Hi

Can someone please help me ?

What is the exact role of the 1st Assitant Director ?

Has anyone on this forum ever experinced this ?

I'm very curious , as I had no idea what they do , please enlighten me.

Cheers

the 1st ad makes sure that everying is available that is needed on the shooting day and collaborates with the production manager. Kind of the link between the production company and the set. Also makes sure that the filming goes at a decent pace.

the 1st AD, depending on the director will also call for camera roll, audio roll, and marking in prep for the director to call action. the AD also directs any extras

I was just on a job where there were 5 assistant directors. One of the reasons there were so many was because every shoot day there was 150 extras. Actually, the too many ADs and not well enough defined roles cause mayhem on set-- it was extremely wasteful and disorganized.

ADing is a producing role. The 1st AD keeps the schedule on track. They often take what the director wants and translates it to the appropriate people. They are often the person that calls action and cut. They are the go between for the creatives and the trades. For example, when the AD feels the director/producer is close to moving on to another setup, he will alert G+E, art department, wardrobe, and whoever else may need to make preparations for the next setup.

A.D. usually sets up the schedule with the producer/production manager/line producer, and makes the schedule for the week.

The 2nd or 3rd follow what the schedule says and write up the daily call sheets.

1st A.D. is also in charge of safety on the set.

a lot of people think that because Director is in the name, they must do some director type creative decision, but they don't really.

Assistant Director is it's own job, and it's not a position that can really lead you to direct only because you're never making creative decisions, you're usually making logistical decisions.

being a director's assistant though, like their personal assistant, that's a good job because you get to meet EVERYONE, and sit in and listen and talk to the director and how they think. and if you ever stop working for the director, you still have everyone's phone numbers and they know since they talk more to you than the director. but director's assistants do things liike take calls, make reservations, pick up dry cleaning, etc.

A logistical role on a film is a largely creative role, perhaps not in the sense of filmmaking but in a technical sense organising the logistics on set, and dealing with people on set requires a lot of enginutity and manipulation creativity, in order to keep people happy, and liking you.

that's weird. every first A.D. i've met/worked with no one likes and they actually try to stay away from everyone and not keep people happy.

First A.D. has to be like the bad cop that tells you what you're doing wrong, and how to do it, and doesn't really want to put up with things.

i always viewed the 1stAD and the Line Producer having the toughest jobs, because they have to be the daddy of the group and say no, or tell people they're going off schedule, going over budget, that they're messing this up or that up, and try to keep everything in control.

actually, the insurance adjuster/claims, whatever they are, those people have a pretty tough job too.