S2.1. Introduction to the AD
This section introduced the roles of the director and the assistant director (AD) team in filmmaking.
The director is the primary creative force, with complete artistic control and responsibility for the film's vision, casting, and team assembly.
The AD team (first, second, third, fourth assistants) supports the director, with the first AD acting as the main coordinator and intermediary between director, cast, and crew.
The first AD ensures the production stays on time and on budget, manages routine tasks, and oversees the AD team.
Key skills for ADs include understanding the filmmaking process, project flow, and relevant software/forms.
The Role and Responsibilities of the Director
A film director…
serves as primary creative force in a film production;
holds command over all creative decisions;
maintains complete artistic control over the project;
establishes personal and emotional connections with the movie; and
is a part of the 'above the line' key crew.
The ‘above the line’ crew includes director, producer, screenwriter, and lead actors.
Director's Creative Control and Vision
The director…
oversees and manages all of the creative filmmaking processes;
translates screenplay to the screen;
holds full artistic control over the project;
makes all artistic and creative decisions;
envisions the film's entire visual language;
is responsible for translating vision onto the screen
conveys the vision and ideas related to it to cast and crew;
communicates visual treatment to Director of Photography (DoP); and
elicits strong performances from actors;
Director's Main Functions: Team Assembly, Communication, and Oversight
A director…
assembles entire film team;
communicates their vision to the crew;
makes casting choices;
guides actors during filming;
ensures all departments perform effectively;
provides input to editor post-shooting; and
gives final sign-off to the team on various aspects of the production.
ARTIFACT 01 >. CrashCourse. “The Director: Crash Course Film Production with Lily Gladstone.” YouTube, 12 Oct 2017.
AD Team Hierarchy
AD team hierarchy: First Assistant Director (AD) at top
Second Assistant Director below First AD
Third Assistant Director below Second AD
Fourth Assistant Director below Third AD
First Assistant Director also called Associate Director or Chief Assistant
First AD's Role: Coordination, Production Oversight, and Team Management
First AD acts as main intermediary with cast and crew.
Serves as link between director and cast/crew.
Coordinates pre-production and post-production stages.
Oversees and manages entire production process.
Coordinates across all filmmaking departments.
Handles routine filmmaking tasks, enabling director to focus on creative aspects.
Responsible for keeping production on schedule and within budget.
Manages and supervises team of assistant directors.
Expectations and Skills for ADs
Director expects AD to know filmmaking basics
AD must understand project flow from screenplay to completed film
AD should learn forms and software used in filmmaking if not already known
Knowledge of production basics is beneficial
Conclusion and Preview of Next Chapter
Concluded Chapter 2: Introduction to the ad.
Next: Chapter 3 covers key roles.
