Director
Creative or operational relevance to directing
Runs the shoot: calls action, manages pace, enforces safety, and decides what gets cut when time is tight. Stands beside the director and speaks for the production.
The First Assistant Director is the person whose voice is heard most often on set and whose work is never seen in the frame. They translate the shooting schedule into a daily routine and keep it together.
What is actually decided
- Order. In what sequence the shots are filmed — by light, by setup time, by actor availability, not by script.
- Pace. When a take is sufficient. This is formally the director's decision, practically a joint one — and the 1st AD is the one who keeps an eye on the clock.
- Safety. They call the safety meeting and have the final word in case of danger, even against the shooting schedule.
Before shooting
The actual work begins weeks in advance: counting the script, cross-referencing locations and cast availability, building the shooting schedule. A plan that works on paper but not on set originated precisely at this stage.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Importance in production planning and execution
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „1. Regieassistent"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?