Time ManagementNobody gets a Time Management credit in the end roll. But how you spend your hours right now is the difference between "still applying" and "on set Monday." The search takes longer than you thinkSome honest context first. Total production is still running about 11% below pre-strike levels, according to ProdPro's 2025 Industry Outlook, reported by Reel 360. So yes, competition for entry-level spots is real, and it's not in your head. Job searches drag, too. Indeed, citing BLS data, put median unemployment duration in July 2024 at 20.6 weeks — around five months. Careerminds found the average post-layoff search runs roughly 26 weeks, with a median of 11.6 weeks. Translation: half of people land inside three months, and a long tail pulls the average way up. Don't panic at week three. Treat it like a shift, not a marathonIf you're searching full time, ACHS recommends 25–30 hours a week — about 4–6 hours a weekday. A part-time job's worth of effort, not an around-the-clock grind, and quality over volume on applications. Got a survival job or classes? They suggest 5–10 hours a week in fixed blocks: a Saturday morning, two evenings. Consistency beats bursts. Here's a week that actually works: Mornings (2 hrs): applications. Tailored, not copy-pasted. Midday (1 hr): outreach. Five real emails beat fifty blasts. Afternoon (1–2 hrs): skills. Learn to read a call sheet, learn walkie lingo, learn the software. Friday: track what you sent, follow up, then log off. Then the hours flip on youOnce you're hired, time management stops being about filling days and starts being about surviving them. FilmLocal notes PAs usually work 12–16 hour days, and you're expected to stay professional and ready for whatever task lands on you. It also points out that plenty of working directors and producers started at around $200 per 12-hour day. The return isn't in the rate. It's in the people who remember you were good to work with. So protect your baseline. Trojans360 puts a typical set day at 10 to 12 hours and says it plainly: take care of yourself first, because you can't be useful to anyone if you're running on empty. Sleep. Food. Water. A charged phone. Deeply unglamorous, completely career-saving. Do this todayOpen your calendar and block your job-search hours for the next two weeks — real times, not vague intentions. Pick the number that matches your life: 25–30 hours if you're free, 5–10 if you're not. Then send five tailored emails before you close the laptop. Guard your hours now, and you'll still have energy when the call comes.
Today's New Jobs
227 roles are live on the US board this morning, with 16 added since yesterday — those newest ones have barely been seen yet, so you're near the front if you move on them.
Recommended Job of the Day
In-House Production Assistant is our pick. It's with an Emmy-winning company making both unscripted and scripted work, and the job is keeping their Los Angeles office upright: admin, tidying, snacks and lunches for the team, reception cover with phones, deliveries and visitors, plus a hand to any department that needs one. You'd report to the Director of Facilities. It suits someone friendly who doesn't sulk at unglamorous tasks. Best thing you can do is show, in a couple of lines, that you're reliable and easy to have around. It was sourced from elsewhere on the web, so you apply off-site — do that today, because shortlists get built as applications land.
Others of note...
Film PR Assistant sits with a film and entertainment PR agency in New York, on their Domestic team. Press clippings, trade tracking, drafting pitches and releases, talent schedules, screener requests and pitching journalists yourself. They want a PR or comms grad with about a year behind them and genuinely sharp writing. Applying off-site, and early beats polished.
Also on the board — 227 live roles, 16 new today
- Paid entry-level crew (runner, trainee, production assistant): 21 live
- Paid internship / fixed term: 62 live
- Permanent job: 3 live
- Volunteer / expenses-only / unpaid: 67 live
- Paid junior office / production / development role: 9 live
- Apprenticeship / structured scheme: 2 live
- Work experience: 1 live
Browse the whole US job board
If you have questions about these opportunities or would like to discuss your career goals, please feel free to reach out at any time. We’re here to support you!
All the Best,
Liv
olivia@myfirstjobinfilm.com |
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Today's Daily Job List
AssistantUniversal City, California · Closes 9th September One of the world's leading media and entertainment companies is looking for an Assistant to join their Creative Advertising team in Universal City, California. As an Assistant, you'll keep the department running day to day: diary and travel management, expense processing, phone coverage, filing, meeting agendas, and preparing and distributing creative materials. You'll support the Head of Creative Advertising and the wider team, working with internal departments, outside agencies, vendors and external partners. It's admin, but it sits right at the centre of how film and TV campaigns get made. Various Crew, ProductionLos Angeles, California · Closes 28th August A boutique photography outfit moving into film and video production is looking for Various Crew to join a small freelance roster. They're after experienced department heads: Line Producer/UPM, 1st Assistant Director, Production Designer, Costume Designer and Editor.
The work is non-union, project-based and on-call, so no guaranteed hours. Rates run $500–$750 per 10-hour day depending on the role and your experience, with kit rental paid separately. Local hires only, within the Los Angeles 30-Mile Zone or Secondary Studio Zone. Administrative AssistantGlendale, California · Closes 9th September A world-leading animation studio is looking for an Administrative Assistant to join their TV Music team in Glendale, California. As an Administrative Assistant, you'll support the Senior Vice President of Music with diary, meetings, travel and expenses, plus publishing and royalty admin, cue sheets, vendor onboarding, payments and union paperwork. You'll work closely with the Director of Music, Music Business and Legal Affairs, Production Finance and external music partners. They want someone organised, discreet and good at juggling priorities in a busy production environment. In-House Production AssistantGlendale, California · Closes 9th September An Emmy-winning unscripted and scripted Production Company is looking for an In-House Production Assistant in Glendale, California. You'll be the person keeping the office running. General admin and light housekeeping, sorting snacks and lunches for on-site staff, covering reception with phones, deliveries and guests, and helping every department with whatever projects come up. You'd report to the Director of Facilities. It suits someone friendly, unflappable and happy to muck in. This one was sourced from elsewhere on the web, so you'll apply through an external site. Production AssistantBMP/51 Minds Glendale, All States · Closes 9th September An Emmy-winning Production Company known for unscripted and scripted entertainment is looking for an in-house Production Assistant in Glendale, California. Working under the Director of Facilities, you'll keep the office running: general admin, light housekeeping, sorting snacks and lunches for staff, covering reception, answering phones, handling post and deliveries, and helping other departments with projects as they come up. A degree is preferred but not essential. It's a proper foot in the door at a company behind some very big returning series and documentaries. Administrative AssistantNew York, New York · Closes 9th September A leading global producer and distributor of entertainment, drama and documentary content is looking for an Administrative Assistant in New York. As an Administrative Assistant, you'll keep day-to-day operations ticking over — answering emails and calls, managing calendars for two senior executives, organising files and PowerPoint decks, handling data entry on an in-house database, ordering supplies and generally supporting the team. This is a temporary role, up to four months. It's a solid way into a company with a presence in 28 territories, working right alongside senior executives. Executive AssistantLos Angeles, California · Closes 9th September One of the world's biggest Talent Agencies is looking for an Executive Assistant in Los Angeles. In this job, you'll support a Senior Partner and President of Brand Strategy. That means owning their diary, booking travel and building itineraries, handling expenses, managing their inbox and chasing the follow-ups, plus meeting logistics, notes and prep. There's event coordination too, from catering to guest lists. You'll be dealing with assistants, departments and clients across the agency all day, so it suits someone organised who can stay ahead in a fast-moving office. Administrative AssistantGlendale, California · Closes 9th September A world-leading animation studio is looking for an Administrative Assistant to join their TV Casting team in Glendale, California. As an Administrative Assistant, you'll be the hub of a busy casting department. That means handling multiple phone lines, dealing with agents and internal partners, running a high-volume calendar, booking travel and sorting expenses, prepping meeting agendas and materials, planning events, keeping contact sheets up to date and looking after general office admin. If you want to work in casting and talent relations on animated TV, this is a proper way in. Hair & MUP, ProductionBaton Rouge, LA, California · Closes 28th August A corporate shoot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is looking for a Hair & Make-Up Artist and a Production Assistant for a single day's work on 3rd September.
This one came to us from a crew group on social media rather than from a company directly, so we've posted it to get it in front of you guys quickly. Applications go through that group, and you'll need to meet their criteria to join. It'll only be up for a couple of days, so don't sit on it. Television Talent - AssistantLos Angeles, California · Closes 9th September A major Talent Agency is looking for an Assistant to join their Television Talent division in Los Angeles. You'll support an agent day to day: heavy phones, diaries, travel, booking and expense reports, plus tracking grids of data and keeping on top of what's happening across TV and film. You'll be the first point of contact for clients, Agents and Network and Studio Executives, and you'll read scripts and write coverage. There's room to take on more too, like pitching and submitting on breakdowns. Good fit if you're eyeing the agent path. Film PR AssistantNew York, New York · Closes 9th September A film and entertainment PR agency is looking for a Film PR Assistant to join their Domestic team in New York. As a Film PR Assistant, you'll help build and run PR campaigns for US film releases and entertainment clients. That means tracking press clippings and trade news, drafting pitches and releases, coordinating talent schedules, handling press and screener requests, running email blasts and pitching journalists directly. They're after a PR or communications graduate with at least a year of industry experience, sharp writing, and proper organisational skills. Localization Assistant InternshipSunnyvale, California · Closes 9th September A fast-growing mobile gaming, reading and streaming company, behind one of the biggest vertical streaming apps in the US, is looking for a Localization Assistant Intern in Sunnyvale, California. You'll support Chinese-to-English script localization, tracking projects, confirming requirements, chasing deadlines and collecting feedback across teams here and in China. There's also script review, content tagging, database upkeep and quality checks. They want someone organised, detail-focused and happy juggling a few things at once, with a genuine interest in short-form vertical content and storytelling. Crew CallToronto, Ontario · Closes 28th August An independent the employer shooting in Toronto is looking for crew. It's a surreal psychological drama aimed at the festival circuit, and they're after a 1st AD, a Sound Recordist, a Gaffer, a Production Designer and a PA. Much of the film takes place at night, so the Gaffer will work closely with the DP on the lighting and mood. The PA role is open to anyone reliable and keen to muck in, and it's a solid way to get narrative set experience. Lighting Assistant, ProductionDowntown Chicago, Illinois · Closes 28th August A production shooting in Downtown Chicago is looking for a Lighting Assistant for a single day's work on 3rd September.
As the Lighting Assistant, you'll be helping out with grip and lighting on an office shoot, mostly moving gear around and supporting the crew. They're after someone junior, so this is a genuine entry-level gig. It pays $450 for the day, 7am to 3pm. One day on set, a proper credit's worth of experience and a contact who shoots regularly in Chicago. 1st Assistant Camera, ProductionSanta Ana, California · Closes 28th August A filmmaker shooting a short comedy skit is looking for a 1st Assistant Camera in Santa Ana, California.
It's a four-hour shoot on Friday 28th August, 4pm to 8pm, one location, small crew, paid at $150 flat. The camera is an FX3 with Vespid primes, and you'll be pulling focus so the director can stay with the actors.
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