Trainee AD

The Trainee AD is the entry-level AD role — first or second production, learning on-set protocols and the AD-department workflow under direct supervision.

What the role does

• Runs on-set messages between AD team and other departments
• Maintains holding areas for cast / extras
• Supports the 3rd Assistant Director (3rd AD) on background coordination
• Observes the 1st Assistant Director (1st AD) / 2nd Assistant Director (2nd AD) on shoot-day execution to learn the rhythms

Position

Reports to 3rd Assistant Director (3rd AD) or 2nd Assistant Director (2nd AD) depending on production size.

Career progression

SI Competency Framework Level 1 — New Entrant. Path: Trainee AD → 3rd Assistant Director (3rd AD) → 2nd Assistant Director (2nd AD) → 1st Assistant Director (1st AD).

Skills Development Plan participation

Canonical "New Entrant" Tab F category — see Skills Development Plan (Tab F). ILP + reflective journal + supervisor sign-off + Mandatory online courses — Bullying, Bystander, Unconscious Bias required.

Working pattern + guild

Freelance, shoot-heavy. SDGI.

How Togra supports this

Skills Development module tracks Trainee ADs as Tab F participants. Cross-references the participant's progression on the SI Competency Framework axis.