Interview with Louisiana AD

Interview with Ann C. Salzer
Assistant Director on Ray, Freelancer


-Can you briefly define your job to me?
"1st AD is the director's right hand, they will take a script and break it down and develop it per department and then break it down further to schedule for filming. On a day-to-day basis they are to handle filming and making sure every shot has been shot and every prop is ready, etc."


-How did you get started in the business?
"In photography after college, even though she studied computer science. Her cousin called her up for a job and she started as an office PA. She walked onto set she was sold. After that she kept going from project to project. She went to LA for a time and then came back to New Orleans and has been in the business for 22 Years. "


-How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?
"Be honest and straight up tell them. Never lie and always have a solution to the problem. By scheduling prepare a fallback in case."


-Do you have any advice for a media student starting out
"Find somebody who's going to give you that break. Doesn't matter where you start just so long as you get your foot in the door. Doesn't even matter if you know where you want to go just so long as you're able to start. Also, be very political, know how to give someone an idea to go along with you on your own vision."