What does a writer’s assistant do?
In your most recent posting you mentioned your assistant Chad. Someone in the comments made a crack along the lines of “oh boy, sure would be nice to have an assistant,” and that got me thinking… What does he do for you? Is he more of a secretary, or does he actually help with the writing, reading drafts, etc.
I know your previous assistant went on to become a director, so I’m sure that Chad doesn’t just sit around all day answering the phone and filing his nails. Do you guys work out of your home, or have a separate office?
–Alon Ozery
Toronto
Back before he wrote and directed Dodgeball, Rawson Thurber worked as my assistant, and was nice enough to write up this article for the site. So, first, I’d point you there.
Typically, a Hollywood assistant does a lot of what you’d normally call secretarial work: answering phones, scheduling appointments, arranging travel, and dealing with the clutter of office life. In the case of my assistants, they also proofread everything I write. Sometimes, there’s plenty of work, but more often they’re on their own, which is why I make it a habit to hire screenwriters. If someone is going to be under-employed, sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day, they might as well be writing something that can further their career. That’s how Rawson wrote Terry Tate and Dodgeball.
My other fantastic previous assistants include Emilie Sennebogen, Sean Smith (who is now writing on “Summerland”), and Dana Fox (who wrote The Wedding Date).
Chad, who’s been with me for about two years, has a project set up at Warner Bros., and takes a lot of meetings around town. Before too long, he’ll move on and become a full-time screenwriter, and the cycle will begin again.
As to your second question, our house has a free-standing garage, and I work in a space attached to that. It’s ten feet from the kitchen door to my office, but it’s a crucial ten feet — enough that it feels distinct from home life, but close enough that I can still run in and get whatever I need. I could probably get an office at a studio, but I’m sure I wouldn’t like it as much.
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March 22nd, 2005 at 6:19 pm
Mandatory question:
What are the pre-reqs to becoming your assistant? As you mentioned, Chad ain’t gonnna be around forever.
March 22nd, 2005 at 6:45 pm
I think the follow-up question is… how does one get a job as your assistant?
March 22nd, 2005 at 7:18 pm
answer wisely, sir August, for your site is in grave danger of imploding with an onslaught of resumes!
March 22nd, 2005 at 7:44 pm
Chad isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, he assures me, so please — no resumes.
March 22nd, 2005 at 8:30 pm
okay, along a more general vein, how does one become an assistant? Apply through the WGA? Send resumes to other screenwriters? Stumble into it?
March 22nd, 2005 at 9:52 pm
I’m proud of my “crack.” It has opened up a can of juicy worms!
March 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 pm
John,
What qualities and other factors have you recognized in your assistants, since each of them is doing well and have found success in the industry.
March 23rd, 2005 at 12:36 pm
Um, isn’t that ‘adapted’ The Wedding Date?
March 24th, 2005 at 7:16 am
Though I’m tempted to send you my resume, new question here:
How does one get a job as a writer’s assistant? I’m guessing most full-time screenwriters employ them. I currently live in the Chicago area, but want to move to L.A. within the year. My hope is to find a job first, but if not, I’m still on my way. The job I hold now offers little to no time to work on my scripts (and believe me, I’ve tried….)
So, maybe the answer to this question is hidden on the site someplace. If so, I’m sorry. But, if not, can you tell us where to look for postings on assistant jobs? Or is it just a case of who you know?
And, by the way, I’m a great organizer, with a pleasant phone manner and excellent proofreading skills.
March 24th, 2005 at 8:57 am
Search the archives. John’s written on this before. However, I must say from experience (not mine), but the best way to get a writer’s assistant gig is be an assistant at a major agency and buddy up to the lit agents. Since there are only so many feature writers with assistants, this way you can keep an ear open for when one of there writers is looking for a new asst and you’ll have a great referral.
March 24th, 2005 at 9:00 am
Oops. A good asst would probably do more proof reading than I just demonstrated in that last post as well.
March 24th, 2005 at 10:08 am
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the info and direction. I appreciate the answer…
imp
March 24th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
…the best way to get a writer’s assistant gig is be an assistant at a major agency and buddy up to the lit agents.
That all?
I’m not disagreeing with that statement, since I have not, nor have ever been, a writers assistant, but damn…that’s a helluva route to Mecca.
March 24th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
It’s not that bad. A couple of months of hard work in a mailroom will get you a promotion to an agent’s desk.
The harder part is getting that first job in the mailroom. If you don’t know someone that can help you get that job, starting with an internship somewhere will probably introduce you to the person that you need to know who knows the person that can get you said job in said mailroom.
However, I have never been to Mecca myself. I hear it’s lovely in the springtime.
March 25th, 2005 at 9:40 am
The mailroom/agent desk at the agency thing works. I’ve been that route before leaving to transfer film schools. Making films at this point, instead of just talking about making films was the ultimate reasoning for my decision. But gaining contacts through lit. agents is a pretty viable option, considering you’re not a total suck up loser, who your sole reason for being there is to just swoop in on some needy writer. Get a job and work hard. Thats what works.
Talented people and talented writing will always be found if you put yourself out there. It may take a long time but it happens. So I guess the big question is to ask if what you are writing is actually any good?
March 26th, 2005 at 4:47 am
You always hear about people who have to hold down three jobs to help out the family. That totally reminds me of a writers assistant, meaning it wouldn’t be a walk in the park with a beer in one hand and a hotdog in the other. A lot of hard work, you would spend a lot of time with nothing to do though but then you can plan ahead.
March 26th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
Not all writer’s assistant positions are the same. Being an assitant to a single screenwriter is a much different gig than being a writers assistant on a television series. Both are great jobs for aspiring screenwriters, but your work day is going to be quite different.
So you wanna assist a screenwriter
If you work for a screenwriter you may or may not expect to have a lot of downtime during your working day. This all depends on the person you who happens to be your boss. Some are cool (as Mr. August appears to be), and some can be hellish freaks — I direct you to Bob Zemuda’s experiences as an assistant chronicled in his Andy Kauffman biographry for a particularly striking example.
Most of the time, it’s a great job for an aspiring screenwriter. It gives you a regular schedule to write (even if your workday is generally busy, assitant positions like this tend to have regular schedules so you can predictably set aside a time to write every day). More importantly, if gives you access to someone who be a professional mentor you’ll lean on for years.
So you wanna be a writers assistant on a series
A Writers Assistant position on a television series is production-related. Rare is the writers assistant does personal errands for the people they work for — not because they are above such things; they just don’t have the time. Writers Assistants on a show work directly with the writers and executive producers of that series. Transcribing notes when the writers “break” the show’s stories, revising the production scripts to reflect any changes the writers may have, distributing the scripts and any revisions throughout to the 100 or-so people who work on the series (and everybody has to have pages, whether they need them or not) are some of the typical duties you’ll have.
Sounds great, right? Keep in mind, the hours are frequently horrible. 16+ hour days are not uncommon. Six and seven day weeks can be the norm (especially if the show you work on happens to be new or in trouble). This doesn’t leave much time for an aspiring writer to work on their own material. The flipside here is that TV Writers Assistants are frequently being first in line for staff positions and freelanced episodes on the show.
Lastly, depending on what type of writing you’d like to do, at least in the short run, should dictate what type of writers assistant position you pursue.
July 11th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hey John,
I was glad to read this article on your site as I am graduating from the American Film Institute with my Masters in Screenwriting right now and was hoping to land a job as a professional Screenwriters Assistant. First of all, if Chad leaves, or has left, I’m there, but seriously, I would love the inside track on where I can go to find these assistant jobs as I am a highly organized and dedicated individual. Look forward to your response.
Steve Douglas-Craig
August 17th, 2007 at 8:32 am
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