A film set is one of the most interesting workplaces you could be involved in as there are literally hundreds of different positions, and each position has a very unique responsibility; however, each position works in unison for the universal goal of capturing a breathtaking motion picture.
As an actor, it is important that you understand the purpose of each crew department and how it affects you and your performance. The directing unit is one that an actor works closely with day-in and day-out.
Who is in the Directing Unit
Even for non-experienced film actors, the directing unit is comprised of professionals that are very familiar to all people. This core group of professionals are responsible for the overseeing the actual photographing of a film as they work hand-in-hand with camera equipment, actors and other crew departments.
The “manager” or “supervisor” of the directing unit is the director. While most actors are familiar with what a director is and what his responsibilities are within a movie, for those who do not know the director is responsible for transforming the script into moving pictures with sound. The director is also responsible for fulfilling the creative aspect of an entire film from production all the way through the completion of editing in postproduction.
To assist the director within the goal of creating a visual masterpiece are the following professionals, each with specific duty or responsibility:
First Assistant Director – Also known as First A.D. is the director’s right-hand man (or woman) and also works very closely with the production manager as this professional is responsible for the ensuring a film shoot runs smoothly and on-time.
Second Assistant Director – The primary responsibilities of this professional is to assist the first assistant director as well as the director. Primarily, this professional handles the paperwork and logistics of filming.
Dialogue Coach – If the film requires a dialogue coach to assist actors with accents or different languages, the dialogue coach will work very closely with the actors, director and first assistant director.
