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PA On Location

If you're a PA or a production co-ordinator out on a wet and cold shoot there are a few simple things that can make life easier for you...

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1. Layer your clothing – even on warm days you can get cold very quickly standing around

2. On bad weather days use a clear plastic bag when logging to protect your notes

3. Always use a pencil - it won't smudge in the wet

4. An elastic band on your clipboard will stop pages flapping in the wind

5. Thick soled shoes and layers of socks keep your feet warm

6. Fingerless gloves are far better than full fingered gloves or mittens

7. If you're timing a sequence, be aware of the click of your stopwatch - it can sound very loud in a quiet interview

8. If no stopwatch is available on location, use your mobile phone stopwatch to get basic timings

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These tips are from Sharon Ward-McNab who works in Production Support Training at the BBC. She specialises in all aspects of the production assistant / production co-ordinator role.

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