aka: 2nd AD
The 2nd assistant director is the main assistant to the 1st assistant director. Together they work in the AD department to help the director organize both cast and crew during filming. This job role is admin-based and requires strong organization and scheduling skills.
Want to learn more about how to become a 2nd assistant director and what the role entails? Keep reading as we discuss the responsibilities, required skills and training, how to find jobs, and salary expectations.
What Is a 2nd Assistant Director?
The 2nd assistant director (2nd AD, for short) is the right-hand person to the 1st assistant director (1st AD). They help the 1st AD organize and schedule the entire production. You’ll find them in the production office leading their team to keep the film on time, on budget, and on schedule.
It takes a lot of work to organize a film set. Both director and producer need a lot of help keeping track of the crew and schedule. The 2nd Assistant Director helps them coordinate the film and schedule changes from the production office.
To begin with, they read the script and create a script breakdown. One of their first tasks is to make a list of supporting artists and to hire people for these roles.
Next, they help the 1st AD throughout pre-production to schedule and organize the film shoot. Typically, tasks include hiring transportation and managing location recce. Most importantly, they help set up the production office and hire production management staff.
Their main task is to keep the film on schedule and create daily call sheets. The call sheet lets people know the filming schedule and their call times. It must be prepared daily and distributed to all crew members. They also oversee the talent and extras during filming.
What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do?
| Pre-production | – Set up production office – Script breakdown – Find and book supporting artists – Hire transportation – Manage location recce |
| Production | – Update call sheets – Make schedule changes – Organize cast, transport, and crew – Help the 1st AD |
| Post-production | – Organize all paperwork – Close the production office |
How to Become a 2nd Assistant Director
Essential 2nd assistant director skills:
- Organization
- Administration
- Timeline-driven
- Adaptability
- Calm under pressure
- People person
- Leadership
The job role of a 2nd AD is non-creative and requires strong admin skills. Although they don’t work on set, the 2nd AD plays an integral role in keeping the film running.
The 2nd AD doesn’t need a degree in order to do the job. However, it would be beneficial to take courses or attend workshops in film or TV production to better understand the role. Another reason to take courses would be to gain a stronger understanding of the filmmaking process and everyone’s role on set.
Most people who want to be 2nd ADs start as office runners and then gradually take on more responsibilities. This route will allow you to see how 2nd ADs tackle problems and lead the production office.
Another way to get started is to work as a 2nd AD or production manager on low-budget film sets. The only problem with this approach is that there’s a risk you won’t learn how people run the production office on high-end sets, so it might be difficult to make that transition from low-budget to high.
Finding 2nd Assistant Director Jobs
If you need work experience, start by looking for entry-level jobs like production assistant. Also, look for jobs within production offices. Because this job is admin-based, gaining exposure off set and in an office setting is important.
Whether you’re looking for something entry-level or you’re ready to jump into work as a 2nd assistant director, the best place to find work is on film job sites. You’ll find a good range of roles as well as production sizes represented there.
Like all job roles, it’s greatly beneficial to network in the industry. Producers tend to hire people they know and trust before hiring online. So, it’s important to meet people working in the film industry by being open to entry-level roles, taking positions adjacent to 2nd AD, and helping out on various projects at the start of your career.
How Much Money Do 2nd ADs Make?
Minimum pay rate for 2nd ADs: $725/day
The 2nd AD is a freelance job role. As a result, you must negotiate your pay rate per project. You’ll find some helpful tips and questions to ask on our production crew rates page.
For example, if you are part of a union or guild, they can help you determine the best working rate for your skills, experience, and target project.