Job Description
The First Assistant Director (1st AD) is one of the most important positions in the film industry. As the title suggests, you are the right-hand wo/man of the Director, taking the burden of coordinating and disputing with all members of the cast and crew. It is your job to ensure that all processes during filming are happening on time. In this exactly lies your main job - to consult with all heads of departments and cast and to elaborate a working shooting schedule. You are also the link between the director and the rest of the cast and crew on set.
- Helping the script props, equipment, talents, locations and days
- Developing a shooting schedule coordinated with the cast and crew availability
- Directing background action as instructed by the director
- Maintaining order on set and strictly monitoring time (start, wrap, lunch breaks)
- Instructing and answering questions from key crew heads
- Reviewing shot lists according to initial plan and rescheduling if needed
- Organization, time management (scheduling of the crew), and multitasking skills
- Efficient problem-solving skills
- Negotiation skills
- Ability to negotiate to secure locations and equipment at the best price
- Conflict management
- Excellent communication skills, including active listening and diplomacy
- Leadership skills
- Forward-thinking/seeing big picture and preventing problems
- Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions on set
- staying calm and reasonable even in stressful situations
- how the film set works
- basic terminology and commands
- how to manage the crew on set
- everyone on set
Set up Situation
You’ve been working for a couple of years in the film industry, moving from PA to 2nd AD. You have met with almost every crew professional, asked them for advice and learned all the processes of making a film so far. Your skills in creating the call-sheets and helping the 1st AD with crisis schedule changes don’t go unnoticed. He himself proposes you to be in his stead in an upcoming film project he can’t take because he’s already signed for another production.