First Assistant Director On Set Protocols

Get Certified in First Assistant Directing Protocols

Taught by Korey Pollard, producer, DGA unit production manager/first assistant director with over two decades in the business on over 60 film and television productions. His television and film credits include Emmy-winning American Crime Story (FX), Emmy-nominated Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon), Nashville (ABC), Seal Team (CBS), Big Sky (ABC), the critically-acclaimed show Monk (USA), Deadwood (HBO), House (FOX), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Boomtown (NBC), and CSI (CBS) and dozens more. Korey's film credits include Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 2, And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself, Thirteen Days, Waterworld, Clear & Present Danger, Eye For An Eye, G.I. Jane, That Thing You Do, and Stand By Me, among many others.

When on set during a production day, the First Assistant Director ("1st AD") is the Director's right hand. The 1st AD plans the production schedule and works closely with the Director, the Director of Photography, and all key department heads to ensure the most efficient shoot days. The ultimate goal of the 1st AD is to manage a production through space and time to give the Director the most amount of time and focus to work with their actors and to set their shots. If any adjustments to the production schedule need to be made for any reason it is the 1st AD who manages that process and adjusts the schedule so that the overall production remains on time and budget.

The 1st AD also manages their own department, which may be made up of a Key 2nd Assistant Director, a 2nd 2nd Assistant Director, and all of the Production Assistants. This department is collectively responsible for managing the set and production basecamp, creating Call Sheets for the crew, managing the movement of all cast and crew, setting background actors, locking up the set so no people or cars interrupt a shot, making sure the crew eats their meals on time or recieve meal penalties, and much more. 

The course will cover:

• What a 1st AD Does the First Day On Set of a Production. 
• How a 1st AD Reads Production Sides and Confirms Elements Needed To Execute
• How a 1st AD Manages The Schedule and Call Sheets
• How a 1st AD Walks the Set and Publishes The Daily Timeline To Key Department Heads
• The 1st AD Safety Meeting
• How a 1st AD Manages Rehearsals & Lighting
• How a 1st AD Manages The Shooting of Scenes
• How a 1st AD Manages Schedule Changes
• The Assistant Director Department Org Chart
• How to Manage Issues That Happen On Set
• How To Coordinate & Communicate To Keep The Set Focused and Moving
• *Includes handouts and examples to help you learn First Assistant Director On Set Protocols

About the Instructor

This certification module is taught by Korey Pollard, producer, DGA unit production manager/first assistant director with over two decades in the business on over 60 film and television productions. His television and film credits include Emmy-winning American Crime Story (FX), Emmy-nominated Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon), Nashville (ABC), Seal Team (CBS), Big Sky (ABC), the critically-acclaimed show Monk (USA), Deadwood (HBO), House (FOX), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Boomtown (NBC), and CSI (CBS) and dozens more.

Film credits include Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 2, And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself, Thirteen Days, Waterworld, Clear & Present Danger, Eye For An Eye, G.I. Jane, That Thing You Do, and Stand By Me, among many others.

He also holds a position on The First Assistant Director/Unit Production Manager Committee of The Directors Guild of America.

(Payment plans available at checkout)