Assistant Director (1st AD & 2nd AD) Masterclass

TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS, PLEASE REGISTER HERE ON EVENTBRITE.

This comprehensive hands-on, in-person class is brought to you by the Boulder County Film Commission; we're very lucky to have not only lead instructor Denise Strong, but two additional professional DGA AD's - Jeff Lewis and Kevin Jackson, all sharing their years of experience, and getting you up-to-speed on what you'll need to know to be a great 1st or 2nd AD.

In this exciting class, you'll learn:

• What is an Assistant Director
• Who is on the AD team, and what are AD responsibilities
• Working with Set PAs (Key Set PA & Set PAs)
• Difference Between Commercials & Features/Narrative for the AD Roll
• Breakdown Shots vs Scenes

• Paperwork - Call Sheet/Production Report/DOOD
• SAG Paperwork Difference
• AD Authority on Long Form
• AD differences on Commercials vs Features - 1st, 2nd & 2nd 2nd
• PO Remote or On-Set
• What are the Breakdown Elements needed to shoot - Cast, Set, Art/Props, Special Equipment, etc.
• Scheduling
• Set Hierarchy/Set Etiquette
• Common Problems / Pitfalls
• Creative Problem Solving in Real Time
• Getting intimate with Walkie-Talkies!
• Best AD Tools

Class Size

To ensure a positive class experience, this class is limited to only 20 participants.

Location

This class will be held in-person at Homebase Film Rentals in Boulder, Colorado.

Taught By Industry Pros

This is a unique opportunity to learn practical skills from someone with over thirty years of professional experience in film and video production.

Beef Up Your Resumé

Each participant will receive a certificate from the Boulder County Film Commission upon completion of the class.

Make Industry Connections through the Boulder County Film Commission

Meet and connect with leaders in the Colorado film/video industry who run successful businesses that hire and recommend crew throughout the year.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with set life and with common film terminology used during production will help you to get the most from this class.

Cost

The cost of this class is $149 per person. Please be sure to preregister on this page to reserve your seat, as this class always fills up! Also, PLEASE be sure you really want to take this class before signing up, as no refunds will be given. (Sorry, we're a very small organization).

Instructor Bio

Denise Strong grew up in Texas & graduated from Texas State University with a BFA in
Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in Directing. After working her way up in the Film Industry as an intern, PA, Location Assistant, and 2nd Assistant Director, she became a member of The Directors Guild of America in 1993 in the category of Assistant Director. Since then she has moved from 2nd 2nd AD to Key 2nd AD and on to First AD where she currently works on
commercials & feature films. During her career, she has worked on projects such as
“Dumb & Dumber”, “The Bucket List”, “Switchback”, “The Laramie Project” & “Things to Do in Denver when You're Dead”.

**Please be advised that the Boulder County Film Commission will capture video and photographic images during this event for marketing and publicity purposes. By attending, you agree to being photographed and filmed and to the use of your image for these purposes.**

The instructor for this class is Denise Strong, who has worked professionally in the film industry for over thirty years.

Homebase Film Rentals, formerly known as LSP Film Rentals, is located at 3550 Frontier Ave, Suite A2, Boulder, CO 80301. It is located just off Foothills Parkway and Pearl, and their space is located inside the part of the long building called "The Studio", which is right next door to Sanitas Brewing, and around the building from Black Lab Sports.

Instructors Denise Strong, Kevin Jackson, and Jeff Lewis teaching the Boulder County Film Commission's Assistant Director class in October 2024.

Assistant Director class, October 2024.

Photo from our "Advanced P.A. Masterclass", taught by DP Fredo Jones and Gaffer Austin Michaels at LSP Studios (La Storia Productions) in 2024.

Assistant Director class, October 2024.

Assistant Director class, October 2024.