Television Production Assistant Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents complete information on the job description of a television production assistant, to help you learn the duties, tasks, and responsibilities that they usually carry out.

What Does a Television Production Assistant Do?

The television production assistant or TPA position is an entry level position in the film industry.

The job description for the television production assistant position entails anything and everything from making script copies to shuttling crew or equipment around town as needed.

The level of work a TV production assistant does really depends on the budget ascribed to the production and how much faith his/her superiors have in their abilities.

The TPA is responsible for the secretarial work involved in producing a television program as well as the administration and organizational aspects.

While his/her duties may vary from production to production, the work of a production assistant on television production includes assisting the crew and actors, dealing with travel and accommodation bookings, issuing scripts and sorting out inquiries, and other paperwork.

A production assistant may work on a variety of programs like reality television shows, soap operas, news, and current affairs, dramas and comedies.

Usually, they are very useful in all stages of a project, working alongside everyone from the beginning to the ending of the production.

Television Production Assistants may specialize in a particular area of assistance or be called by other names like script supervisor, production secretary, or production coordinator.

Television production assistants may carve out a career in the television world by providing practical assistance and support to production teams.

However, before you get too excited about this role, you should be notified that it mainly involves organizational and administrative skills.

Nevertheless, the role is an excellent step into a fulfilling career in television and film production.

On this job, when you’re told that it is administrative tasks you would be handling, they really mean it.

An average day as a production assistant might involve renting equipment and studios, booking hotels and making travel arrangements, dealing with accounts and expenses, tracking continuity between shots, distributing and researching scripts, timing shows, and keeping records of shorts.

They might be required to assist on location, cue pre-recorded materials, clear copyright and get permission for music and complete post-production paper work. In other words, television production assistants are very busy and hardworking people.

Television Production Assistant Job Description Example

Here is an example of a typical job description for the position of Television Production Assistant. It consists of tasks, duties, and responsibilities usually performed by holders of the position.

• Attend production meetings
• Type, copy, edit, and distribute scripts
• Organize travel arrangements for crew and production executives, as well as casts
• Organize accommodation for crew and casts
• Type and distribute call sheets and schedules
• Assist cast members, and run errands for them in some cases
• Work between the production office and other departments
• Deal with expenses and accounts
• Check scripts and running orders
• Keep track of timing during a program presentation
• Set up pre-recorded materials in the studio gallery
• Make schedules, logs, and shot lists for post-production
• Liaise with a wide range of people on production success
• Organize interviews and meetings
• Prepare and distribute scripts and briefing notes
• Organize schedules and contracts
• Oversee cues continuity during recording
• Perform budgeting tasks.

Television Production Assistant Job Description for Resume

The sample job description shown above contains information, including duties, tasks, and responsibilities of television production assistants, which can be used in creating the employment history section of the resume for the position.

To learn how to write a good resume for the post, here is a sample you can study: Television Production Assistant Resume Sample.

Television Production Assistant Requirements – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Career Success

The following are attributes usually expected of production assistants working in television setting to have:

• Any degree is acceptable, though a qualification in communication, journalism, humanities, or media studies may be preferred
• The ability to showcase knowledge, genuine interest and experience in television and radio is a prerequisite even more than academic qualifications
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to adapt to change
• Must possess enthusiasm and determination to excel
• Ability to work well under pressure and persevere over challenging situations
• Must possess organizational, administrative, and budgeting skills
• Must possess IT skills and be able to work with computers.