Assistant Directors
Bilingual 1st and 2nd ADs who know French crew practices, Paris studios, and location shoots across every region.
Assistant directors in France work within a production culture shaped by strong labor rules and well-organized crews. The French film industry leans on long collaborative traditions, and French ADs know how to honor them. They understand the country's working-hour limits, union practices, and the protocols for shooting at heritage sites, Parisian streets, and major studios like La Cité du Cinéma and Bry-sur-Marne.
Our network holds bilingual French-English ADs skilled in global co-productions backed by the TRIP rebates, CNC-funded features, prestige television, and high-end commercials. They bridge global directors and French crew practices, which keeps shooting days efficient across Paris, Provence, the Côte d'Azur, and every region of France.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete AD Services
From pre-production scheduling through wrap, our assistant directors lead the floor and keep 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.
French & International Credits
Our ADs hold credits on César-nominated features, Cannes selections, major global co-productions, and high-end commercials shot across France.
02.
French Labor Law Expertise
Our ADs know French working-hour rules, union practices, and the crew-management culture that sets French production apart from other markets.
03.
Bilingual Set Leadership
Fluent French-English ADs run sets smoothly and link global directors with French crews, so no translation delays or cultural mix-ups slow the day.
04.
Heritage & Location Protocols
Our ADs have scheduled shoots at Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel, Parisian street closures, and protected heritage sites, and they handle France's permitting and access needs.
On Location
Bilingual assistant directors anchoring French shooting days
Our 1st AD, 2nd AD, and 2nd 2nd AD roster runs the floor on French shoots with the discipline that the Convention Collective production audiovisuelle and intermittents du spectacle scheduling rules demand. Your shoot might lock into a sound stage at La Cité du Cinéma, dress a Haussmann block in Paris, work a beach unit on the Côte d'Azur, or move between Lyon studios and Bordeaux exteriors. In each case, our ADs build day-out-of-days and strip boards that respect French working-hour ceilings, set meal breaks, and the Code du travail rest periods that catch unprepared global teams off guard.
Bilingual French-English leadership is the practical promise here. The 1st AD running the set is the same person fluent in the language used by the gaffer, the régisseur, and the mairie liaison waiting on a street permit. We brief ADs on TRIP-funded co-productions, CNC-supported features, and the heritage-site protocols that Centre des Monuments Nationaux locations from Versailles to Carcassonne demand. Our bench runs deep enough to staff multi-unit shoots across Marseille, Toulouse, and the Pyrenees from a single booking call, and we never drop coverage on prep.
ACT 03
FAQ
AD Department Expertise
What does a 1st Assistant Director do?
In France, the 1st AD runs the set within the country's production culture. The role covers French crew working hours and department setup, and it frees the director to focus on creative choices at studios like La Cité du Cinéma or on location across Paris and the regions.
What's the difference between 1st and 2nd AD?
The 1st AD leads set operations, while the 2nd AD handles logistics like call sheets, talent planning, background artists, and the paperwork French production needs. On large French shoots, the two work as a team that links the set and the production office.
How far in advance should I book an AD?
For features in France, book 4-8 weeks ahead of prep so the AD can build the script breakdown and schedule. French ADs skilled with TRIP shoots and heritage-site protocols are in high demand, so we advise booking even earlier.
Do your ADs speak English?
Yes, all our ADs for global shoots are bilingual French-English speakers. Many hold deep credits on American, British, and European co-shoots in France, so they know both global expectations and French set culture.
Can you provide AD teams for multi-unit productions?
Yes, we staff full AD departments for multi-unit shoots across France, with the main unit at Parisian locations, a second unit in Provence, and splinter units at heritage sites. Each unit holds the same communication and scheduling standards.
What experience do your ADs have?
Our ADs hold credits on major global features, César-nominated shoots, premium television, and high-profile commercials shot across France. We match each AD's experience and temperament to your production's scale and the dynamics of its global crews.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need an AD Team?
Tell us about your production, and we'll recommend the right assistant directors.