Paul Schrader Is Seeking Assistant For “S— And Ice Cream Job” On Next Film

One lucky cinephile will soon have the chance to work with Paul Schrader on his next film.

The Oscar-nominated writer and director is casting a wide net for his new assistant, sharing a rather frank posting Thursday on Facebook for what he describes as a “s— and ice cream” job while preparing to enter pre-production on a film in New York City.

“I am in need of an assistant. This is an entry level job,” started Schrader in the post. “In less polite terms, it’s a ‘s— and ice cream’ job. There will be days when you would be willing to pay me. Then there will be menial tasks. I hope to be in pre-production in December, shooting late January–at that point work would be on set and on demand 24/7. The job would commence on acceptance. It may involve travel. Applicant should have college education and knowledge of film history. Applicant should live in greater NYC area. Computer skills essential. If you can lug film cans (remember those?) you’re strong enough.”

He asked potential candidates to send their CVs to schraderproductions@gmail.com.

Schrader’s post comes after he revealed plans to begin filming Non Compos Mentis (Latin for “an unsound mind”) in November. He previously described the project as “a noir, as a kind of a sexual obsession … about the stupid things men do for love.”

In August, Schrader announced he’s also developing The Basics of Chemistry, which follows “an intellectual university philosophy professor,” made in the style of his ‘Man in a Room’ spiritual trilogy, First Reformed (2017), The Card Counter (2021) and Master Gardener (2022).

Before starting production on Non Compos Mentis, Schrader said he wants “to write the new one and have another bullet in the gun ready to go.”