The Second Assistant Director: Copy That!
I have done a good number of jobs in production, yet, unlike other people in film, I did not work my way up from PA. I started in theater, where I had been in management, so I moved laterally to Production Office Coordinator and Assistant Director and eventually to Production Manager and Producer.
Only one time did I work as a Second AD. One time was enough.
Yes, I had become a First AD without being a Second AD. A First AD who had worked for me on a number of shoots lost his Second AD a day before shooting. He called and asked me if I would do it.
"What about Stacey?" I asked, a reference to one of my regular Second ADs. "Or Anne?" I suggested as many people as I could. I had never been a Second, and I wasn't looking to be one. I knew how much pressure I put on them as a First. Oh, and there was one more thing.
"Van," I said to one of my favorite Firsts, "I'm really not good at the paperwork."
"What are you talking about," he said. "You used to correct my production reports."
"I know, but filling out the call sheet. I'm a slow typist. I..."
Ah, the call sheet, that dreaded call sheet which a Second AD must get out to let everyone know about the next day's schedule. Everyone wants it as soon as possible, and the First AD doesn't want to release it until he's sure that it's right for fear of spreading misinformation. The result? The Second AD is in the middle.
How many times had a Second AD gotten on the walkie with me, imploring me "Can I publish yet?" Or come running up to me, pen in hand, saying "Please, sign it." And how many times did I tell them that I would tell them in just a minute, which turned into an hour. Then, I would finally feel confident that we weren't going to a cover set, that we weren't going to push the call time back, that we didn't have to add a scene, and I would release the call. Minutes later, I'd be calling for the "martini", the last shot of the day, with a word in the walkie to my Second: "Are the call sheets going to be back from printing before we wrap?" Even though I couldn't hear it, I could imagine the names I was being called on the other end of the walkie. Now, it was going to be me mumbling to myself.
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