Assistant Directors
Skilled 1st and 2nd ADs managing shoots across Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Here is how this works in practice. The assistant director is the organizational force behind each Canadian production, converting the director's creative vision into a structured shooting plan. From managing large-scale features at Pinewood Toronto Studios to setting up episodic television at Vancouver Film Studios, the 1st AD keeps the set running efficiently and frees the director to focus on performance.
Here is the short of it. NeedAFixer connects you with Canadian ADs who bring deep experience across the country's major production hubs. Our network has pros who have worked at Pinewood Toronto, MELS Studios in Montreal, and Vancouver Film Studios, with practical knowledge of DGC guild protocols, provincial tax credits, and the logistics of shooting across Canada's vast and many settings.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete AD Services
From pre-production scheduling through wrap, our assistant directors provide the organizational leadership that keeps productions efficient and on track.
01
1st Assistant Director
- Set management & control
- Shooting schedule execution
- Director collaboration
- Crew coordination
- Safety oversight
Set Leadership
02
2nd Assistant Director
- Call sheet preparation
- Talent coordination
- Background management
- Paperwork & reports
- 1st AD support
Production Support
03
AD Team Services
- 2nd 2nd ADs
- Key set PAs
- Crowd marshals
- Base camp coordination
- Multi-unit support
Complete Teams
04
Pre-Production
- Schedule breakdown
- Day-out-of-days
- Strip board creation
- Location logistics
- Shooting order planning
Prep Excellence
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Assistant Directors
01.
Canadian Production Expertise
Our ADs have credits on major Hollywood features, premium Canadian television, and global commercials. They bring proven expertise across Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal production environments.
02.
Studio & Provincial Knowledge
ADs familiar with Pinewood Toronto, Vancouver Film Studios, and MELS Montreal. They handle Ontario Creates, Creative BC, and SODEC incentive programs and know provincial crew ecosystems.
03.
Bilingual Communication
English and French speaking ADs making sure clear communication on Montreal sets and across Canadian shoots. They bridge the gap between global crews and local DGC-affiliated teams.
04.
Multi-Province Scheduling
Pro schedule management across Canada's time zones and climates. Our ADs plan around seasonal weather, DGC turnaround needs, and the logistics of remote location shoots from Banff to Newfoundland.
On Location
Bilingual EN/FR 1st AD bench trained at CFC, VFS and L'Inis
Here is how the work lines up. Canada's 1st AD roster is one of the deepest in North America, built on a training pipeline that runs through Vancouver Film School, Sheridan College, Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson), Concordia's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and L'Inis in Montreal, with mid-career polish given by the Canadian Film Centre that Norman Jewison founded in Toronto in 1988.
Here is how the picture comes together. The working credits we draw on cluster around 1st ADs like Adam Kane on Star Trek: Find at Pinewood Toronto, Steve Vince on The Boys for Amazon out of Vancouver, David Brown on Dune: Part Two's Vancouver unit and Stéphane Bertrand on Quebec features and series. Our 2nd AD desk plugs into the in-house pools at Rhombus Media and Don Carmody Productions in Toronto. Into the Max Films and Cinémaginaire benches in Montreal for francophone shoots. Department-head planning, day-out-of-days breakdowns, strip boards and shooting orders are built against DGC Standard Agreement turnaround windows, IATSE Local 891 (BC) / 873 (Ontario) / 514 (Quebec) shift conventions, and ACTRA performer agreements with UDA equivalence in Quebec.
Here is what we have to work with. On the floor our AD departments run bilingually by default. 1st ADs work set control, director teamwork, walkie discipline and safety oversight in English, with French-language call sheets, walkie protocol and crew briefings stood up for Montreal, Quebec City and SODEC-incentivised shoots. The 2nd AD desk handles call sheets, talent movement and background management against IATSE 12-hour rest needs, DGC turnaround rules, ACTRA performer conventions and provincial workplace-insurance frameworks. WorkSafeBC, WSIB Ontario, CNESST Quebec and WCB Alberta / Manitoba / Saskatchewan.
Here is the layout. For multi-unit features and streaming series we field complete AD departments — 1st, 2nd, 2nd 2nd, key set PAs, crowd marshals and base-camp coordinators — across main, second, splinter and aerial units, keeping a single coherent rhythm from Pinewood Toronto and Cinespace through Vancouver Film Studios, Bridge Studios and MELS Montreal without losing turnover, while the line producer's CPTC 25% federal labour-credit log and PSTC 16% qualifying-expenditure log keep pace in parallel.
ACT 03
FAQ
AD Department Expertise
What does a 1st Assistant Director do on a Canadian set?
Here is the breakdown. The 1st AD runs the set — managing the shooting schedule, setting up all departments, calling shots, and making sure the director focuses on creative decisions. In Canada, the 1st AD also manages DGC (Directors Guild of Canada) protocols and provincial safety needs.
What's the difference between 1st and 2nd AD?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. The 1st AD runs the set during shooting, while the 2nd AD handles logistics off-set — preparing call sheets, setting up talent movements, managing background artists, and handling production forms. On larger shoots, they work as a team with the 2nd supporting the 1st's set management.
How do DGC guild rules affect scheduling?
DGC protocols set standard turnaround periods, meal breaks, and late hours rules that differ by province. Our ADs build these needs into schedules from the outset, making sure compliance while maximizing productive shooting time.
Do your ADs speak both English and French?
Many of our ADs are bilingual in English and French, which is key for Montreal shoots. For Toronto and Vancouver shoots, all our ADs are fluent English speakers with extensive experience on global shoots.
Can you provide AD teams for multi-unit productions?
Yes, we staff complete AD departments including 1st ADs, 2nd ADs, 2nd 2nd ADs, and extra support for main unit, second unit, and splinter units. We set up to make sure steady communication across all units.
What experience do your ADs have?
Our AD roster has pros with credits on major Hollywood features, premium Canadian series, and high-profile commercials across Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Many have managed shoots at Pinewood Toronto and MELS Studios.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need an AD Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend skilled assistant directors.