August 18, 2017
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 has branches in both Los Angeles and New York.
Both programs feature on-the-job training, along with seminars and special assignments. Trainees become employees of a wide variety of feature films, TV series and commercials where they will work under the supervision of DGA AD/UPM members until completion of the program.
The ADTP recently announced the names of those newly accepted to the program that will begin in 2016 and the names of this year's graduates who are now qualified to join the Guild as Second Assistant Directors.
Pictured in the photos below are:
West Coast Program
- Class of 2014 ADTP Graduates:
(Front Row, L-R): Jennifer Bendik, Mikaela Mathern, Mindy McKoin Ma. (Middle Row:) Ni’Cole Pettis, Susan Iskiwitch, Robb Thompson. (Back Row:) Melissa Feuchtinger, Tristan Ringenoldus. (Not pictured: Jeffrey Sheets)
At Delmonico’s Steak & Lobster House, Encino, CA
- Class of 2017 ADTP New Trainees:
Front Row (left to right): Anna Belcher, Angela Barrett, Adi Dardik, Simone Warrick, Carlos Carreon. Middle Row: Leah Dolby, George Irizarri, Olivia Hernandez, Taylor Schenck, Alexandria Kelly. Back Row: Deandra Duncan, Sean Jennings, James Corp, Ian Sly
At Sony Pictures Studios - Rita Hayworth Dining Room
New York Program
New York ADTP Graduates
- Film/TV Program: Nick DuVarney, Victoria House, Amrita Kundu, Darris Morgan, Abby Pierson
- Commercial Program: Samantha Melville
New York ADTP New Trainees
- Film/TV Program: Jack Birdsall, Alannah Fehrenbach, Dina Graham, Jonathan Ibanez, Felix Jordan, Peter Nix
- Commercial Program: Cody Maher
For more information about both ADTP programs visit the Training Programs page
LA ADTP by Gingie Feldman, NY ADTP photos courtesy ADTP