Valentine’s Day Weekend Make A Film in a Day: Behind-the-Scenes Production Assistant Log

Who will be joining us as guests for our Top 3 Badasses of Spring? Two of the three badasses will appear in our March educational reports. Actress Tricia Hakenwerth and Director of Photography Leo Tutor. Where can you find our third nominee? On the set and leading the company she was born to run. Badass #3 is Producer/Director Elena Altman, founder of the film production nonprofit: MMTB. Readers are encouraged to find out for themselves what makes local indie producers/directors unique and so we’re staying mum.

Where did SmartyGirlLeadership meet these digital shorts badasses? At badass Make a Film in a Day during Valentine’s Day weekend.

The proofreader only allows badass to be used as a noun twice and adjective once per article so this reporter will change to another descriptor.

How many film races have our Editors done? Three so far: one with Team Tacoma of the Seattle 48 Hour Film Project, another with Director Quan Zhang of UC Berkeley, and Make a Film Day led by MMTB’s Elena Altman.

We Editors would not ask our Readers to do anything that we aren’t willing to do ourselves. Write a novel in one month? Yep, did NANOWRIMO. Seasonal Fitness Challenge? Absolutely, did the Eagal Lakes Run. Digital Shorts for film festivals? Right here beside you. We are in your corner so why not video reply on our YouTube Channel, post your portfolio link and share your Vimeos with us on our SGL Facebook. The “solitary” artist has a league of friends.

3 Fun Facts about the Valentine’s Day Make a Film in a Day Potluck

1. Cheetos and churro-waffle-donuts are the new food of love. Conversation hearts? Nah.
2. Sports Videographers, including one who regularly covers the World Cup, went undercover as Production Assistant
3. Bi-lingual Spanish/English Writers were awesomely funny in any language when such SmartyFellas double as Sound Operators pulling pranks on the set with the “dead cat” (wind dampener)

3 Fast Facts Social Intelligence Emotional Intelligence

1. Notice the Fast Facts shrunk from 10 to just 3 compared to the 48 Hour Film Project educational report? That’s what happens at a 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. film race. Time compresses everything from building rapport to learning equipment. Be ready for that agility mentally.
2. Tension is higher than on the set of the 48 hour shooting and editing schedule. Why? Because brilliant people have strong opinions and racing the sun adds heat to such personalities.
3. Let go of ego and stay positive as Production Assistant because you are as much “on camera” as anyone else. The behind-the-scenes word of mouth will spread across social media networks and at mixers if you are a douche to anyone.

4 Technical Tips

1. Leave your camera and tripod at home if you are in a non-camera role as Production Assistant. Too much equipment clutters foot traffic areas. Space and time is at a premium.
2. Go lean as Production Assistant. Bring your survival minimum in your PA kit. This can mean Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in a vest of bandolier instead of a full backpack. Unless you are filling that backpack with water for yourself and crew.  Think about photojournalist Laina Dawes advice about live concerts in the heavy metal pit: don’t take up much space.
3. Anticipate clogged toilets so be ready to bring hand sanitizer in case you must take care of plumbing. Rectangular packets of facial tissue work well as toilet tissue too.
4. Show initiative. If you have special skills such as fight choreography, speak up. Believe it or not, Israeli Martial Arts training came in handy for one PA who could contribute to a scene to avoid stereotypes of a “girl catfight”.