hiya!! aspiring film crew member here, and (if you can answer this) i’d absolutely love to know how you found your footing as an AD! especially with those big netflix shows (DBD being my most recent watch, i adored it!!), i’d love to know more about how you managed to find and grab those jobs.
the industry feels very intimidating at the moment and i very rarely see opportunities like that arise, but maybe im not doing something right. much love to you and your crew!! <3
Hi there! I can absolutely answer that for sure - happy to.
I will say getting a foot in the door varies greatly with where you are hoping to work. I'm from England originally and worked on movies in England but it wasn't as easy to get on set as it has been comparably here in Canada.
England, for example, doesn't have unions in a lot of departments and so there are no production lists available online to find contacts. I did join a great diary program with the Calltime Company that helped me get my foot in the door and the two people that run it Tamana and Vicky were awesome and very helpful. They worked as essentially a booking system where they would email me with opportunities and I would go for them or call me for last minute openings.
In Canada, ADs are with the Directors Guild of Canada and each province is slightly different but the production lists are available online along with the names you need to know to reach out and enquire about work.
In all instances I recommend starting out (and you would likely have to unless you already have connections) as a set PA. It's how I got my start and gives you ample opportunity to learn the ropes, get to know each department and what they do and get a better understanding of set etiquette, the major players and how everything works. Set PAs are where I hire most of my trainee assistant directors, in fact. I look for people that show initiative, know when to get out of the way but are there to lend a hand when needed.
A lot of what you need as a production assistant is spatial awareness, initiative, common sense (wild, I know) and availability. Having a car is paramount. PAs are the place to learn the ropes, from there you learn about and work with people from other departments so you get a feel for what you want to explore.
Department heads are always looking for hard workers who are eager to learn in the field, you just need to get yourself on set with them so they can see you shine!
The industry can be and feel very intimidating. It's still very much a man's world and stuck it's old ways in a lot of senses. That said, it's also an incredible world of opportunity where truly no two days are the same and whilst it's absolutely not for everyone I can't imagine doing anything else.
My advice to you to get your foot in the door is dependent on the industry where you're looking but aim to get in as a PA first - it's entry level and a chance to learn the ropes - build from there and before you know it if you work hard and get stuck in you'll be well on your way.
I hope that helps - feel free to ask if you have any other questions.