Assistant Director: Everything You Need To Know
Assistant Director: Everything You Need To Know
A first assistant director, 1st AD, or simply
assistant director, manages the logistics of creating a film or a television
series. These professionals oversee production heads and serve as a point of
contact between the director and the rest of a production’s cast and crew. The
first assistant director may be the only assistant director working on a
production, or they could manage a team of assistant directors.
An
assistant director is not the same as a director’s assistant. A director’s
assistant usually has an administrative role during production. In contrast, an
assistant director’s role is much more hands-on.
2nd AD
Many
productions also have a second assistant director, sometimes called a 2nd
AD. This assistant director works underneath the 1st AD. They may complete
tasks with the 1st AD or have their own tasks delegated. A 2nd AD is more likely
to be the contact point for stand-ins and extras. A 1st AD, in contrast, is
more likely to be the contact point for a production’s stars.
Some
large productions may have several other assistant directors working under the
2nd AD, including:
·
Second
second assistant director (2nd 2nd AD)
·
Third
assistant director (3rd AD)
·
Additional
assistant director (sometimes called the fourth assistant director or 4th AD)
What
Does An Assistant Director Do?
An
assistant director ensures that all members of the production know their
schedules and that shooting occurs on time. This work starts during
pre-production and continues through to post-production. Their scheduling and
organizational efforts make a director’s job easier. Take a closer look at some
of the most common tasks an assistant director does:
Perform
Script Breakdowns
Assistant
directors break down the script to determine the essential elements for every
scene. These elements include:
·
Characters
and extras, including animal actors
·
Props
and set dressing
·
Costumes
and makeup
·
Stunts
·
Sounds
and music
Create
Storyboards And Shot Lists
Assistant
directors refer to their script breakdown to create storyboards and
shot lists. They work closely with the director and director of photography on
this task. As the name suggests, a shot list is a list of all the shots
required for the production. A storyboard is a visual representation of a shot
list. Storyboards and shot lists help the crew understand the director’s
vision.
Schedule
The Shoot
The
assistant director creates a shooting schedule based on the script breakdown.
This schedule considers the availability of shooting locations and actors. The
schedule also notes the costumes, props, and set dressing required for each day
of shooting.
Prepare
The Call Sheets
Assistant
directors also usually make a production’s call sheets based on the shooting
schedule. These are daily schedules issued to cast and crew. Call sheets tell
everyone involved in a production where they need to be and when. Assistant
directors often work with production coordinators and producers on this task.
Check out StudioBinder‘s
call sheet software that may be helpful for creating call sheets.
Track
Daily Progress Against Entire Schedule
Assistant
schedules regularly track the production’s progress against the shooting
schedule. If scenes take more time than expected, they will attempt to make
that time up at a later date to put the production back on schedule. They report
the production’s progress periodically to the studio.
Responsibilities
Of A First Assistant Director
Assistant
directors fulfill their responsibilities to the production by completing
various tasks. Common responsibilities for assistant directors include:
·
Assisting
the director when required
·
Coordinating
production activity
·
Supervising
cast and crew to ensure they are where they need to be
·
Keeping
the production office updated about shoot progress
·
Ensuring
production meets the director’s creative vision
·
Ensuring
production works to budget
·
Maintaining
a safe and healthy filming environment
Tips
For Being An Awesome Assistant Director
The
best assistant directors go the extra mile and adopt the following habits:
Be
Really Involved In Pre-Production
The
best assistant directors understand that the real production work starts early.
They spend pre-production creating thorough plans that ensure the production
period runs smoothly. They also spend time liaising with other departments.
Their conversations ensure everyone understands their roles and has prepared
accordingly. They are assertive and initiate discussions rather than waiting
for inclusion.
Communicate
Exceptionally Well
The
best assistant directors are expert communicators. They listen to the
director’s vision and tell others how they can help achieve it. They can easily
and efficiently communicate with a variety of different people on set using
language everyone can understand.
Delegate
If Possible
The
best assistant directors do not try to do it all. They identify when their load
is too large and the right people to delegate tasks to. Good delegation ensures
all assigned tasks receive the attention they deserve.
Never
Micromanage
While
assistant directors work closely with a variety of production members, they
know to give them the space to succeed. They trust their staff and the
directions they’ve provided. Micromanaging can impact motivation and breed
resentment, which impacts the mood on set.
Skills
Assistant
directors use a variety of skills to succeed in their roles. Production studios
look for assistant directors with the following qualities:
·
Leadership: As the contact point for all cast and crew, assistant
directors must be natural leaders who can motivate and organize others.
·
Organizational skills: Assistant directors rely on their
organizational and time management skills to create schedules, multitask
throughout filming, and keep productions running to time and to budget.
·
Problem-solving skills: Assistant directors use their
problem-solving skills to resolve disagreements on set and get productions back
on track when they run behind.
·
Communication skills: As the main contact point for so
many cast members and crew, assistant directors must be able to communicate
clearly and compassionately.
·
Flexibility: A flexible nature helps assistant directors adapt to
changes during the film process without getting stressed.
·
Commitment: Working as an assistant director often requires long
hours and may involve a lot of downtime between projects, so commitment is
essential.
·
Attention to detail: Assistant directors use their
attention to detail to identify problems or areas for improvement early
enough to correct them.
·
Production knowledge: As the contact point for the
entire cast and crew, assistant directors need an understanding of all
production departments.
·
Computer literacy: Assistant directors use software
to create schedules and other important documents. They should feel confident
using Microsoft Office and relational databases.
What
Are The Qualifications And Requirements Needed To Become An Assistant Director?
As
with most film and television roles, assistant directors do not require a
degree. However, film school training can help assistant
directors secure work.
Hands-on
production experience also helps aspiring assistant directors understand how
productions and their departments work. Many assistant directors get this
experience working as production assistants or runners first. Studios favor
assistant directors with experience.
Assistant
directors must be members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) to work on
feature films in the United States. Smaller feature productions do not
require membership, though.
What
To Expect
Expect
to work your way up to an assistant director role. Most assistant directors
take entry-level roles in the film and television industry before working as
second assistant directors or lower-ranked assistant directors. After gaining
experience in these roles, they climb the ladder and become first assistant
directors.
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