Job Listings

Where can I find Hollywood assistant job listings?

Below is a list of sites that post industry assistant openings:

4EntertainmentJobs.com
ABC Studios - Production Associates Program
CBS Corporation
Comcast Entertainment Group (E! Entertainment Television)
Craigslist.com
EntertainmentCareers.net
Fox Network
Mandy.com
MGM Studios 
MediaBizJobs.com
MediaJobMarket.com
MTV Networks
NBC Universal
NYC.gov - Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting 
Paramount Pictures
Showbizjobs.com
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Time Warner
Warner Bros.
The Walt Disney Company
Variety - Job Listings

Note: The sites above generally provide employment listings for networks, studios, and production companies, not television shows and films.  The truth is, most assistant openings on series and films aren't posted.  Here's how people find out about assistant openings on shows:

A show needs an assistant.  The production coordinator, who generally does the hiring, will call/email everyone they know: "I'm hiring for the following positions....  If you have anyone to recommend, please fwd me their resume."

Then those people send emails to everyone they know: "In Plain Sight is hiring PAs.  If you or anyone you know is would like to submit their resume, email me and I'll forward it to the production coordinator."  Within a matter of hours, the production coordinator has a stack of resumes in their inbox.  This is a perfect example of why it's so important to always have a copy of your resume and cover letter available to you at all times.  Email it to yourself so you can easily fwd it the second you get an email about an opening.  And remember, forward it in PDF format.   For information on how to write a resume and cover letter, click here.

UTA (United Talent Agency) also distributes a job list via email.  Again, you have to know someone on the mailing list who can forward it to you.  Usually at least one person in every production office is on the list.

* UPDATE - UTA Job list is now available via The Hollywood Temp Diaries.

But what if you don't have any connections?  How do you find out about job openings on a show? Here's a step by step process on how to find a job in Hollywood:

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Click here for tips on how to make connections.

WRITE A RESUME AND COVER LETTER

Click here for tips on how to write a resume and cover letter.

FIND PRODUCTION LISTINGS and APPLY

The best way find out if a show is hiring is to call the production office directly.  When I moved to LA, I had very few connections, so here's what I did:

First, I bought a fax machine.  Faxing at Kinkos can cost up to $1 a page, and you fax two to three pages to each show you apply to (cover sheet, cover letter, and resume); during my first job search, I faxed to 68 shows.  A fax machine costs $50 and will pay for itself the first day, and you can sit in your pajamas and watch movies while you apply.

Armed with my resume and cover letter, I called production offices: "I'd like to submit my resume; can you give me the fax number or email I should send it to?  Do you happen to know if you're hiring assistants?"  If the person is nice, you can chat with them for a moment.  "Is there anyone specific I should attention it to?"  Unless otherwise noted, attention your resume and cover letter to the production coordinator.  If the person on the phone seems busy or unhelpful, simply get the fax number or email and hang up.  If you'd like to follow up, call a couple hours later to confirm they received it.  If your resume and cover letter is good but the show is not hiring, the production coordinator will often forward it to other shows that are hiring.

Where do I find production listings?

Many sites used to host production listings online for free.  Unfortunately now you must pay for most of them.  Here are the most helpful resources I've found thus far:

The Hollywood Creative Directory
It’s like a gigantic Hollywood phone book, packed with names, numbers, addresses, and current titles of executives from film and television. Studios, production companies, television networks, and cable channels are listed with their preferred genres, selected credits, projects in development, and deals. A separate section contains the network, primetime, and major cable TV shows currently in production, along with staff and contact information. Comprehensive and up-to-the-minute (it’s published three times a year), the directory is used by studios, directors, producers, writers, actors, aspiring filmmakers, students, college and university libraries, researchers--everyone who wants to make it in Hollywood.

Below The Line
Weekly magazine providing contact information for films and television shows.  Includes Production Office numbers and emails.  Subscription required.

Call Sheet by Backstage (formally Ross Reports)
This website is for actors; it includes mailing addresses to casting offices (for headshot/resume submissions).  However, it also provides a complete list of shows currently in production and includes contact information for networks, studios, and production companies.

Please note: The website has some production listings available, but the phone numbers are often incorrect.  For instance, it lists the main Disney Studios number as the Production Office number for several ABC Studios shows.  Resumes should be submitted to the  Production Office number.

Production Weekly
Similar to Below The Line.  Subscription required.

The Hollywood Reporter
Film and television production listings available online; however, contact information is often incomplete.  "Online Only" subscription required.

Variety Film Production Chart | Variety Television Production Chart
Variety provides free production charts online but more often than not, contact information is missing.

If you have other resources to contribute, please email HollywoodUniversityBlog@gmail.com.