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Assistant Director Film Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Legendary Studio Shows (LSS) Universal, LLC.

$80 - $100/hr

As such, the 1st AD must have enough knowledge about each department on a film set in order to ... During filming, one of the first assistant director's primary responsibilities is what's known as ...

Unboxing Careers Podcast

Film Producer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Finding and developing projects Hiring key personnel, including directors, writers, and cast ... Take on production assistant roles to gain exposure to different departments. Accept any available ...

Marylandconnect

... film, events, or related field. Experience working with and supervising students in a college ... Assistant Director FSU is proud to be a diverse and inclusive multicultural university. Frostburg ...

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Assistant Director Film information

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$25K

$72K

$147K

How much do assistant director film jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for assistant director film in the United States is $71,970.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,500.00 and $89,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an assistant director do?

An Assistant Director (AD) is responsible for managing the set, coordinating between departments, and ensuring the production stays on schedule. The AD creates shooting schedules, communicates the director’s instructions to the cast and crew, and oversees logistics such as call times and set safety. They are essential for keeping the production organized and running smoothly, allowing the director to focus on the creative aspects of filmmaking. The AD often acts as a liaison between the director, cast, crew, and production office to help deliver the film on time and within budget.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an assistant director?

To thrive as an Assistant Director in film, you need strong organizational skills, the ability to manage schedules, and experience with film production processes, often backed by a degree in film or related experience. Familiarity with production management software, call sheet creation tools, and budgeting systems is typically required. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills help coordinate cast and crew while maintaining a positive set environment. These abilities are vital for ensuring smooth production workflows, meeting deadlines, and supporting the director’s creative vision.

How does an assistant director collaborate with different departments during film production?

An Assistant Director plays a crucial role in coordinating communication and workflow between various departments, such as camera, lighting, sound, wardrobe, and set design. The AD ensures that each department is informed of the shooting schedule, changes in scenes, and specific requirements for each setup. This involves leading daily production meetings, distributing call sheets, and troubleshooting any issues that arise to keep the production running smoothly. Effective collaboration and strong organizational skills are essential for an AD to maintain efficiency and foster a positive working environment on set.

What is the difference between Assistant Director Film vs Production Coordinator?

AspectAssistant Director FilmProduction Coordinator
Primary RoleAssists the director in scheduling, coordinating on set, and managing daily operations during filmingCoordinates logistics, manages communication between departments, and oversees production schedules
Required SkillsStrong organizational skills, knowledge of filming processes, leadership abilitiesExcellent communication, multitasking, problem-solving skills
Work EnvironmentOn set during filming, often long hoursOffice and on-set, supporting production needs
Industry UsageCommonly found in film and TV productionsEssential in production companies, film, and TV projects

The Assistant Director Film focuses on on-set management and daily filming operations, while the Production Coordinator handles logistics and communication across departments. Both roles are vital for smooth production flow but differ in daily responsibilities and focus areas.

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Assistant Director Film jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Director Film job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,970 per year, or $34.6 per hour.

Assistant Director

Focus Features

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

ResponsibilitiesFirst ADs' main duties are assisting the Director, co-ordinating all production activity, and supervising the cast and crew. They are also in charge of a department of other Assistant Directors and Runners. Overall, they provide the key link between the Director, the cast and the crew, whilst also liaising with the production office, and providing regular progress reports about the shoot.
Before the shoot, the Firsts' main task is to create the filming schedule, working in careful consultation with the Director in order to fulfil his or her creative ambitions. When drawing up the shooting schedule, First ADs must also be aware of budgetary constraints, cast availability and script coverage. Preparing the storyboard, overseeing the hiring of locations, props and equipment, and checking weather reports, are all key pre-production duties for Firsts. During production, they must ensure that everyone is on standby and ready for the Director's cue for action.
First ADs' core responsibility is to keep filming on schedule by driving it forward, so they frequently make announcements and give directions to co-ordinate the cast and crew. They also control discipline on the set, supervise the other Assistant Directors, and oversee the preparation of the daily 'call sheet' (a document detailing daily shooting logistics, which is distributed to all cast and crew). Firsts are also responsible for health and safety on set or location, and must take action to eliminate or minimise hazards at all times.
SkillsFirst ADs must be authoritative team-leaders and motivators, whilst also being approachable team players. They need exceptional organisational and time-management skills. The ability to plan ahead, trouble-shoot and pay close attention to detail is vital in this role. Being an excellent communicator, with tact and diplomacy skills, is also essential as they must routinely deal with problem or even crisis situations. They must also constantly prioritise tasks, and may be frequently interrupted, the ability to multi-task is crucial. Firsts work long and often unsocial hours on a freelance basis, so a strong commitment to the job is essential. As they also usually work under highly pressurised and stressful conditions, a flexible and positive approach is highly valued.
Qualifications/ExperienceNo formal qualifications are required to become a First Assistant Director. Extensive industry experience gained through working on set or on location is the key route to develop the necessary skills. Most First ADs start as Runners, before progressing through the other Assistant Director roles (Third Assistant Director and Second Assistant Director). This route may take a number of years.
In particular, Firsts need specific experience in planning and budgeting (and how this affects scheduling), as well as in-depth knowledge of, and qualifications in, current Health and Safety legislation and procedures. Regular Health and Safety training courses should be undertaken, in order to keep this knowledge up to date. A full driving licence is generally deemed necessary.
Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Creative Skillset's and the BFl's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future2, a network of Academies have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film.

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