Ask an Assistant: Lev Zetlin (IAG)

Interviewed by Santino Di Capua, Office PA at Location Services, Inc.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to read a screenplay from a professional screenwriter before anyone else does?

Well, look no further as we dive deep into the world of literary representation with Lev Zetlin, who started in the mailroom and made his way into the role of Scripted Literary Assistant at Independent Artist Group, assisting an agent representing screenwriting clients in the film/TV space.

Hi Lev! I’m so excited to be speaking with you today! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your day-to-day at IAG.

I have always been passionate about entertainment. Ever since a young age, I remember being in elementary school daydreaming about new movie releases for that weekend. That passion later evolved to book-to-movie adaptations which led me to study film in Syracuse and then move to LA in hopes of entering the entertainment industry in Hollywood.

At IAG, I assist an agent who primarily represents TV screenwriters. My day-to-day involves managing his schedule, coordinating meetings for clients, tracking/sending submissions to studios and production companies, monitoring outgoing/incoming calls, and dealing with client payments. 

Is there a specific reason you wanted to work for the lit department?

Working with writers and stories is what I am most fascinated with. Our lit department is very strong, so when I was in the mailroom, I always looked up to a lot of other assistants and agents there.

What are some of the strategies you used to acquire a role at IAG?

IAG is one of the first places I applied to out of college. I knew agencies were effective at shaping the assistants this industry requires. I wanted to ensure I had the most success acquiring those skills. Due to this, I applied to IAG’s agency trainee program, which is essentially a mailroom where your role is primarily covering for assistants when they are out sick & internally delivering/sending out mail – although to a lesser extent.

This is effective because you get to cover every department and you’re learning the skills from other assistants. You’re not thrown onto a desk and expected to know everything. You get to ask questions. Afterwards, you work on your own as if you were the assistant. These desk coverage assignments can range from a matter of hours to days or weeks. It’s a good training tool. 

Were you referred by someone who already worked there?

I wasn’t! Which is very uncommon. Among my cohort some are referrals and others aren’t – so it’s a good mix. While that does help, that wasn’t the case for me. There are a variety of ways one could express interest during an application. What I recommend you do is to go on LinkedIn and message someone listed as HR. Send them a short message asking them to connect requesting a quick call to discuss the company and your interest in joining and discuss the position that you want. This could be in addition to applying if there is a listing on their website. However, a lot of jobs aren’t listed. If you reach out, they could reach out to you and consider you for roles that are not publicly listed. 

If you acquire an interview make sure you come prepared with a few questions. Always ask at least one. You have to do your research. Know specific clients, which department you’d be interested in, and why you want that position. After you have an interview send a follow-up thank you email. Comment on something they said that stood out to you. If you haven’t heard back in a week, circle back re-expressing your interest. This industry is a lot about people who are dedicated. If you show that interest a lot that might be the one thing that distinguishes you from another candidate.

Do you work on any passion projects on the side? 

I volunteered for a co-worker's short film. Otherwise, I’m trying to increase my reading bandwidth because many of the roles I’m interested in within the industry require reading a large volume of material. Additionally, I want to watch 2-3 movies a week. It sounds like an intense goal, but I make them fun social activities with friends from college. I want to better understand the marketplace and what’s resonating with audiences. My creativity stems from reading and exposure to media.

What are some of the biggest goals you have in this industry?

I’m still trying to figure that out since it does feel like an ever-changing goalpost. The longer you spend time in this industry the more you realize how things are and how that impacts you as a person. I still want to be involved in creative decisions for what gets made and help expand the narratives told. Queer storytelling is really important for me as a gay person. Due to this, I’m looking to pivot more towards development to further increase those kinds of stories and add more chairs to the table. 

I’ve been told that you're a concertgoer. What are some artists you've seen live and what are some artists you're planning on seeing?

I’m going to Gag City, the Nicki Minaj concert, with my twin sister and her boyfriend on our birthday weekend. I’m excited to continue Brat Summer with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, as I’ve been a fan of both since high school. In addition, I and two other fellow queer assistants are attending Omar Apollo’s concert. I’m trying to put myself on a spending limit until the big one hits, which is Ariana Grande. When she goes on tour I would love to be there.

What are some words of encouragement you’d give to struggling assistants or would-be assistants right now?

To be transparent, being an assistant is hard. Participating in this career exposes you to the true underbelly of human nature, equipping you with tools to navigate human interaction. One of the most exciting advantages is that you’ll get access to an amazing range of scripts and be the first to know about upcoming projects before anyone else. As someone who was raised on the trades, I think that’s really cool. Having a finger on the pulse of Hollywood firsthand makes this all worthwhile for the most part :)