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OUR MISSION

The mission of the Directors Guild–Producer Training Plan is to provide motion picture and television industry training as directed by the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers and the Directors Guild of America.

 

The Assistant Directors Training Program recruits a diverse group of applicants from across the United States and provides selected candidates with education, training and paid experience in professional settings, facilitating their development into successful Assistant Directors. The Training Program’s ultimate goal is to provide the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers with Assistant Directors of the highest quality and professionalism.

 

The Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan offers safety training to Directors Guild of America covered employees and provides seminars covering current changes to collective bargaining agreements and local, state and federal filming regulations; to all motion picture and television industry employees, working within the classifications of Unit Production Manager and Assistant Director.

 

* Note that we do not train participants to be producers or directors.  This program offers training specifically to learn the craft of an Assistant Director.

DIVERSITY &
INCLUSION
STATEMENT

The Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan embraces equality and inclusion in a meaningful way. We are committed to building a community of trainees of varied backgrounds, and diverse voices.  

THE ROLE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Communication

Communicating the on-going status of all elements of production to everyone associated with the production, including constantly advising the ADs of their own location and the location of actors and crew, as well as what tasks they have completed and when they were completed.  Quickly relaying changes in schedule and plans to actors, crew, background, and the production office.  Distributing paperwork, schedules, scripts and script revisions (as prioritized by the ADs) to actors, crew and background.

“Being in the DGA Training Program was the best opportunity of a lifetime. The on-the-job training and experiences prepared me to become a great AD. The amount of ADs, UPMs, and Producers that the Training Plan has connected me with will assist me with finding jobs for years to come.”

-LaTrisa Jackson, Program Graduate

“Being a DGA trainee, I was able to obtain practical experience while learning from the best AD’s in the industry on award winning film & TV projects. While gaining my experience, I was afforded the opportunity to foster working relationships within the AD departments. These lasting relationships, even after graduation, have made it possible to continue to find work and achieve my career goals as an AD.”

— Mindy Ma, Program Graduate

“The DGA Training Program offered me opportunities and experiences I would not have been able to achieve on my own. From the people I met, the training I received and the shows I worked on, the Training Program provided me the skills and networking I needed to jump start and maintain my career. I am thankful and proud to be a DGA Trainee Alumni."

-Jenny Nolan Bailey, Program Graduate

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