From PA to Coordinator: How to Take the Next Step in Your Career

Working as a Production Assistant (PA) is a fantastic starting point in the animation and VFX industry. You get a front-row seat to how projects run, you learn the tools, and you become part of the glue that holds day-to-day production together.

But what happens when you're ready for more responsibility? How do you go from assisting the team to coordinating it?

If you’re eyeing a move into a VFX & Animation Production Coordinator role, this blog is for you.

Level up from Assistant to Coordinator!

Step 1: Know the Difference Between a PA and a Coordinator

Let’s start by clarifying what changes as you level up:

Production Assistant	Production Coordinator
Support tasks (note-taking, booking rooms)	Owns schedules, trackers, and delivery timelines
Follows direction	Gives direction and liaises across departments
Assists with communication	Acts as communication hub between creative + management
Entry-level	Mid-level, with increased accountability

The coordinator role is about proactivity, ownership, and visibility. It's not just about doing tasks — it’s about keeping production moving, problem-solving in real time, and spotting risks before they escalate.

Step 2: Develop the Right Skills

To move into a coordinator role, you’ll need to level up in three key areas:

1. Tracking & Scheduling

• Understand dependencies and pipeline stages

• Get comfortable with industry tracking software like Flow Production Tracking (aka ShotGrid)

• Learn to build and maintain shot/asset schedules

2. Communication

• Practice clear, concise communication with both artists and producers

• Learn to write well-structured updates and notes

• Gain confidence leading standups or tracking meetings

3. Critical Thinking

• Understand why schedules are built the way they are

• Learn to flag problems before they happen (e.g. delays, overbooked artists)

• Make decisions based on the bigger picture—not just your own task list

Step 3: Make It Known You’re Ready

Sometimes the biggest barrier to growth is people not knowing you're aiming higher.

Let your production manager or producer know you’re keen to grow into a coordinator role. Ask to shadow a coordinator, sit in on higher-level meetings, or take on extra tracking responsibilities when the opportunity arises.

💬 Example: “I’d love to work toward a coordinator role, if there’s anything I can take off your plate to learn, I’m happy to jump in.”

Be patient and consistent. Even small responsibilities, like maintaining a department’s asset tracker, help show you’re capable of more.

Step 4: Build on Real-World Tools & Experience

Many studios look for candidates who already understand production workflows and the software they use.

If you’ve never touched Flow Production Tracking (ShotGrid) or led a production task from start to finish, this is where focused training can help you bridge the gap.

🎓 Our Production Coordinator Course is designed for people just like you - experienced PAs who are ready to take the next step. You’ll:

• Learn Flow Production Tracking & industry level spreadsheets hands-on

• Run mock production simulations

• Hear from guest speakers currently working in high-end studios

• Practice the soft skills that matter just as much as the software

Step 5: Take Initiative, Even in the Small Things

You don’t need a new title to start thinking like a coordinator.

• Offer to build out a calendar for your department

• Take initiative in following up on tasks

• Propose small changes to make your team’s workflow smoother

• Ask questions that show you’re thinking ahead:

  “What happens if this delivery slips?” or

  “Do we need to notify lighting if animation’s delayed?”

These moments of initiative add up and show that you’re ready for the bigger picture.

Final Thoughts: Growth Happens in the Gaps

The jump from PA to Production Coordinator won’t happen overnight, but it’s within reach if you’re intentional.

Show your team you’re curious, capable, and ready to lead, not just assist. Look for ways to level up your tools, your mindset, and your ability to connect the dots across a production.

Because being a great coordinator isn’t just about managing tasks—it’s about helping everyone around you do their best work.

Ready to take the next step?

Join our Production Coordinator Course and get the skills, confidence, and support you need to grow beyond the PA role.

📅 May 2025 intake is open now