Breaking into production isn’t all cool sets and coffee runs. It’s paperwork, long days, and staying calm when everything goes sideways. If you’ve worked in the Bay Area film world anytime in the last few decades, chances are you’ve either worked with Debbie Brubaker — or you’ve worked with someone who’s worked with her. She’s a legend. A walking encyclopedia of set life. The queen of independent features. And she’s still out there, making movies, mentoring crews, and calling it like she sees it.

My First Production Assistant Gig (And What It Really Felt Like)

After I finished the Production Assistant course, I knew one thing: eventually I had to jump. And that was really scary!

Following the strategy I learned in the course, I built a list of production companies and started sending emails with my resume and cover letter. I carefully wrote everything, attached the documents, and prepared myself to reach out to people in the industry. But when it came time to hit “send,” I felt terrified.

Karen’s Story - From an Actress to Crew Member Part I

From a very young age, I was drawn to the arts. I dreamed of being an actress, but honestly, I loved everything about creative work. Acting, writing, designing, building—it all fascinated me. I didn’t just want to perform. I wanted to make things happen.

The Art of the Assist. Part III

Now, in our final chapter, we’re bringing their wisdom together to talk about the long game — how small assists become big opportunities, and why helping others is still the fastest way to move up in this business.

The Art of the Assist. Part II

If Part 1 was about what makes a great Production Assistant, this one’s about where they shine — in the adrenaline-fueled, caffeine-powered world of live shows. We’re talking massive LED walls, countdown clocks, headset chatter, and someone yelling “FIVE MINUTES TO SHOW!” like it’s the apocalypse.

Art of the Assist Part I

At Kincade Productions, we believe the first job on set is the most important one you’ll ever have. That’s why we launched The Art of the Assist — a three-part blog series celebrating the unsung heroes of production and the professionals who teach them how to thrive in the chaos. Meet Rachel Beck from Plumbago who hires PA’s all the time!

AI has arrived Part III

Matt Silverman has spent his career building stories frame by frame. As Executive Creative Director at Swordfish, he’s worked with companies like Adobe, Apple, Google and Sony to shape the look and feel of digital media. But ask him what excites him most right now, and he won’t talk about the past. He’ll talk about the future — and the students who will inherit it.

AI has arrived. Part II

When Matt Silverman talks about storytelling in the age of AI, you can hear both the excitement and the urgency in his voice. As Executive Creative Director at iBelieveInSwordfish, he’s spent decades translating sparks of imagination into visual stories for some of Silicon Valley’s most innovative companies. But today, he says, the creative toolbox looks nothing like it did even three years ago.

AI has arrived. Part I

When Matt Silverman, Executive Creative Director at iBeleiveInSwordfish, talks about the future of creativity, his eyes light up. For decades, his San Francisco Bay Area studio has partnered with Silicon Valley giants like Meta and Amazon to create stunning motion design. But according to Matt, everything is changing — faster than ever before.

A Day In The Life of a Production Assistant

Let’s be real. If you’re teaching film in a California high school, you’ve likely been asked more than once, “How do I get a job in the film industry?” Enter Avalon Glenn—Production Assistant extraordinaire, Bay Area native, and living proof that the dream is real, but the grind is even more real. Spoiler: There’s coffee, there’s chaos, and there’s a lot of walkie-talkie drama!

Daniel Scarpati Went From Production Assistant To Owning His Own Production Company and He Wrote a Book about All of it!

Unvarnished and with raw truth, Daniel tells us some incredible stories of his time as a film PA in the city that never sleeps and some great advice on what it takes to make it in the film industry.