What Does an Assistant Director Do? Understanding the Role of the 1st AD
Image via: Noble Bison Productions
Date: 5/11/25
The first assistant director (1st AD) is one of the most essential roles on a video production set and yet, one of the most misunderstood.
Despite the title, the 1st AD doesn’t assist the director creatively. They manage the logistics in the pre-production and production phases. 1st ADs are responsible for keeping everything on schedule, ensuring safety, and cross-communication between department heads. You can consider them the glue between creative vision and practical execution.
When a production runs like clockwork, it’s often thanks to a skilled AD steering the ship. Without one, even the best video production crews can run into confusion, delays, and missed shots.
Below, we’ll explain exactly what the 1st AD does, how they keep things on track, and why their role is essential to professional video production and filmmaking.
What Does A 1st AD Do?
The 1st AD is often the first crew member hired after a director and producer lock in a shoot. From there, their work begins long before cameras roll.
The role of an assistant director starts during pre-production with building a production schedule. This process is called a script breakdown, where you break down every scene into a shot list detailing time, cast, locations, and logistics.
From there, ADs help prepare call sheets and confirm that equipment, crew, and locations are ready before the shoot days. Their tasks require clear communication to align each department for shoot days, including camera, grip, production design, HMU, and talent.
On larger productions, like film sets or commercial ads, the 1st AD may lead a team of additional ADs, usually a 2nd AD (handling paperwork and cast logistics) and sometimes a 3rd AD. But even with support from a second assistant director, the first AD is solely responsible for leading the charge from call to wrap.
On set, the 1st AD runs the floor. They manage call times, safety briefings, shot timing, and cue the crew and cast when it’s time to roll, ensuring time isn’t wasted between takes.
Their job is to keep the momentum going, even when changes pop up midday. If a location falls through, if talent is late, or if lighting setups take longer than planned, it's the AD who adjusts the schedule and keeps things moving.
If you’ve ever seen someone with a headset pacing near the monitor, clipboard in hand and directing traffic calmly (or not so calmly), that’s probably the AD.
Why An Assistant Director Isn’t Just A Production Assistant (PA)
Image: Noble Bison Productions crew on set
A common misconception is that the assistant director is just a glorified PA or production manager. But this job is so much more nuanced. Such as making the set safe, checking for hazards, managing crowd scenes, and ensuring compliance with labor rules.
Furthermore, an experienced 1st AD knows how to read and translate a director’s vision into achievable, time-blocked goals. They understand the intricacies of how each department operates, so they can anticipate where slowdowns might occur and get everyone else in alignment.
The bottom line is that when things go off the rails, it’s the 1st AD who gets things back on track without throwing off the day’s plan.
How an Assistant Director Supports a Video Production Company
For video production companies like Noble Bison Productions, working with a skilled 1st AD can be the difference between a chaotic set and a seamless shoot.
They not only keep the client and director on schedule, but they also help production companies stay on budget. Every minute saved on set is money saved. They also serve as a central point of communication, relaying timing changes, resetting expectations, and keeping the set professional but calm.
For example, when there’s a lighting or technical holdup, the 1st AD is the one who cross-communicates with the director of photography (DP) and other department heads about how much time until the picture’s back up and they’re rolling again.
At Noble Bison, our part-owner, Tim Hull, acts as 1st AD on client projects from time to time. Especially those with tight timelines, large teams, and multiple moving parts. Whether a branded shoot or a commercial video production, the 1st AD is key to an efficient and productive shoot.
For clients, the presence of a great AD often translates to a smoother experience. They might not interact with the AD directly, but they benefit from a set that feels organized, on-task, and less stressful.
What Makes a Great 1st AD?
Great assistant directors are calm under pressure and good communicators. Their function is to stay organized and aware of various impacts on the day’s schedule. But it’s not all spreadsheets and timing.
They also set the tone for the crew. A confident, respectful AD can keep everyone engaged and productive. A frantic or disorganized one? That vibe spreads, too.
They’re also natural problem-solvers. Whether it's rerouting lunch due to weather or rearranging the schedule to accommodate a delay, the AD makes real-time decisions that impact every department. And, perhaps, most importantly, they do it without panic. Steady leadership matters, especially when you're burning daylight and have ten setups left to go.
Having AD experience myself, I’ve learned it’s about balance. You need to push the day forward without stepping on toes. You need to say no without sounding like a jerk. And you need to see five steps ahead without getting overwhelmed by what’s right in front of you.
It’s not always glamorous work. But it’s vital to the success of any shoot.
A Quiet Backbone of Any Professional Shoot
Image: Noble Bison Productions production crew behind the scenes
The first assistant director is behind nearly every decision that keeps a production day moving. From pre-production to wrap, they’re solving problems, setting the tone, and ensuring your team gets what it needs to do great work. When you’re balancing creative needs with limited hours, the AD makes sure the work gets done and the vision stays intact, on time and on budget.
If you’re planning a video project and want a smooth production, ensure your crew includes a seasoned 1st AD. When you work with Noble Bison Productions across any of our video production services, we value logistics just as much as creativity, and we work with ADs who can carry that load with skill and confidence.
Whether you're on your tenth shoot or just starting out, understanding the role of the 1st AD helps you better plan, collaborate, and create. They may not call the shots—but they make sure the shots happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A: No, the director focuses on creative decisions, like performance, shot composition, and storytelling. The 1st AD focuses on logistics, timing, and crew coordination.
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A: For small shoots, you can get away without one. But once you’ve got multiple departments or a multi-day schedule, a 1st AD saves time, money, and stress.
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A: Technically, yes, but it’s not ideal. Combining these roles will likely create conflicts of interest or overload, as each demands significant time and focus. A dedicated 1st AD lets the producer focus on higher-level concerns.
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A: Call sheets, shooting schedules/shot lists, walkie systems, and scene breakdowns. Many also use scheduling software like Movie Magic or StudioBinder.
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A: A great 1st AD is often recognized for organization, time management, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and leadership. And like most production roles, it’s long hours.
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A: No, many 1st ADs learn through hands-on experience, starting in entry-level production roles like production assistant (PA) as a stepping stone, and working their way up. However, film school can provide valuable knowledge of production processes and networking opportunities.
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