At seven in the evening, the actor for tomorrow's first scene calls in sick. The second assistant director checks who else is available, reshuffles the morning with the 1st AD, rebooks two cars and sends out a new call sheet before ten. The crew wakes up to a plan that works. The second assistant director, or 2nd AD, is the person who prepares each shooting day so the set can start on time.

What a second assistant director does

The 2nd AD works for the first assistant director. Where the 1st AD runs the set, the 2nd AD looks ahead. They join in pre-production and help prepare the schedule. During the shoot they spend much of their time near the production base or in the trucks and trailers, not on the set itself.

Their main product is the call sheet, the daily document that tells every crew member and actor where to be, when, and which scenes are planned. The 2nd AD also schedules the cast, books them in with costume and make-up, and arranges their transport. They work with extras casting on the background actors needed each day. At the end of the day they fill in the daily progress report, which records what was shot, start and finish times, and anything that went wrong.

Responsibilities

  • Write and send out the daily call sheet
  • Schedule cast for make-up, costume and transport
  • Book and manage background actors with extras casting
  • Keep track of working hours for cast and crew
  • Fill in the daily progress report and other paperwork
  • Prepare the next day while the 1st AD runs today
  • Lead the team of runners and the 3rd AD where there is one

How the role touches the budget

Through paperwork that becomes cost. The 2nd AD does not hold a budget, but the progress report and the hours they record feed into overtime, extras fees and cast payments. The production accountant and the line producer use those records to check what each day really cost. Calling in extras that are not needed, or cast who wait all day, shows up in the cost report.

How people become second assistant directors

Most start as a runner or production assistant on set, then become a third assistant director, then a 2nd AD. Some move across from the production office, where they already worked with call sheets and schedules. The next step is usually 1st AD.

In TV and commercials

On a long TV series there may be several 2nd ADs, one preparing the next block while another works on the current one. In commercials the shoot is often one or two days, and the 2nd AD role is smaller or combined with other work in the production office.