Newhouse LA Students Get Glimpse of Life as a Production Assistant in Hollywood Through Boot Camp 

Behind the scenes on a television show, a production assistant’s most valuable asset can be a walkie-talkie.  

There’s a certain etiquette in communicating information quickly and accurately that could affect the next scene—one mistake could cause a re-shoot, wasting valuable time.  

It’s one of the core skills taught at the P.A. Bootcamp, a Los Angeles-based program that teaches attendees everything they need to know about working as a production assistant, who are also known in the business as a “P.A.” While P.A. Bootcamp typically isn’t available to college students, organizers make an exception for students from the Newhouse LA program.

Jody Brockway, head of liaison work and camper registration for P.A. Bootcamp, said Syracuse students typically arrive anxious to learn and engage.  

“Nobody on a set has time to train you and stop what they’re doing to tell you what to do. So, we want to train people so that they show up and know their job, not have to be told their job,” Brockway said. 

The boot camp is typically held one weekend a month, with all-day sessions Saturday and Sunday. Knowing what you’re doing with a walkie-talkie can help job seekers stand out or land a position on a high-budget project. 

“It’s all information on the radio, so it is critical for new set [production assistants] to not mess that up. They need to know how to respond, how to communicate, how to use the radio,” Brockway said. 

Those lessons came in handy the following week for Molly Meisner, a junior television, radio and film major who took part in the boot camp in February. She was involved in a class this spring that shot the latest episode of “Two Truths and a Lie,” the game show produced by Newhouse LA students.  

“I think definitely helping others and behaving properly, using the [walkie-talkie] right and not playing on it, and just having proper language and communicating well,” Meisner said when asked about the most valuable lessons from boot camp. “Having to use all that and working with others making sure that everything I’m doing is correct.” 

It’s why it’s essential to stay engaged during P.A. Bootcamp.  

“Bring a notebook … don’t get distracted,” Meisner said when asked to offer advice for Newhouse students interested in the program. “They’re there to help you, so I’d say just go there and really focus and take in everything they’re saying because they’re trying to really prepare us.”  

Given the limited number of opportunities each semester for students interested in production to take part in the boot camp, it is important to reach out to Newhouse LA or Newhouse’s Office of Off-Campus Programs to plan for a semester in California, said Robin Howard, director of the Newhouse LA program.  

“At Newhouse LA, we are committed to providing our students with real-world experiences that prepare them for the industry, and opportunities like P.A. Bootcamp are a perfect example,” Howard said. “We’re grateful to the team at P.A. Bootcamp for making this possible and proud of our students for taking full advantage of this incredible hands-on training.”