How do you deal with a 1st AD who is constantly telling you to go faster?
I am at the stage in my career where the first Ad will quite often sit on my shoulder. They will watch my monitor and and they will watch what I’m doing and work out their timings from that. I think as I was coming up through the ranks you do get a lot of first AD’s who push you to go faster for the sake of it, but as is quite often the easy way ends up being the hard way. So take a bit more time and do it right. I think you have to find a common ground and convince them you are knocking your socks off to make their shoot go faster. And ultimately you have a lot of responsibility to think like a chess master, as often you know the next 3-4 shots and you can be moving crafty,costume or the public ahead of time. Some times it does take a lot of patience, but the A Cam op and the 1st need to work together to give the DOP and the director their time. If nothing else take them for a beer and see what you can do to help them further.
I’ve been fortunate to have not run across too many ADs like that, but in the end, things take the time they take. I find that the operator/camera department are usually not what the AD is waiting for, but we still need to have everything right for the shot. Nobody sitting in a dark theater will think about or compliment how quickly and efficiently a scene was shot, but they will notice if the actor’s hair isn’t right, or if a light is in the shot, or if we didn’t give the 1st AC a moment to figure out the focus – we need to spend the time to make things right before we roll, regardless of what the AD is saying. At the same time, I also don’t want to alienate the 1st AD, as I always need them on my side, so getting snarky with them when they are trying to push is never in my best interest. I know it is the ADs job to drive the set, but a good one will understand when to push, and when to let things happen on their own.
Speed is sadly a part of this business so I think the first thing you have to ask yourself is are they pushing you because they simply feel that that is their job or are you actually taking too long to do things? If it’s the latter, involve your whole team and fix it, because ADs need to make their days. If it’s the former, well that’s a different animal. Sometimes that’s just the way they are and you have to bear it. Sometimes you can calmly take them aside and let them know that their asking you actually slows down the process. This likely won’t work but it’s worth a shot. The bigger idea I can share is that from day 1, you want to let the AD know that the two of you are on the same page. Ask them how long they ahev to get a scene and see if you can help. After the director does a rehearsal and the shots have been laid out, go over and run through the shots with them so neither of you have any suprises. Basically let them know that you recognize they have a tough job to do and that you are aware and happy to help them make the day. It may or may not have an effect but usually it lets’ them know you’re moving as fast as you can because you recognize they have to consider the time of everything.
