Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- First Assistant Director - from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Working Life
The First Assistant Director is the head of the AD department, they act as the director’s right-hand person on set to support their creative vision in a practical way.
Role and Responsibilities
- Co-ordinate and manage all day-to-day production activity on set, allowing the director to focus on the creative processes. They must thoroughly understand the director’s aims and the overall production in order to be the key link between the director and department heads, cast, and crew.
- Break down the script and organise a schedule based on budget, cast availability, locations, and other elements.
- Liaise with the other departments, managing pre-production work such as recces, cast rehearsals, props, storyboarding, costume fittings, and test shoots.
- Work closely with the director to communicate his expectations to cast and crew, as well as ensuring the smooth running of the production schedule.
- Responsible for health and safety and proper workplace practices on set.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterisation, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimised.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
Qualities - First Assistant Director
Is this role right for me?
For this role, you will need:
Great people skills, ability to be a team-leader, and to motivate people to work collaboratively.
Strong understanding of the script and the director’s vision for the project.
Ability to use Movie Magic software in breaking down the script.
Excellent organisational and project management skills and the ability to communicate plans effectively.
Ability to plan ahead and manage and co-ordinate the schedules of various departments including camera, make-up, hair, costume, design, and visual effects.
Ability to support a productive, creative, communicative, and positive working environment on set, and to manage problematic situations.
Interests - First Assistant Director
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry / Progression - First Assistant Director
Education Route: A qualification in Film Studies can be useful, although on set experience is more important.
Career Path to First Assistant Director: There are no usual career paths for the First Assistant Director. Ordinarily, they would have worked their way through the AD Department.
Career Path from First Assistant Director: Director.
Pay & Salary - First Assistant Director
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €51k
Salaries vary by employer, location, experience, and duties.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Glassdoor
Last Updated: March, 2024
Labour Market Updates - First Assistant Director
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists, Authors, writers and translators, Actors, entertainers and presenters, Dancers and choreographers, Musicians, Arts officers, producers and directors, Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators, Graphic designers, Product, clothing and related designers.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).
Employment growth was almost on a par with the national average for this occupation; employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022 but declined slightly thereafter. Based on the CSO Census data, over a quarter were graphic designers, with other key roles including actors, authors/writers, photographers, artists and arts officers.
Employment permits issued in 2023 were primarily for roles in animation, film and TV. Online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) related mainly to graphic designers. At present, the data does not indicate that issues exist in sourcing skills for this occupation.
Useful Contacts - First Assistant Director
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The Arts Council of Ireland
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SIPTU (Arts Culture Print and Media Sector)
- Liberty Hall, Dublin 1
- (01) 8586300
- Click Here
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Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland
