A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be first assistant director on a film shoot. Previously I did not know much about the role aside from the fact that it is a pretty challenging role with some heavy multitasking. Through this experience, I have learnt that a First A.D’s responsibilities are:
- Keeping track of time and the duration of each shot
- Keeping track of the shot list & organizing the order they are covered
- Managing and organizing all actors & crew on set. Making sure everyone is where they should be.
- General assistant to Director
- First aid and Safety person
It was a very rewarding experience. Not only did I meet a lot of like-minded people but I was also able to observe how they approached the different roles in a production such as: director, cinematographer, sound mixer, etc. While watching a group work together in a real situation, I saw evidence of focus, teamwork and commitment that had not been as prominent in the short term collaborations we have been exploring so far due to time constraints. However, since the exercises we have been doing are aimed for personal insight, experiences and improvement, they provide learning opportunities that are different but equally as important.