Assistant Film Director Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an assistant film director. Feel free to use our assistant film director job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an assistant film director.
Who is an Assistant Film Director?
An assistant film director (or 1st AD) deals with the logistics of running the set during film production. They serve as the director’s point of contact with the rest of the crew. They coordinate with all department heads to design and manage the shooting schedule and shot lists. Tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, managing logistics, generating daily call sheets, inspecting Cast and Crew, and maintaining order on the set are all part of an assistant director’s job. They also have to consider the Crew’s health and safety. The responsibilities of a Film Director’s assistant are often confused with those of an Assistant Director, but they are not the same. The assistant to the Film Director supervises all of the directors during development, pre-production, on-set, and post-production, and is frequently involved in both personal and creative aspects of the production.
During preproduction, the first AD focuses on logistics and preparation so that the director can devote the majority of his or her attention to creative considerations. The first AD’s primary task after filming begins is to follow the production schedule and keep the set running smoothly.
Some terminologies used to qualify the activities of the assistant film director are explained below:
Storyboards: The first assistant film director divides the script into storyboards that depict how each scene will be shot.
Shooting schedule: The first AD creates an overall shooting schedule once the director signs off on the storyboards. With the production manager, line producer, and crew department heads, the 1st AD clears the shooting schedule. All scenes must be arranged when the appropriate venue, props, and cast are available, according to the AD.
Call sheets: The second AD, in collaboration with the first AD, creates a call sheet before each day of filming. During filming, the first AD’s role is to ensure that everyone is on time for their call times and that the production runs well.
Calling the roll: One of the key roles of the first assistant film director during filming is “calling the roll.” The 1st AD cues the different department heads (including camera operator, key grip, and sound mixer) to prepare for filming to begin by calling the roll.
Liaise with the crew: The 1st AD acts as a liaison between the director and the rest of the cast and crew. If there is a need to transmit something, either way, it is usually done through the first AD.
On-set diplomat: The first AD is also in charge of maintaining prescribed discipline. It is the first AD’s responsibility to manage the matter if someone is not executing their job properly or if conflicts arise. When necessary, disciplinary action or personnel changes may be required.
Safety: On any film set, safety is paramount, and the first AD must guarantee that all health and safety regulations are followed. Each department has its own set of safeguards in place to guarantee that cast and crew personnel remain safe. Each department is overseen by the first AD, who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that each department head maintains a safe working environment.
Assistant Film Director Job Description
Below are the assistant film director job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an assistant film director job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an assistant film director include the following:
- Create shooting schedules that include contingencies for unforeseen setbacks.
- Notify the appropriate stakeholders about any significant departures from the authoritative schedules.
- Create storyboards that show key scenes from each script.
- Ascertain that the necessary filming crew and cast members arrive on time.
- Position, instruct and support extras on set.
- Notify the filmmaking team before each take.
- Resolve minor disciplinary issues on the set.
- Strengthen and promote adherence to current safety protocols.
- Plan timelines and shooting schedules.
- Ensure that all members of the cast and crew are informed of the filming schedule and any modifications.
- Assist with the development of storyboards.
- Onset, instruct and manage extras.
- Discuss camera placement with the rest of the crew.
- Resolve any minor issues or concerns on the set.
- Work with the Director to plan daily activities.
- Set goals and plans for the department.
- Assist with the recruitment and training of crew and scriptwriters.
- Keep an eye on the budget you’ve been given and keep track of your expenses.
- Work with the technical personnel to organize and set equipment.
- Ensure that the filming locations are kept hidden from the general population.
Qualifications
Some of the qualifications required to become an assistant film director include all of the following:
- A high school diploma is required.
- It is ideal to have completed a recognized Film Studies or an equivalent programme.
- Work experience as an Assistant Film Director or an equivalent role in the Entertainment Media industry.
- Having coordination approaches that have been fine-tuned over time.
- Consistently paying attention to the finer points of a situation.
- Commendable techniques of communication.
- Goal-oriented, solution-oriented, and methodical personality.
- Experience with a variety of filming cameras and equipment.
- Editing and technical skills are required.
- Individual who is detail-oriented and extremely motivated.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
- Strong organizational and time management abilities.
- Problem-solving abilities are exceptional.
- Working for long periods and with a lot of flexibility is a plus.
- Willingness to visit various locales.
- Good understanding and expertise with multi-platform production and editing approaches.
- Outside Broadcasts and gallery productions are something you should be familiar with.
- The ability to perform well under pressure, react swiftly and fulfil tight deadlines.
- When under duress, the ability to prioritize workload and maintain a cool, meticulous approach is demonstrated.
- Content development ideas that are unique and creative.
- Ability to work both independently and with producers and editors.
Essential Skills
The best assistant film directors go the extra mile and adopt the following habits:
Be Involved In Pre-Production: The best assistant directors recognize that teal labour begins early in the production process. They spend pre-production time developing detailed strategies to guarantee that the product works well. They spend time coordinating with other departments as well. Their discussions ensure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and has prepared appropriately. They are outspoken, rather than waiting to be included, and they begin talks.
Communicate Exceptionally Well: Expert communicators make the finest assistant directors. They pay attention to the director’s vision and explain how they can assist in realizing it. They can communicate with a range of people on set quickly and effectively, using language that everyone understands.
Delegate duties when needful: The finest assistant directors don’t try to be all things to all people. They know when their workload is too much for them and who to outsource it to. Delegation ensures that all jobs are given the attention they require.
Never Micromanage: While assistant directors work directly with a range of production staff, they understand the importance of giving them room to grow. They have faith in their employees and the instructions they’ve given them. Micromanaging has the potential to demotivate employees and engender resentment, which hurts the set mood.
Skillful: Assistant directors rely on a wide range of abilities to succeed in their jobs. Assistant directors with the following abilities are sought by production studios:
Leadership: Assistant directors must be natural leaders who can encourage and organise others because they are the point of contact for the entire cast and crew.
Organisational skills: Assistant directors use their organisational and time management skills to develop timetables, multitask while filming, and keep productions on schedule and within budget.
Problem-solving skills: Assistant directors use their problem-solving talents on-site to handle conflicts and get productions back on track when they fall behind schedule.
Communication skills: Assistant directors must be able to speak clearly and compassionately with a large number of cast members and staff personnel.
Flexibility: Assistant directors with a flexible disposition are better able to adjust to changes during the filming process without becoming stressed.
Commitment: Working as an assistant film director frequently entails long hours and a lot of leisure in between assignments, thus dedication is required.
Attention to detail: Assistant directors use their keen eye for detail to spot problems or places for improvement early on, allowing them to be addressed.
Production knowledge: Assistant directors, being the point of contact for the entire cast and crew, must have a thorough awareness of all production departments.
Computer literacy: Schedules and other critical documents are created using software by assistant directors. They should be able to use Microsoft Office and relational databases with ease.
How to Become an Assistant Film Director
To become a good assistant film director ensure to follow the following steps:
Think of the Education: A diploma is not required to work as an assistant film director. It is not necessary to have a college degree in cinematography. It’s all about your skills and experience. However, you may still be able to obtain an education. If you’re unsure what to major in, consider editing, cinematography, film history, or screenwriting. You can also major in acting, journalism, or communication.
With a bachelor’s degree, you can work as a director’s or editor’s assistant. It will provide you with the opportunity to learn about the filmmaking industry from the ground up and obtain experience.
Watch Movies: You must see films to become an assistant film director. There are various effective ways to view movies. Try watching a movie without sound first. This will allow you to focus on the story’s visual elements. Keep an eye on the camera’s movement, angles, and shots. Pay close attention to all of the characters and their interactions. Nothing should take your attention away from the camerawork.
You can also listen to the soundtrack and conversations while watching the movie with the screen turned off. You’ll be able to detect small features that you might have overlooked previously. Music, rain, and whispers are all good things to listen to. Pay attention to how the tale is delivered through sound.
Read the Scripts: You should expect to shoot movies based on someone else’s screenplay the majority of the time. As a result, reading a lot of scripts can help you better comprehend the script language. Visualise the tale and attempt to visualise the setting and people as you read the screenplay. Consider what camera angles and shots you’d use in the scenes.
You can compose screenplays with the plot you want to bring to life as you get more experience, fame, and success. It’s possible that becoming a screenwriter is the first step toward becoming an assistant film director. You should put a lot of effort into honing your narrative skills. Producers will trust you to direct films once they see how good you are at developing screenplays. It’s easier to become an assistant film director from a screenplay than it is to become a filmmaker with no prior experience.
Work on your reel: Building a reel is the most significant aspect of starting a career as an assistant film director. It’s a collection of some of your best previous work. It does not have to be large, but it must be of high quality. Experts advise that you record videos every day. It doesn’t require shooting a full film every day, but it does mean honing your directing talents.
To gain the trust of cinematographers, investors, and producers, you must first create this body of work to show them something worthwhile. It’s a fantastic method to show off your abilities. Short films can be shot and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo. This is how you might be discovered. Don’t be ashamed of your teen work; it may expose your abilities in camerawork, effects, storytelling, and editing.
Learn to Communicate: The assistant film director is one of the ones who have to interact with everyone on-site during the filming process. He or she is a leader, and no matter how difficult it may be, he or she should be able to connect with the workforce. Actors are usually a source of contention for assistant film directors as well as directors. As a result, you must learn how to communicate with actors and persuade them to act as you see fit. You’ll need to learn how to resolve problems in your team to effectively manage the crew and get everyone to work along. You must accept that you will not always be able to be a good guy to everyone.
Start Directing with Movavi: You can use Movavi Video Editor Plus to practice your editing skills if you’re learning how to be a film director. Shoot and edit your videos to generate a video that looks like a complete film. Cut out the bits that aren’t needed, then add a soundtrack or voice commentary. Select from a variety of filters, such as Oldmoviese or VHS. Make use of the chroma key to move your characters around. Make a movie with titles and subtitles.
Where to Work as an Assistant Film Director
Assistant film directors work in various locations where films are shot. Windscreen manufacturing enterprises also require their services on a freelance, self-employed basis. They can produce films for both the big and small screens and send them to distributors, sales agents, and broadcasters.
Assistant Film Director Salary Scale
Based on 7 salaries, an early career Assistant Film Editor with 1-4 years of experience gets an average total compensation of $20.72 (which includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay). Based on 5 salaries, an Assistant Film Editor in their mid-career gets an average total salary of $0.00.
Pay rates vary widely depending on the country, the sort of production, and whether or not the production follows union norms. I’ve done my best to calculate the minimum union rates for 1st ADs and 2nd ADS in the US and the UK to give you an idea of the rates on ‘serious’ productions. The reason that this requires calculation is that there are so many variables to consider when calculating the ultimate wage. These are some of them:
- The number of hours worked
- The type of production (film, TV drama, TV comedy, and so forth)
- The budget of the production (in the States, a different agreement pertains to low budget productions)
- The number of days in the working week
- Whether the work is prep time or actual shooting whether it’s a studio or location shoot
- How far away from home the production is shooting
- Per diems and additional payments for foreign shoots
UK assistant film director minimums are slightly higher than those in the United States (1st ADs are £1,350 in the UK and £1,149 in the US, while 2nd ADs are £1,000 in the UK and £771 in the US). The American 1st ADs, on the other hand, are paid extra after the budget reaches three-quarters of a million pounds. The minimums for first ADs in the UK are £1,500 per week on a £1 million feature film, although they are £1,742 in America. Although UK 2nd ADs are still paid more than their American counterparts (£1,250 vs. £1,167), this advantage is diminishing as budgets grow.
On feature films with a budget of £10 million, UK’s first AD minimums are less than half of their American counterparts, at £2,000 against £4,128.