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Back to Basics: A Director's Guide to Working with an Assistant Director

November 20, 2025

A Director Development Initiative live workshop

As a guest Director working across different shows, it is important to have a clear understanding of what the role of an Assistant Director is and to have expectations for what the working partnership with an Assistant Director should look like. On November 20, DGA members seeking advice on how Television Directors and Assistant Directors work closely together learned more about this subject during the Director Development Initiative (DDI) virtual lab Back to Basics: A Director’s Guide to Working with an Assistant Director. In a conversation moderated by Director Gia-Rayne Harris, UPM Canella Williams-Larrabee, 1st AD John Mattingly, 2nd AD TJ Hallett and DGA Assistant Executive Director Faith Santilla highlighted Assistant Directors’ roles and responsibilities, shared insight and examples for when Directors should go to their Assistant Director for support, and spoke about what Directors should know about what their rights are when selecting their Assistant Directors.

In response to Harris’ question about the role of the AD, Mattingly discussed how he sees his work as a 1st AD as being a collaborator and partner with the Director. He noted the unique opportunities and challenges in working in episodic television, specifically, and described how he serves as a liaison on set by providing key information and understanding everyone’s perspectives and ideas.

As a UPM, Williams-Larrabee emphasized the importance of communication, sharing that she always makes sure to introduce herself to the Director on day one to let them know that she is a part of their team and that she is there to support them if they have any questions or if any issues arise.

Hallett echoed Mattingly and Williams-Larrabee, further noting how crucial prep is and how the more prepared and specific Directors are about their needs and their vision, the better supported they can be by their directorial team. Hallett also discussed the critical role of the 2nd AD in ensuring that actors are ready and on time and shared how the role can be especially helpful to Directors who are new on set by helping to facilitate time to meet with and get to know the actors.

Santilla offered insight into Director’s creative rights when it comes to selecting and collaborating with their Assistant Directors. She discussed the 17-201 waiver, providing details about its inclusion in the contract and highlighting why it is important for Directors to know about it. She emphasized that if members have questions, “anytime is a good time to call the DGA.”

DGA Members can watch the full video from
Director Development Initiative eventsby clicking here.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Canella Williams-LarrabeeUPM Canella Williams-Larrabee
Williams-Larrabee’s Production Management and Production Supervisor credits include feature films such as Jingyi Shao’s Chang Can Dunk and Dayna Hanson’s Confession; Susanne Bier’s mini-series The Undoing; and episodes of The Night Agent, The Crowded Room, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Raising Dion, Evil, Almost Family and NCIS: New Orleans. Williams-Larrabee has been a DGA member since 2019 and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Eastern AD/UPM Council, a Co-Chair of the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee, a member of the DGA Negotiations Committee and is a second alternate on the DGA National Board.

John Mattingly1st AD John Mattingly
Mattingly’s Assistant Directing credits include features such as Rachel Feldman’s Lilly and James Steven Sadwith’s Coming Through the Rye; and episodes of Side Quest, Good Trouble, Party Down, South Side, On My Block, Black Lightning, Chance, Rebel, Sweet/Vicious, Filthy Preppy Teen$, Happyland and Awkward. Mattingly has been a DGA member since 2008 and currently serves on the Western AD/UPM Council, as Chair of the Council’s Republic of Zoom Planning Committee and Co-Chairs the Council’s Education Committee.

TJ Hallett2nd AD TJ Hallett
Hallett’s Assistant Directing credits include features such as Sophie Kargman’s Susie Searches, A.V. Rockwell’s A Thousand and One and Stefon Bristol’s Breathe; and episodes of Billions, Blippi’s Job Show, and the upcoming Untitled College Project for HBO. A DGA member since 2021, Hallett serves as an Alternate on the Western AD/UPM Council and LGBTQ+ Representative Committee and is also an active member of the Western AD/UPM Council’s 2nd AD Committee and the DGA Jewish Committee.

Faith SantillaDGA Assistant Executive Director Faith Santilla
Santilla is an Assistant Executive Director at the DGA, whose work primarily focuses on issues impacting Assistant Directors and Unit Production Managers in the Western Region. Having worked as a union organizer and representative in other industries besides entertainment, Santilla joined the ranks of the DGA in 2015, hoping to utilize her 20 plus years of labor experience in service of the members of the Guild.

Gia-Rayne HarrisDirector Gia-Rayne Harris (moderator)
Harris’s directorial credits include episodes of Chicago P.D. and an upcoming episode of Bridgerton; as well as the short films Cairn, Before You, The Birth of a Beautiful Butch and Pens and Pencils. Harris has been a DGA member since 2022. 
 
About the Director Development Initiative:

The Director Development Initiative is designed to provide current information on the Director’s craft in order to further the Guild’s goal to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry. The DDI Lab series is an ongoing initiative that hosts regular workshops virtually and in person.

 
 

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