Home › Departments › Assistant Directors › Trainee AD

Trainee AD

Entry-level assistant director trainee on UK film/TV units — radio discipline, schedule and safety culture.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Shadow AD team
• Assist lock-ups and runs
• Learn set protocol and H&S

Reports to

2nd/3rd AD mentor

Works with

AD team

Career path

Trainee AD → Floor Runner / 3rd AD

Day to day

Shadow 2nd/3rd; call sheet packs; background check-in; learn radio codes; absorb safety culture.

Call times

1st AD often early for blocking/safety; 2nd AD works call-sheet nights; 3rd/crowd early for background; floor runners match the floor. Always read the call sheet header.

What to wear

Blacks; comfortable shoes; radio; weather layers; hi-vis when needed for crowd/traffic.

Tools & kit

Radio, sides, notebook, watch, comfortable bag, weather cover for call sheets.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Call sheets
• Movie Magic Scheduling / Excel stripboards
• StudioBinder / Yamdu / call sheet tools
• Radio / WhatsApp discipline
• ChatGPT for draft background briefings (1st AD approves)

Related roles

Floor Runner, 3rd AD

More Assistant Directors roles