Running the Show: The Essential Guide to Being a First Assistant Director

by Liz Gill

Whether it's a crew of two hundred shooting a cast of thousands on horseback, or a crew of twelve filming one person in a room, each and every successful movie production requires a strong First Assistant Director (AD) at its helm. In this new and updated edition, veteran First AD Liz Gill walks you through the entire filmmaking process through the perspective of the First AD, from pre-production, shoot, wrap, and everything in between. This book provides invaluable insight into working as a First Assistant Director, featuring tricks-of-the-trade for breaking down a script, creating a schedule and organizing test shoots, alongside how to use turnaround time, weather cover, split days, overtime and continuous days to balance a challenging schedule and get the most from the cast, crew and the shoot. This new edition has been fully updated and expanded throughout to provide up-to-date coverage on new equipment and software, health and safety considerations and the implications of VFX. This is the essential guide to becoming a successful First Assistant Director, ideal for professional and aspiring AD’s seeking to further their career, students of directing and production looking to gain a better understanding of how this department works and anyone interested in film and TV production.

The accompanying eResources provide an expanded selection of sample call sheets, report templates, checklists, and other useful documents.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

Reviews

[chad nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, if not only, book about my job. I'll reread bits every few months to see how someone else does it.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running the Show: The Essential Guide to Being a First Assistant Director is a long overdue study bible for anyone with a serious need to work in the film industry. Author Liz Gill, a veteran assistant director (Safe, The Omen, Bloody Sunday), guides the reader through the minefield of endless responsibilities an AD faces on a daily basis with a friendly informative style that presents the answers in the least intimidating manner. Her approach is that of a wise friend in casual conversation over coffee. The AD’s job is of utmost importance and a production’s success or failure is often dependent on the skill level of the person in charge of running the show.

You can read ZigZag's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Adam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed and well-written. As someone who prefers self-study and experience over schools and formal routes, I learned a lot from it that has proven valuable and practical.

[Matthew Siemers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who works on film should read this book. It gives great overview of the whole filmmaking process and lots of practical advice for assistant directors.

[Sandrene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lives up to its title of being essential. I wish I had read it before some of the AD gigs I've had, and I definitely intend on going back to it at various stages of my career.

Liz outlines the job of being a 1st AD from the moment you get hired until the project is over, and she does so with great clarity and detail. She gives a great overview of what's expected of you, how your position relates to the other departments on set and common challenges you face on set, along with tips to overcome them.

I'll be honest, there were times while reading this and seeing so clearly how much goes into being a 1st AD that I was ready to run and find a new career path. I imagine that future re-reads will be like hanging out with an old friend, sharing war stories.

[Len · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book in all forms it comes in. I breathe this book, I read parts of it before I take any job actually. Just to be sure. Just to make sure I have everything covered.

I bow to you Liz!!!! You saved my life countless of times

[Ranvijay Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book

[Nikariy Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente para quien quiera aprender más sobre 1AD y como trabajan las industrias extranjeras.

[Marcelo Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

saved my thesis

[Rase McCray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing resource for a very niche topic.

[Emmy Gaddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some interesting information that is rarely written about in the industry towards the beginning of the book.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always wanted to know what a first assistant director actually did.Well now I know.The job has so many obligations and restrictions that you wonder how they do the job,let alone enjoy it.

[Damian Navarro-Vaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide to understand filmmaking from an AD's point of view without being in set. Saves you from a lot of possible situations.

[Atemkeng Zilefac]

I want to read it

[Travis Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Recommended for anyone serious about filmmaking, especially producers!!