PANEL: Foot in the Door:
Getting Started as a Production Assistant

Sunday, January 22 • 2:00PM-3:00PM
Norwalk Public Library - Upstairs Program Room
1 Belden Ave, Norwalk, CT

Moderated by: Ray Noia

Featuring: Dusty Noval, Janine Rupprecht, Solomon Sheffield

They always say it’s who you know. And, there’s nothing like getting some insight to find that first “who” that launches your career. Hear about being a Production Assistant, Second Camera, and other early career experiences - and how mentors helped shape their start. Learn about the process of getting your foot in the door: networking, hustling, and building that work ethic and experience that takes you to the next level. 

 
 

Panelists

  • Ray Noia

    Noia is currently the Line Producer on the Sherri/Daytime Talk Show. He started his career in 1991 as a PA for a nightly prime-access news program hosted by Gerald Rivera. After 1 year moved onto A Current Affair where he began booking ENG crews nationally and internationally for news coverage. Also booked satellite feeds and managed daily Post-Production. From there moved onto entertainment news show EXTRA in the same capacity. After 5 years began freelancing as a Production Manager, ENG audio operator, gaffer, grip and video utility for all the major networks, in documentaries and on various reality shows. In 2004 landed the Production Manager job on a daytime talk show hosted by Tony Danza. After that, Ray did 1 year on Rachael Ray's daytime talker, then 1 year at Tyra, where he became the Line Producer. After that, Ray landed at the Wendy Williams show where he was fortunate enough to work on the show for the entire 13 year run of the show as Line Producer until it ended in 2021. Now at Sherri which replaced Wendy. As Line Producer, Ray crews the show, manages budgets, deals behind the scenes with cameras, audio and lighting. Ray also manages ENG field shoots and their post production and also tech produces music acts when they appear on the show, amongst many other things.

  • Dusty Noval

    Noval's narrative scripts typically center around strong female protagonists. Screenplays include an Irish American family dramedy, Easter Rising, and two short narratives: a psycho-thriller The Farm and the dark comedy, Last Girl's Trip. She has also written two pilots; an hourlong dystopian drama in the aftermath of a pandemic, The Meek, and comedy, Drama Queens. Dusty

  • Jamie Rupprecht

    Rupprecht was cleaning up the "games" cabinet per her parents request, and found an old camcorder. Without telling a soul she took that camera and began bringing it to friends' houses to create short films, music videos, and a "reality horror" series. Her family still shared the same desktop computer at this point so she pretty much shot everything as an in-camera edit so as to not raise suspicion. Years later a friend gifted her a Flip HD camera, saved enough for a MacBook, and finally discovered editing. Against her business-esc-parents wishes, she pursued a B.A. in filmmaking and studio art and currently have credits with Netflix, HBO, The History Channel, HGTV, Lifetime, ESPN, and recently AC'd a reality show featured on TLC.

  • Solomon Sheffield

    Sheffield got involved in film production in 2019 with no particular goal in mind except to be part of the world of movies and television. A design degree and freelance experience aside, humility and good interpersonal skills are what have gotten Solomon to work on networks and sets in reality, live television and scripted projects