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#FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR UPDATE#I hope on my downtime to update this with some of the lessons I’ve learned over the years. ![]() That chapter has closed for me and as I near 40, I’m grateful to move on from that. I’m taking a break from work for the holidays and then jumping back into the indie/commercial/whatever show wants me market next year. I’m calmer and more organized, and yet there’s still so much that makes me think “What the fuck?”. I’ve learned a whole hell of a lot more over the past few years from running basecamp to dealing with set politics I didn’t even realize were a thing. Rather than contributing to the creative side of filmmaking, the first AD is your best bet for ensuring that the film is made on a daily basis. The first assistant director is usually regarded as one of the most important members of the crew when it comes to filmmaking. It’s hard right now and I’m going to keep my options open as this show leaves town. The person in charge of the set is known as the first assistant director, or first AD. #FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FULL#I want to go full membership, but I will do that when I can get the work to maintain it. Obviously I don’t want to stay just QL forever. Since I’m QL and not a full DGA member just yet in the third area, I’m able to take on non-union work. That said, this show is ending here and while I’ll miss the family, the stability, the paycheck (hey I’m not constantly broke anymore!), I’m ready to sink my teeth back into some solid indie films as a 1st AD again. I never thought I’d end up ADing in episodic TV land, but life likes to throw curveballs. Since then I’ve been re-rated a bunch to additional 2nd AD for a major TV show. What does that mean? I turned in a bunch of days as a 1st AD from my tiny indie days during my current show’s pandemic shut down and got on the list in June 2020. Where do I even fucking begin?įirst and foremost, I got on the DGA QL as a 1st AD in the third area. If you don’t have one yet, download my Call Sheet and start making it your own.It’s been a wild few years since I lost posted in earnest. I have been working on my call sheet for years, every time I work a new job, I make changes to my call sheet. Every good Assistant Director should have a call sheet template that they use when working on a production. #FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HOW TO#There should always be a full and properly stocked first aid kit on or near set and the AD department should know how to use what is in it.Ī Good Call Sheet Template – The call sheet is the document that lets everyone on set know what is happening on a day to day basis. You can use a smartphone for this as well but for me the phone is good for quick things but it’s too small for the more important work.Ī First Aid Kit- The AD department should all be trained in first aid and CPR and should be the safety representation on set, that is of course when there isn’t a medic on set. You can also set up the iPad with a Wireless Keyboard and Track-pad to set up a work station on set. The iPad for me is the most compact and useful tool, it is great for taking notes on a scout, sending out production documents and checking and sending emails. As an Assistant Director you need to have access to the internet, you need to keep on top of your emails as things can change rapidly during production. #FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MOVIE#Movie Magic Scheduling is available from Ī Smartphone or Tablet – I am an Apple user through and through, I have a MacBook, an iPad, iPod and iPhone. It can be expensive so I also recommend using Microsoft Word or Excel to create your own scheduling documents. I recommend Movie Magic Scheduling as it is most common in the industry and is also very helpful in creating almost all scheduling documents. Movie Magic Scheduling – or another kind of scheduling software – The schedule is the key to an Assistant Director’s job, the 1st Assistant Director creates the schedule and then the AD department helps keep the production on time. Having a cell phone isn’t an excuse to not have a watch, some sound recordists will request that all phones be turned off. You don’t have to spend a ton of money, unless you decide to invest in scheduling software but the following items are must haves for anyone working in the assistant directing department in film and television.Ī Watch! – You are the time keeper on set, if you are the 1st, 2nd or 3rd assistant director, you should be keeping track of the time and trying to follow the schedule. If you plan on working as an assistant director full time there are a few items that you should invest in to help make doing your job easier. ![]()
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