former PA (current screenwriter) I can only shake my head in regret that I didn't read this book before setting foot on my first set; it would have saved me a great deal of pain and worry. I can't understand that one bad review, I mean, how can something be "too comprehensive"? And believe me, someone who can unjam and revive a copier is worth their weight in gold, especially if something has to be done immediately and the damn thing is acting up. Trust me, you want to know everything this book has to say before starting out as a PA. Twenty bucks is dirt cheap compared to learning all of it the hard way.

I'm a film and television producer, and this is the first book I've come across that explains in plain English what it's like to work in production. But, it's tells you much more than that. By the time you finish reading this book, you'll have a complete understanding of how movies get made and the people who make it happen. You'll learn the "lingo" of the industry and the chain of command on a set. The author takes you step by step - explaining what the jobs are and how you can get one. Even if you don't want to work in production, you'll find it entertaining and informative. I have been using this book as a teaching tool in my production assistant workshops for the past few years. It has helped many of my students find work in the industry. If you want to work in this business, this is a must-read. What I liked most about the book is that it isn't the glamourized version of what it''s like to work behind the scenes, it's the real deal. In terms that anyone can understand. April Fitzsimmons has been there, done that and now written the book about it. Some of the fascinating parts include short personal stories from various people, about their experiences in the industry - the good, the bad and the ugly.

I recommend to my students that they buy this book and keep it with them at all times, as a reference and as a reminder to never give up. I only wish this book was around when I first started working in production. My struggle wouldn't have been so difficult.

I wish I had this book when I was starting out. Sure film school allows you to talk about Bazin, Truffaut and mise-en-scene, but it will never teach you about the hazards of standing in an actor's eye line--my first embarrassing mistake. This book is filled with common sense which seems to be sorely lacking these days. If you aspire to work in Hollywood, buy this book.

Not any other book on finding a job in film production is as funny, as encouraging and as easy to read as this one. You walk away inspired and full of enthusiasm, something very necessary for anyone starting out. ALL the basics are covered and it gives you the self-confidence that you know at least what the heck people are talking about. Read it, learn it and know it, then work hard and you'll be allright.

Of all the books I have seen on how to start at the bottom & learn the basic ropes of being a great PA. This is the book. If you want to impress producers & move up quick, read this book & implement what it says

The first time you set foot on a film set certain things aren't always obvious. This book sets you on the right path from the beginning. Get a jump on all the P.A's entering the pool and act like a pro from day 1.

Talk about pedantic! This stunning gem of a "career guide" is chocked full of incredibly valuable sections such as "Know thy copier," "Charging the phone" and "Air Conditioning: On and Off." After the FAR too comprehensive overview of what being a PA is about, Ms. Fitzsimmons offers her advice on breaking into film production, the extent of which is "Send out your resume to anyone who might potentially hire you and ask people you know if they can help you." Gee, I'm not sure what I ever would have done without her "sage advice." The only benefit I got from this book was the detailed listing of exactly what ALL those people do on a studio production. If you haven't gone to film school, attended a filmmaking seminar, worked on a film project or picked up a book on filmmaking, this guide MIGHT be worth its eighteen dollar cover price. But even then, I doubt it. Instead, check out the "Production Assistant's Handbook" put out by the Association for Independent Video and Film. All the same information at just a third of the price.

I've read several books on working in Hollywood since moving here and this one was the most helpful because becoming a Set P. A. will probably be your first job in town. The only other job in town that an outsider usually qualifies for is working at a theater, but at least it pays. The only training course available in town to learn how to be a Set P.A. is advertised online and it's conducted by professionals working in the industry. The schedule is tight which makes it tough, but had I read this book beforehand, it would have made a big difference.

This book is a Godsend. I have put the amazingly lucid and learned advice to work in my own jobs on film sets, and now my brother is finding it equally enlightening as he tests the waters of filmmaking. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone who wants to work in film or simply understand what happens on the set. Insightful without the braggadacio that festers in so many books of its genre, this is a great find for the newcomer and the production veteran alike.