Erin: What is the most fulfilling part about your job?

Kevin: Once the show is actually over and the recording is done, all my friends and family make a lot bigger deal out of my job than I do. Everybody's like, “I saw your name in the credits.” That's the most fulfilling part because it's like, “Oh yeah, I did work on that.” I appreciate the credit for it. Plus, it’s the people you meet. I've made a lot of really good friends working in this industry. I know that we wouldn't have met outside of working on set because there's people from all different types of backgrounds.

Erin: When did your passion for production begin?

Kevin: Always. Even photography and film as a kid. Even when I didn't have the greatest access to cameras and whatnot, me and my friends just found a way to film our skate videos and little dumb skits together and do photography on the side.

When I got to college, I initially entered as a nursing and a psychology major. I realized that psychology is fun, but I did not love nursing. My mom asked me what I really wanted to do, and I said film. She’s a doctor. I was one of those kids who was afraid, like, “Oh, you’ve got a doctor mom? You also have to be a doctor.” She never said that; it just was something I internalized myself. And she said, “Don’t you love film? They have a good film program. Why don’t you do it?” I told her that I didn't think she’d support an art career, and she said, “I just want you to do what makes you happy.” So, I went ahead and really committed to film and switched one of my majors.

Erin: What has been your favorite set to work on?

Kevin: Oh, man. Probably Outer Banks, the Netflix series. Even though we were outside 90% of the time during the summer while it was hot with mosquitoes, the crew was fun and it was a fun show. And the cast- I was working as a First Team Production Assistant on that as well-me and the cast became a family. It was just the most fun, and I got a great tan. I was in amazing shape, and I got to see a lot of beautiful parts of Charleston, South Carolina and Daniel’s Island-places that most people don't usually get to be. One of my favorite things about film work in general is always living somewhere different. So even when you aren't working, you can explore the area. There's so many good places close to there. You could go to Columbia and catch a show. It was just the best place to be at the time, especially at the age I was at.

Erin: What has been your favorite department to work in?

Kevin: Definitely the AD Department. I've worked in costumes, and I've also worked in casting. The job in the AD Department is the most fun because you get to know more of the crew. When you're in the costume or casting departments, there’s a small, finite amount of people that you genuinely have to interact with. In the AD department, you have to know who everybody is. So, it's fun to meet the different personalities on set and be able to help everybody.

Erin: Do you have a least favorite department that you've worked in?

Kevin: Every department I've worked in I've actually enjoyed. I love costumes. Every department has its own perks. Extras casting is fun, and you can have a better work-life balance. Because it’s intensive work, you don't always have to be stuck in the office. You can spend a few hours in the office, do some work from home, take a break, and then get back to work. The Costume Department is fun because you get to shop and you get to return stuff and help with how the characters are going to look on set. At the end, when they start going through the costumes and they start giving stuff away, you have first pick. Then with the AD department, you’re just kind of involved with everything, so it’s always high energy. Every department is fun. It just depends on what you like.

Erin: Do you have any advice for UNCW students that are about to graduate?

Kevin: Save your money; everybody says that but it’s true. Pay back your loans as slow as you possibly can. They'll get their money when they get it. Take any film job you can, honestly. Even if it's not in a department you want. I feel like people have this common misconception like, “No, I can't take this film job because it’s not in the department I want to work in.” No. Take the office position. Because if you take that office position, it puts you in a place where you can meet the people in the departments that you want to be in. 

Most of the time if you’re in a different department, you can tell your department head that, “Hey, I’ve got an interest in this other department,” and speak to the head of that department instead. There's a possibility that they’ll give you a job later on down the line. That's how I ended up in the AD department from extras casting. If you get any opportunity to get into the industry, take it. 

Don't be afraid to make a move to somewhere weird that you've never been. Don't be afraid to reach out to other alum or people that you network with at Visions because I still talk to a lot of people that I networked with at Visions. Then, don't give up. I know it can be hard trying to get that first film job because my first film job didn't come directly right after graduation. I graduated and then went home for a couple of months. I was actually working at Enterprise Rent-a-Car waiting to get a film job. That's why I say take that first job. Once I took that first one, it snowballed. I’ve been working in the industry since the end of 2016.

Erin: What excites you most about being involved in this year's Visions Film Festival & Conference?

Kevin: Because I loved being in Visions so much. When I met our panelists then, I knew I wanted to come back as a panelist myself at some point. It was something I knew I wanted to do while I was in it. I'm so happy to be able to be here and talk to you guys and be able to network with you all.

Erin: Can you describe your typical day?

Kevin: First Team PAs are usually one of the first ones in and one of the last ones out. I come in in the morning, I do my check in, and get my temperature check. If it's a test day, let ‘em swab your brain. Then I check in with the base camp PA. Depending on how many cast members we have and what they're in times are, we have to get breakfast orders. So, I’ll get those from her, go get those orders filled, and bring them back. 

Then, some of my responsibilities include making sure on set that there's a green room area for the cast to be set up in. If it's hot outside, I make sure it's cool. If it's cold outside, I make sure it’s warm, of course. I make sure they have their chairs, they have their sides, and that set is ready for them when they come in. I let the other ADs know when they're traveling. I get them in the set making sure they make it into rehearsal. 

All the PAs and other ADs make sure to keep set quiet during rehearsal. Then, we start filming and going through the motions of film. That involves getting cast to where they need to be on the different sets if we're moving a lot that day. If there are changes, I have to be on top of it and remind my higher ups that, “Hey, these are those changes that we have for the next scene, and it'll take this much time. We got to get them back to base, or we can do it up here on set.” Just keeping the cast comfortable all the time. 

A lot of people like to joke that the First Team PA is like a babysitter for grownups and cast. And in a way, you are because you're there to align the information. I let them know what the next shot is, what we're shooting on, who we’re punching in on, where we're taking the scene from, if there are any changes. So, just keeping the First Team in the loop as well as helping anybody else on crew is the main gig.

Erin: Where is the set location for The Walking Dead right now?

Kevin: We're shooting in Virginia and we're shooting around the area. I'm not technically allowed to tell you where we shoot [laughs]. It's definitely east coast, and it's definitely out in the sticks. It’s very, very country and very woodsy. We do have some stage locations and some city locations, but even those city locations are more like a rural area. Because you gotta have the post-apocalyptic vibe, and that's exactly what you get in the country.

To learn more about Kevin, follow his Instagram: @meh_productions_