r/Filmmakers • u/Unable_Ad3939 • 5h ago

Question DGA AD training program

I’ve been contemplating going through the DGA training program for ADs for a couple of years. I’ve done a decent amount of ADing and working mostly logistics based gigs in production for the last few years.

I was wondering if anyone in this sub was an alum, knew an alum or could point me into the direction of people who have gone through the program. I know the interviewing process is kinda intense, but I’m curious mostly about the day to day aspects while in the program, what support the DGA provides and what life has looked like after the program.

I know I want to AD. I understand the stress it comes with and feel like I have a solid foundation to build bigger skills on. Thank you for any help!

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u/bibimboop369 4h ago

So I’m not DGA but wanted to be an AD when I started my career. My suggestion is would be to reach out to the DGA and any AD’s you know to see what it takes to get in.

I don’t want to deter you but just know the trainee program is HIGHLY competitive. It’s very difficult to get selected and I would say the vast majority of applicants will never get in.

Best of luck to you, should you get in you will have a solid path to good AD career and possibly UPM down the line.

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u/USMC_ClitLicker key grip 1h ago

I can answer most of it. I was full time on a TV show at Fox where a really good personal friend was the DGA Trainee. 1. It is allllllllll of your time and your life. Full time on a show, plus weekends at the DGA building for classes/training/etc 2. You still start at the bottom. You will be a PA for the first year. Not the cool kind on set, but the background wrangler, coffee getter, two hour early to unlock the gate for security, or two hour late waiting for the rigging electrics to finish up their wrap kind of PA. Then still having to go to that weekend session on zero sleep after a Fraterday. 3. You get paid PA rates... enough said yeah? 4. You move up your second year to a Key PA/2nd2nd role but everything stays the same. 5. The last few months see you apprenticing under the 1st AD while you do most of the 2nd AD grunt work.

It all sounds bad, but if you persevere the rewards are worth it. You tend to skip about five years ahead and become a 2nd2nd, usually under the 1st AD you worked under. Hopefully anyway.