Lessons From A 40-Year-Old Production Assistant - Marty Lang

Marty Lang is a Screenwriter/Director and Assistant Professor of Film at the University of Memphis. Lang associate produced the 2020 Sundance world premiere "The Ride," a comedy Web series directed and starring Linas Phillips. He co-produced the satire "Being Michael Madsen," starring Michael Madsen, Virginia Madsen, David Carradine and Lacey Chabert, and associate produced "Out of My Hand," a 2016 Independent Spirit Award nominee distributed by Ava DuVernay's ARRAY. He was also creator, showrunner, director and actor in the drama Web series "The Daily," which world premiered at SeriesFest in 2020, and has screened at the Arkansas Cinema Society's FILMLAND.
Lang also wrote, directed and produced the feature romantic dramedy "Rising Star," which was acquired for worldwide distribution by Content Film in 2013. The film won Best Premiere and was an Audience Award nominee at the 2012 Seattle True Independent Film Festival, and won the Audience Award at the 2013 Southeastern New England Film, Arts and Music Festival. It has been featured in Filmmaker Magazine, Film Threat and Film Courage. It also won indieWIRE's Project of the Month for September 2011. It is available for streaming on Amazon.com
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LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post amzn.to/2t1n2hx
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/2tbFlM9
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - amzn.to/2u5UnHv
COMPUTER - Our favorite computer, we each have one and have used various models since 2010 - amzn.to/2t1M67Z
EDITING - We upgraded our editing suite this year and we’re glad we did! This has improved our workflow and the quality of our work. Having new software also helps when we have a problem, it’s easy to search and find a solution - goo.gl/56LnpM
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[@jnt6928]

Hopped back into the industry 15 years later at 32 years old. Experienced being a PA again at 34, but after that quickly moved to being an AD. You can be here and do this at any age!

[@crencottrell7849]

I'm 34, turning 35 in July, aspiring actor, and still feel soooo insecure about even pursuing an acting career, like am I too old to still pursue this? Glad to know other late bloomers exist.

[@z-rex6068]

Acting is one of those careers where your age doesn’t really matter, I’d say go for it

[@loudgracklefilms4607]

I'm 34 Turning 35 in August and just wrote my first Short film. Wanting to wrap end of March. It's not too late. There's more of us out there than you know. Looking forward to seeing you on screen!

[@takingitonedayatatime7851]

@@loudgracklefilms4607 I'd love to be apart of it. If you need any actors in your future projects, let me know.❤❤❤

[@takingitonedayatatime7851]

@@ariesa9751 I agree but it happens all the time. Just like 30 year olds playing high school students. It goes both ways but it just depends on the director honestly.🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️

[@combatdoc]

Man I am 53, retired Army, finishing up my MFA, and just moved to SoCal last week! DRIVE ON!

[@TheWalkingDavid]

I just day played as a PA on a film in Oklahoma called, “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story,” starring Zachary Levi. I’m an actor but they needed extra PAs and so I asked if I could be one and they said yes. Although it was only a few hours of work, I was happy to get the opportunity to meet some people and I saw a few acquaintances on set, which was great.

[@filmcourage]

Congrats! That sounds like a good experience.

[@AaronArtOKC]

Nice bro, did underdog wrap yet?

[@TheWalkingDavid]

@@AaronArtOKC love your channel name! And I’m not sure, but I don’t believe so, because we had a major blizzard for the area, and since it’s a football movie, I’m sure it slowed down, if not halted, production for several days.

[@TheWalkingDavid]

Update, I ended up working for 8 days on the project and got a picture on the last day with Zachary Levi 🤘🏼🎬

[@RawHeadRay]

Would I work as a PA at 40? Lady I washed dishes at 47 and am still preparing a pitch for my first real world short film at 51 with a name actor, cos fuk it, let’s do this shit or not do this shit right?

[@carterlanemedia]

Marty is the man. I never had him as a professor when I was in school but his demeanor and way of speaking is something I really admire about him. That, and his willingness to communicate with budding young filmmakers about the ins and out of the industry makes him a truly remarkable guy. So glad I got the opportunity to meet him!

[@filmcourage]

Great to hear! Thanks for posting Carter!

[@MenaCourtadeProductions]

38 and going to do my first key PA gig in January. Gotta teach my students to never give up on your dreams.

[@ScottyHunter]

How did your first key PA gig go? I'm 40, looking to step foot into the industry as a PA myself, knowing full well the time and energy demands as well as mundane tasks that may be asked of me. Was it an experience you would recommend to others?

[@makestuffmike]

Same here. 38 Years old. How to pay bills and make this happen at the same time? I guess the only option is to keep chipping away at it!

[@combatdoc]

If you're in LA send me a note.

[@jkcarthron]

@@combatdoc 👋🏾👋🏾

[@jeremyevantaylor1724]

I used to intern for free and wait tables at night and on the weekends. It was hard, but I got to work with my favorite director in my state and I loved it. It led to later work that I'm proud to have been involved in. I think working in restaurants is the easiest way to be able to be an intern or PA and still pay the bills.

[@dz5598]

This guy taught me back in college, 2006 or so in Connecticut. Good dude.

[@MPB059]

I'm about to turn 33 in August and film has been a passion since I was a child. This fall, I will be attending the Georgia Film Academy in Fall 2022. I'm so excited to learn more about being a on-set production assistant and later down the road, I want to create film projects!

[@makestuffmike]

Totally would PA at 38. Going to have to do it to learn the industry!

[@ScottyHunter]

I know this video is 3 years old... but I JUST now found it, and feel like it couldn't have come at a better time for me. Just two days ago, I posted on Reddit about becoming a PA at the age of 40, looking for opinions on whether or not I was too old to even consider a role normally dominated by teens and low 20s just out of college. Getting into the entertainment industry is something I have been interested in for quite some time, but my life always kept going other directions from my youth to now. Most of the replies on that Reddit post were very encouraging and got me even more interested in following this dream. Add to that THIS video, and now I am extremely ready to make my move and give it an honest try, even at my age!

[@unluckycloverfield4316]

It almost seems easier to work as a PA later on, at 20 I could never afford to as most PA stuff was unpaid and I had to work a lot of hours to pay rent. Now in my 30s i have some savings and can take time off to do it. This is encouraging becuase I've held back on applying to those roles as I was older and thought poeple would think its weird to have some one older in that role.

[@jeremyevantaylor1724]

I found working in restaurants at night and on weekends was the easiest way to be an unpaid intern and/or a lower paid PA and still pay the bills when I was younger. Also, sacrificing little things that add up like going out to coffee, going out to eat, etc.

[@filmcourage]

Would you work as a production assistant if you were in your 40's?

[@sebp400]

I do..here in Montreal. I started 2 years ago, joined IATSE 514, became a member.. I had a crazy life before that, fought many demons, been homeless, addiction problems... got out of it 5 years ago, changed my life for the better, and now, i'm proud of myself. People trust me on sets and I'm surrounded by the smartest people i've ever met. It's really fulfilling even though it's never easy, but I like solving problems on set. It's my therapy.

[@seanmyhre9337]

I'm 51 and worked on two films as a production assistant(Parasite in the park, ShadowMarsh) already. Love it!

[@elgonzo5]

I only count my age in days...I’m over 10,000 holla at me 🙃

[@nomanor7987]

Sure if I win the lottery

[@filmcourage]

Powerful story. Thank you for sharing. Love to hear that you are turning your life around and have put yourself on a positive path.

[@jokerjoker007]

Just got my first job offer as a PA in a tv show at 39!!

[@DJSockmonkeyMusic]

Working with the Duplass brothers, Jesus. I'd take any job. Their film Safety Not Guaranteed is so fucking good.

[@TheSAINTWARRIOR]

I feel like as a filmmaker (director & cinematographer) you hit your prime between 38-40 to 60-65,and I mean creatively, mentally and physically. For actors unfortunately, the profession is more linked and restricted by their age (especially for women), but, if you have real raw talent and discipline, I feel anything is possible... I mean, just look at Christoph Waltz for Christ's sake, he didn't reach global success until he was 55 and he totally flourished since then.👍🎥

[@makeshiftadventures]

Im 38 now, went to film school in my early 20s, graduated, got my foot in the door, and then depression hit...15 years later im ready to try again, so i get ya my dude

[@filmcourage]

Best of luck!

[@mekihunter8944]

I'm 25, i've been a PA for 3 years. I've been trying to get an internship for a more technical crew positition but still got no luck

[@jameswilliamsjunior7401]

Applying to MFA Screenwriting at 35.

[@filmcourage]

Marty just recently got his MFA as well - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZW2iJKao7CIfNU

[@wakkowarner8810]

I definitely want to become a PA so I can see how a film set works before I start making movies.

[@shezadkhalique]

Great clip. Thank you.

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Shezad, we appreciate you watching!

[@anju04aa]

Great inspiration he is…👏🏽

[@Xavier-is1fx]

Wonderful interview, gracias Film Courage :)

[@LCE2024]

Hoping to do more p.a. work and im about to do a few shorts and features.

[@anju04aa]

I’m 41 and might get to be an AD with no experience but worried about long hours….it seems the pre production itself is like 12 hours a day 7 days a week….so I’m thinking..🙁

[@ScottyHunter]

Did you end up giving it a try? If so, how did it go for you?

[@anju04aa]

@@ScottyHunter so sweet of you 🤗. I saw your reply when you did and wanted to get back to you but sorry for late reply. Yes I’m in film industry now. I interned for a project’s directing team…but now working on my first documentary 🤞

[@ScottyHunter]

@@anju04aa That's awesome!!! I'm 40 and wanting to get my first PA gig, but am currently not living in a location where anything like that happens. Hoping to move and get into the industry myself, even though it's a bad time to join in from what I have heard. Glad it worked out for you!!

[@anju04aa]

@@ScottyHunter thank you and wish you the best too…I moved to my country, India a year ago and seeking these opportunities 👍

[@LCE2024]

I got you guys beat. Lol. I did p.a. work at 50 yrs old. Lol check out #TheFilmConnection RRFC. Age is just a number. Its about your personality and heart.

[@takingitonedayatatime7851]

❤❤❤

[@fatcabin]

friend.

[@Amelia_PC]

I didn't even know people were at the end of their lives in their 40's. Hmm, people are dying young, aren't they? (lol)

[@ktoth29]

This guy is really enthusiastic about eating a shit sandwich, I bet producers love him.