August 4, 2011
Realizing a need for a diverse pool of properly trained Assistant Directors in the industry, in 1965 the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers established the Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan, Assistant Directors Training Program (ADTP). The ADTP’s purpose is to provide equal access to men and women of diverse backgrounds to participate in an industry sponsored program that trains people to become Second Assistant Directors in the motion picture and television industry.
The ADTP recently announced the names of those accepted to the 2011 Program. They are: Sydney Alford, Keisha Ansley, Rishi Chitkara, Donna Davenport, Kirisa Gavrin, Bryce Hudson, Alexandra Lambrinidis, Christina Lee, Alejandro Mora, Tara Nicole, Jinny Parron, Gina Triola, Corinne Wedlake, and Richard Welch. The graduates this year are: Mark Ballou, Christine Danahy, Craig Langus, Sam Luu, Cindy King, Sarah Olivieri, Angie Read, Allison Rushton, Linde Sayles, Redelia Shaw, and Steve Windle. Their names will now be placed on the Qualification List (QL), making them eligible for employment as Second Assistant Directors and for membership in the DGA.
Each year the ADTP recruits 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 program’s ultimate goal is to provide the DGA and the industry with Assistant Directors of the highest quality and professionalism and trainees undergo 400 days of hands-on work experience on actual film and television productions. A rotation system places trainees on the sets of various features and television series under the supervision of DGA Second Assistant Directors, First Assistant Directors and Unit Production Managers until graduation. Trainees also attend a number of mandatory seminars on various aspects of the industry.
For more information about the ADTP visit their website at http://www.trainingplan.org/