Types

• Several types of assistant movie directors, or ADs, may exist on a film set. The first assistant director is the primary assistant. He breaks down the script, prepares the storyboard and shooting schedule, organizes the crew and obtains needed equipment. The second assistant director directs background extras, finishes paperwork at the beginning and end of the day, checks in cast and crew, and makes sure the production is on schedule. If the production is broken up into separate units, each unit may have a director and second assistant directors in charge of their units. In those cases, the second AD of the entire production is called the key second assistant to distinguish her from the unit second assistants, who are called "second second ADs" or "2nd second ADs."
  
  

First Assistant Director

• DGA salaries for the first assistant director depend on where he works. Minimum weekly salaries for those in studios run $4,481, while those who must travel to a location get $6,266 per week. For daily work at the studio, the wages are $1,120, while on location, the daily rate is $1,567. ADs are also due production fees, which are simply amounts for covering office space, supplies and miscellaneous expenses. Such fees run $830 per week in the studio and $1,021 per week on location, or $208 per day in the studio and $255 per day on location.
  
  

Second Assistant Director

• Minimum weekly amounts for the key second assistant director are $3,003 for those in studios, and $4,195 for those on location. Daily wages run $751 in the studio and $1,049 on location. Productions fees are $633 per week or $158 per day in the studio, or $830 per week or $208 per day on location. The 2nd second ADs get weekly minimums of $2,835 in the studio and $3,962 on location, or daily minimums of $709 in the studio of $991 on location. They are not entitled to production fees.
  
  

Benefits

• Assistant movie directors who earn minimum annual thresholds are entitled to one year of benefits from DGA's health plan. For the basic Choice Plan, that minimum is $33,400, and for the Premier Choice Plan, it is $103,900. Producers who hire DGA members must contribute to these plans based on the salaries of their employees.
  
  ADs may also receive pension benefits based on the number of months they have worked in their profession. In general, accruing 120 months at a maximum of 12 months a calendar year provides benefits. The retirement pay is based on the average lifetime earnings of the AD once he retires at age 65. Contributions made by ADs to the Supplemental Plan can increase that pay.