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This question is about what an assistant director does and assistant director.
Do assistant directors get paid?
Yes, assistant directors get paid. Since most movie sets are too large for one director to manage, most have one or more assistant directors. Assistant movie directors are primarily responsible for scheduling the times for filming, supervising the cast and crew, editing film, and assisting directors with scripts and casting.
Assistant movie directors generally earn average salaries of $60,000 per year. However, assistant movie directors can earn significantly more in California (where most movies are filmed), typically making an average of $95,000 per year.
Most assistant movie directors are not salaried, but they are members of the Directors Guild of America, or DGA, and receive wages in accordance with their union contract in effect at the time of production.
Assistant directors earn more as they gain experience in the movie industry. They qualify for higher-paying jobs after five or more years of experience. Large movie companies such as Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount pay their assistant movie directors more than small independent film companies.
The larger companies have bigger budgets and revenue to support the higher salaries. Big movie companies also distribute their movies to more theaters, increasing royalty earnings for assistant directors.
Moreover, assistant movie directors also earn more in certain industries. For example, directors earned $110,000 per year in the motion picture and video industry while only earning $85,000 for cable stations.
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