Decide Ups and Drops Offs – The Nameless Manufacturing Assistant

Esther¹ writes in:

Within the subsequent week I’ll be engaged on a job that may required me to visits prop homes to do pick-ups and doable returns.

In my expertise as a pa I’ve bee on set a lot of the instances however not prop homes. Would you be sort as to do a submit of the prop homes world with reference to pick-ups and returns.

Man, I love going to the prop home. There’s a lot loopy, random stuff at any decent-sized rental place, from physique components to replicas of historical weapons to cabinets and cabinets of faux books. The very first time I visited one, in search of an enormous baseball, I turned a nook and got here face-to-face with Vigo the Carpathian—

This isn’t the form of factor that occurs at a typical job.

Hold Monitor of All the pieces

That being stated, the precise work you need to do there as a PA is fairly easy. I’m assuming you’re on an impartial movie, or they’d be sending a teamster or somebody from the props division themselves to select stuff up.

To begin with, should you’re driving your personal automobile to the prop store, be sure you document your mileage. And in the event that they’re having you choose up stuff on the way in which to set, your time card begins whenever you arrive on the rental home, not set.

And, in fact, ask what you’re choosing up. If it’s one thing moist or squishy (just like the aforementioned physique components), chances are you’ll have to line your trunk with rubbish luggage or one thing. Or, the prop could not even slot in your automobile in any respect! Additionally, ask the prop grasp should you want a PO or bill quantity.

Whenever you get to the rental place, simply inform them what present you’re with, and inform them you’re there to select up no matter it’s. Give them no matter figuring out data you bought from the prop grasp.

If, for no matter purpose, the renter let you know it is advisable to pay for the rental, or put a bank card down for deposit, don’t us your personal bank card. Name the workplace, ask for a petty money card. Or name the prop grasp and ask how they need to deal with it over the telephone. However by no means, ever, ever use your personal card, otherwise you’re on the hook for any L&D. And I assure you there will probably be L&D if it’s not on the corporate’s card.

Remember to get a replica of a receipt and/or any paperwork you signal. Make a replica of that for your self (the AD trailer normally has a copier), or no less than take a photograph, earlier than handing it over to the props division together with the prop itself.

As for returns, principally the identical factor, in reverse. Once they hand you the prop to take again, ask if you have to be conscious of any harm or lacking items, so you may inform the rental home. Get copies of every part you signal. Depend your mileage and your hours accurately-ish.²

Have Enjoyable

So, that’s all of the enterprise of it. However most prop guys are cool, each on set and on the rental homes. Should you’ve by no means been to 1, you may completely ask should you can simply have a look round, and 99% of the time, they’ll allow you to.

Don’t waste an excessive amount of time on the corporate clock, however that is present enterprise. We’re allowed to have a bit behind-the-scenes enjoyable every so often.

Extra About Props

Should you’re within the property division, it is best to hearken to our interview with Prop Grasp Jim Falkenstein, from the Crew Name archives. He tells hilarious tales, and really names names.³