The (Poor, Poor) Writer's Assistant
A few articles back, I mentioned that I had an assistant. This sparked some curiosity (and a number of offers to take my assistant’s place), and one reader in particular felt I ought to at least describe what a writer’s assistant does and talk about whether or not the rest of you need one.
I don’t know what a writer’s assistant does, and I don’t think anyone needs one (but they’re useful).
I know what my assistant does, and most of it is unrelated to my writing. When I’m in production (or preproduction, as is the case right now), the writing takes on a full-day, all-encompassing scale, and the little matters of life start to be neglected. Someone has to chase down that electrician, make sure the gopher guy is killing the gophers in the yard (I am currently losing this battle), handle the paperwork for my Canadian work permit, check the voice-mail, direct me to where I’m going, remind me about the 14,000 things I have going on at once, and when my eyes start to roll into the back of my head…get me some coffee.
My assistant does these things.
Now, other writers’ assistants may do other tasks. Some take notes, others proofread, some do coverage…it’s really up to the writer who employs them. I’m a bit of a fussbudgety control freak, so I like to do a lot of the creative stuff myself.
The truth, though, is that few writers employ assistants. In fact, my assistant isn’t really my assistant. He’s an assistant to the production who also looks after me. To be fair, there’s a direct correlation between my current caffeine level and the future box office prospects of whatever I’m working on, so it’s money well spent.
Typically, if you’re not in production (or approaching production) you really don’t need a full-time assistant. Of course, if you’re the type who is looking to mentor someone, it’s certainly an option.
I wouldn’t enter production without an assistant, however. Maybe it’s just me, but I get lost in my work very very very very easily. Days could go by. They’d find me on the floor underneath my desk, badly dehydrated and snorting toner. Not pretty.
Since I’m writing about this particular topic, I might as well take the opportunity to publicly shame my assistant, who has failed to complete the first draft of his alleged screenplay in any reasonable amount of time.
I’ve given him another deadline. He’s got three weeks. I’ll publish his address and phone number if he blows it.
Of course, I’ll have to ask him for that info first. Can’t find it…where did I put that…dammit…Ian? Ian?
Now how could I possibly be your assistant? I live in Shanghai, for pete’s sake! ;)
This confirms my sense that an aspiring movie writer gets less direct benefit from being a writers’ assistant than an aspiring TV writer.
When I was a writers’ assistant for a TV show, I was an intimate part of the writing process. When the writers sat around and pitched jokes, I was the guy sitting at the computer typing everything up. I also did research on the show’s weekly topics, and proofread the teleprompter every week before the show went out live across the country. And I got to pitch my own jokes and get them on the show, which ultimately led to a job as a staff writer. I gather this is a pretty common transition.
Remember, sitcoms and hour-long dramas are required to have a certain number of episodes written by non-staff-writers. (I think the number is 2 a year.) It’s not uncommon for the writers’ assistant to have first dibs on one of these freelance assignments, which is a great way to get that first break.
Of course, as I think Craig has mentioned, a movie writer’s assistant certainly gets lots of insight into the business and the chance to make connections, but it’s not the same sort of direct path to a regular gig that being a writers’ assistant can be.
(Obviously being a writers’ assistant is not a guarantee of a staff job or even of a freelance assignment. But it’s definitely a foot in the door.)
Craig, with a dog, you wouldn’t have a gopher problem. I think you said your wife or son had dog allergies. But you have enough outbuildings at your place that Fido could sleep in one of those. Pet allergies are usually indoor only.
It is very clear what your assistant does for you. What is less clear is what you do for your assistant.
I would suspect from your comments at the bottom that he/she benefits from you as a mentor, helping them periodically hone the craft of writing movies.
Wow — it sounds like you have a lot going on. Does your assistant need an assistant? I am available.
Thomas:
If he’d turn the damn draft in, then yeah, I’d give him notes and such. :)
If you want to write for TV, from what I’ve heard and been told by staff writers, the best job you can get while your working on your specs is a writer’s assistant job on a show. I’ve read several interviews and talked to a couple of staff writers who all started out as a writer’s assistant. They either eventually landed a freelance episode, got staffed on the show they worked for, or when one of the staff writers/story editors/producers etc went off to make their own show…they got staffed there.
The only problem is that every TV writer is also aware of this fact…so your really have to know someone to have a shot at getting a gig.
If there are any TV writer’s assistant who read this…I’d love to hear your opinion on the best way to land a gig…or how you landed yours.
Well, never having had writer’s assistant, it’s’ hard to say. Even as I was a production re-write guy on the set. Ah well. Though I have had a “personal” assistant”, but this came out of my own pocket (not the studios) and therefore was a much grander and stupider move by me, but during a time when things were so hectic and a little one so little in my home, that it had to be and thank god for them, they kept my life running during a particularly busy year. And this person was really under the gun to do the personal work. I imagine it’s different from job to job, and production to production as well. I know other writers’ who assistant’s who are more in the writing mix, transcribing notes from tapes, typing up scripts with hand written notes, etc. But as Craig pointed out, different writers feel differently about handing off material. Some like the clearing of their desk (please type up my notes, spell check and read it and give me your notes), others really don’t. Another friend of mine had an assistant, who is very much keeping his life in order, while he works. In the end, the upshot of all of this, is tha the position is a terrific inside contact with a working writer - particularly if you’re outside. And it’s then what the assistant makes of it. Enthusiastic diligence, hard work, and writing your own finished material to show your boss is a brilliant move - as your boss may be moved by your work and could have the generous moment of picking up the telephone and opening a door that could change your life. On the other hand, you’d better test those waters carefully and start a dialogue with your boss about it so you don’t freak them out if something like this is not in their spirit to do so. In the end, I think it’s important to remember that every opportunity is an opportunity, and only lesser or greater based on your own judgement and limited thinking. Years ago a relative of mine was the writer’s assistant for Richard LaGravenese (Fisher King, et. al), and her hard work, and thoughtfulness quickly made her indespensible to him. He went on to introducce and reccomend her to others and she’s now producing documentaries. They are still close and now good friends. Thanks for another interesting post, Craig!
Bryan, I’ve posted a description of how I got my TV writers’ assistant gig over at The Blank Page.
While we’re engaging in public shamings, I’m going to be bold and, since I know nothing of it, foolish enough to publicly shame you, Craig.
Your “Private Goal, Public Progress” bar has remained at 12.5% for a number of weeks now! ;-)
Just bustin’ your chops, man. Primarily because I should be busting my own, actually!
That sounds like a fun job. But about the dog thing, bichons are good for people with allergies because they have pigskin. (something like that, there’s no dander.) And they’re not prissy if you don’t raise them that way. Mine attacked skunks, rats, anything that came in the yard, including Jahovah’s Witnesses and door-to-door salesmen.
Joel:
I know! I know!
C.
Do you plan on revealing what this private goal is when you’ve accomplished it? Or are you just going to quietly remove the progress bar once it hits 100%?
I’ve also heard of some writers assistants in TV who find that being an assistant works against them — they are forever branded in the showrunner’s mind as an assistant-level person only and never move up. So it makes sense to choose who you work as an assistant for, to make sure he or she does nurture assistants to staff level!
Unless you had a rep as a great staff writer’s assistant, it would be hard to hand pick what show/showrunner you work for. The gigs are so coveted…it seems like you should be happy if you even get hired.
Read that the gophers stick around and eat the grubs that eat your grass roots. If you spray and kill the grubs, the gophers will leave to find food somewhere else.
Curious: What’s the industry perception toward men having highly qualified, intelligent assistants who happen to also be extremely physically attractive women? Is there always a nudge-nudge-wink-wink bias that has to be overcome? Or has progress been made in this area? Do you think a man hiring a particularly qualified but attractive woman enforces or helps to break down such stereotypes? In your experience with others, how do personal assistants match up with bosses gender-wise? Same or different?
Miles:
Fact of life: straight guys like me will always enjoy looking at attractive women. Nothing we can do about it.
As a married straight guy who enjoys looking at attractive women, I figured it was probably best to employ someone who wasn’t an attractive woman, if only to avoid suspicion. ;)
I think that factor is counterbalanced by the single men who prefer to hire assistants that are also easy on the eyes.
Of course, looking is one thing. Being a shithead is another, and there probably isn’t an attractive woman in Hollywood who hasn’t had to put up with assholes doing assholey things.
To answer your question directly, though, it seems fairly random. I don’t know anyone who only hires women or only hires men. If you really rely on your assistant, you prize competence and loyalty above all other concerns.
Craig, As a fellow MSG, I appreciate your candor - you answered an unexpressed question I had. In a past life, I worked almost exclusively with women and found them to be, on average, better colleagues and bosses. In a perfect world, I suppose we could hire whomever we wanted and that would be that - but in reality there are consequences for selfish idealism ;-). I guess the essence of my original post was whether you actually weighed the male-female question - it seems you did, and that is helpful to know. Thanks.
This is my first time on this site, and just from reading what you and others have written, I find the idea of a writer’s assistant very appealing. I have been trying to write books for years, but other than that, I have had no idea whatsoever about how I could get my foot in the door. This looks to be a great way to become an author, which has always been my greatest dream. Although I am currently in the military, I don’t think of myself as a “military” person. I want to write books, and weave stories from of my strange and dark imagination. I want people to read my books and do what they will with the stories, whether they love or hate them. I am now living in Clovis, New Mexico, the armpit of the U.S. and, surprisingly have had a series of ideas for a great story. The trouble is, I don’t have the time I need to write when I feel the urge to! So, one thing I would like to know: Wht would be the background I might need to impress a writer enough to hire me as an assistant? And, one more thing: Is there anyone in particular who needs an assistant and would give me a shot to impress them? My E-mail, if it doesn’t already show up is MrPezman6119@aol.com. I would love a chance to be a writer’s assistant!
In a google search for jobs as a writer’s assistant I accidentally stumbled onto this site. I too would LOVE to be a writer’s assistant. My problem is that I’m 41 years old, I’ve spent the last 20 years working as an administrative assistant in various capacities (none of which were in an environment amongst writers).
I’ve desperately wanted to change my career for a number of years but I just don’t know how or where to start. As much as I would LOVE to, I can’t just go to college fulltime as a method to switch gears at this point to become a writer.
I love to write, I love to create characters and situations and build a story from a simple idea. I’ve taken a variety of creative writing classes and am currently enrolled in an online screenwriting class through UCLA Ext. I’m learning and writing as much as I can, but still working in a job that gives me zero satisfaction or personal fulfillment and quite frankly drains me from creative inspirations. I think that by being a writer’s assistant I could at least be in an environment that inspires and motivates me!
Any advice on how to get started in a career I have no experience in would be extremely helpful and very much appreciated! Thanks for reading! My email is thekyla@msn.com