The Production Assistants job is to be yelled at. To do everything the producer needs done before the producer realizes they need to be done. The job can lead to connections and jobs in the industry or to serious burnout.

A friend of mine burned out really badly and gave up on Hollywood altogether after being a production assistant to the wrong producer. Watch the movie Swimming With Sharks. Great movie and it shows what the job entails.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Are you asking about a PA on the set or in an office? If you are asking about a PA on a set then that is a totally different job. The PA is the first-level job on set. If you want to learn about filmmaking then make sure you will actually be on the set...not running for donuts...not running errands for the director, producer, etc. It's better to work on small shoots so you can get your hands in the whole shoot. Helping where needed.

rjschwarz, thanks:)) i hope not to burn out with my producer:)) but time will show:)))

Kess, i meant now office assistant, but i agree with that running for donuts or smth like this it is not he way to know about filmmaking process.. But now i'm working in office in pre-prod period and getting much useful information, but trying step aside duties that don't looks like mine:)) that's why tring to understand what is mine))))

I am production-managing a feature in Dec. Here is a list of some of the things I will be asking my (on-set) assistants to do:

help load/unload grip and lighting at the location
move furniture at the location to make room for film gear
tape paper/hang sheets on glass wall of dressing room for privacy
drive rental vehicle to pick up breakfast every day
go on emergency errands (more tape stock, more water, more etc.)
monitor the craft table
keep the location clean

And a million other things that I can't even imagine right now...