As we count down to the the swankiest, most prestigious, most hobnobbing-est awards show of the season, the Oscars, we’d like to pause for a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes of Hollywood. We’re not talking about producers, directors, editors, or costume designers, all of whom get their due somewhere on the Oscar ballot. No, we’d like to celebrate the assistants. Yes, behind every HPP (Hollywood Power Player) is a great assistant, or often, a whole team of them, from casting assistants to production assistants to art department assistants, and beyond. Check out the IMDb page for any one of this year’s nominees–The Social Network is lousy with them! Assistant to Mr. Fincher (nominated for Best Director), assistant to Mr. Sorkin (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay)…if only there were an Oscar category that recognized their work.
Assistants are gatekeepers–they’re the ones with the first crack at reading scripts, and they’re the ones who answer their bosses’ phones. That means that in all likelihood, before it was a hit movie, The King’s Speech was just another screenplay in a pile on a lowly assistant’s desk, and before Natalie Portman got on board, maybe it was an assistant who saw something in Darren Aronofsky’s twisted vision for a ballet thriller. Whoever wins on Sunday night, we hope they remember to thank their assistants–and maybe throw in a bonus while they’re at it.
While a statuette may remain elusive for a while, those with entry-level Hollywood dreams should be sure to check out The Hollywood Assistants Handbook by Hillary Stamm and Peter Nowalk, the only book out there that gives the skinny on la vie assistant: landing a job in entertainment, living in L.A., and succeeding in the industry are well-covered. You never know, this year’s assistant could be next year’s nominee.
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