Last week, HughE Dillon of Philly Chit Chat set the internet ablaze when he posted a photo of a smokin’ hot production assistant working on M. Night Shyamalan’s new film, “Glass,” on his Instagram page. Dillon did some digging and found out the identity of the behind-the-scenes hero — Chris Wright, Jr. He also confirmed that the 32-year-old was indeed single.
Well, we were dying to know more about the eligible bachelor so we chatted with the Lower Merion native about working with M. Night Shyamalan, the economic benefits of bringing more film productions to Philly and of course, what he’s looking for in a lady.
What does a production assistant do?
A production assistant, or PA, has various duties. I specifically work as a PA in the Assistant Director (AD) department. The AD department is responsible for the logistics, communication and safety on set. Our department sets the schedule, makes sure the entire crew knows exactly what is going on at any point during the shoot day, sets and directs all of the background actors in each scene, and makes sure that everything and everyone is as safe as possible.
What’s it like working with M. Night Shyamalan?
Night is great! This is my third movie working with him and I have nothing but good things to say. He shows a lot of appreciation and respect for the entire crew and their hard work. Each of his projects I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of have been the best jobs of my career. The crew that works Night’s movies is like a family and that’s how he treats us.
Why is bringing more film to Philadelphia important?
The purpose of the PA Film Tax Credit is to stimulate the state economy and bring much needed jobs to the state. Without the PA Film Tax Credit, those jobs will end up in other states. If the work is happening in a state with a competitive tax credit, that simply means I’ll be commuting to New York City or moving to a state such as Georgia. However, the benefits are not just for those that work within the motion picture industry. There are ancillary benefits to the service industries that include hotels & restaurants, raw materials provided by local hardware and food suppliers. There are benefits across the board. All of these jobs are putting state income tax back into its coffers, in addition to the state sales tax. I want to work and live here!
How does it feel to have gotten all of this attention because of HughE’s photo?
It’s pretty funny actually. I’ve never been the type of person that likes to be the center of attention or be in the spotlight, but it’s always a good confidence boost to get so many compliments from so many people — even if it is for superficial reasons.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
When I actually have free time, I try to stay as physically active as possible. I do a lot backpacking, snowboarding/splitboarding and recently got into rock climbing. I also spend a lot of time working on my physical fitness and health.
So you’re single. What are you looking for in a lady?
Yes, I am single. I’d love to find a woman that is outdoorsy. Someone that wouldn’t mind backpacking in the middle of nowhere for weeks at a time. My heart is in the mountains, not the city, and I’d love to find someone that shares that sentiment. I’m not one for casual dating — ideally I’d like to find a meaningful connection.
