Assistant Director (AD)
Definition
The Assistant Director (AD) is one of the most critical roles on a film or video production set. The First AD is responsible for managing the day-to-day logistics of the shoot, including creating and maintaining the shooting schedule, running the set, and ensuring that the production stays on time and on budget. The Second AD manages the talent (actors), prepares the call sheets, and handles communication between departments. The Third AD (or "Third") assists the Second AD with managing background performers and other tasks. Despite the title, the AD does not assist the director creatively; they are a production management role.
Contextual Usage
The director is ready to move on to the next scene, but the production designer needs fifteen more minutes to finish dressing the set. The First AD steps in to manage the situation: "Let's use this time to shoot the insert shots we need from the previous scene. We'll be ready for the new set in fifteen. Departments, please stand by."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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