Assistant director

Assistant director

The role of an assistant director on a <a href="/en/Filmmaking" title="Filmmaking" class="wl">film</a> includes tracking daily progress against the filming <a href="/en/Production_schedule" title="Production schedule" class="wl">production schedule</a>, arranging logistics, preparing <a href="/en/Daily_call_sheet" title="Daily call sheet" class="wl">daily call sheets</a>, checking <a href="/en/Cast_member" title="Cast member" class="mw-redirect wl">cast</a> and <a href="/en/Crew" title="Crew" class="wl">crew</a>, and maintaining order on the <a href="/en/Set_construction" title="Set construction" class="wl">set</a>. They also have to take care of the health and safety of the <a href="/en/Crew" title="Crew" class="wl">crew</a>.<a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;">[1]</a> The role of an assistant to the <a href="/en/Film_Director" title="Film Director" class="mw-redirect wl">film director</a> is often confused with assistant director but the responsibilities are entirely different. The assistant to the <a href="/en/Film_Director" title="Film Director" class="mw-redirect wl">film director</a> manages all of the directors in development, pre-production, while on set, through post-production and is often involved in both personal management as well as creative aspects of the production process.


<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">Film management and logistics role</div>
Historically, assistant directing was a stepping stone to directing work; <a href="/en/Alfred_Hitchcock" title="Alfred Hitchcock" class="wl">Alfred Hitchcock</a> was an AD, as well as <a href="/en/Akira_Kurosawa" title="Akira Kurosawa" class="wl">Akira Kurosawa</a>. This was when the role was more general and encompassed all aspects of filmmaking such as set design and script editing. This transition into film directing is no longer common in feature films, as the role has focused into a more logistical and managerial position. It is more common now for an assistant director to transition to a <a href="/en/Production_management_(theatre)" title="Production management (theatre)" class="mw-redirect wl">theatre production management</a> or <a href="/en/Film_producer" title="Film producer" class="wl">producer</a> role than to directing, with contemporary exceptions such as <a href="/en/James_McTeigue" title="James McTeigue" class="wl">James McTeigue</a>.

The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of the health and safety of the crew. The role of an assistant to the film director is often confused with assistant director but the responsibilities are entirely different. The assistant to the film director manages all of the directors in development, pre-production, while on set, through post-production and is often involved in both personal management as well as creative aspects of the production process. Historically, assistant directing was a stepping stone to directing work; Alfred Hitchcock was an AD, as well as Akira Kurosawa. This was when the role was more general and encompassed all aspects of filmmaking such as set design and script editing. This transition into film directing is no longer common in feature films, as the role has focused into a more logistical and managerial position. It is more common now for an assistant director to transition to a theatre production management or producer role than to directing, with contemporary exceptions such as James McTeigue. 