Our goal is to unite all Assistant Directors working in the UK and to improve overall conditions for ADs working in Feature Film, Television Drama, Continuing Drama and Commercials.
We aim to become a centre of excellence and practioners of best industry practice.
We want to be an organisation which promotes diversity, education and training and campaigns for fair pay and conditions at work.
One of the few benefits of the 2020 Covid Crisis was the opportunity it afforded for many established ADs to communicate and agree that an AD Guild was needed.
After many online meetings, a core group of AD’s from different areas of the industry formulated a Guild structure and set of aims. A Constitution and interim policies were put in place and a temporary Council established in the summer of 2020 to oversee the launch phase, leading to the official Guild launch on 1st January 2021.
The AD Guild currently has over 450 paid-up members, covering all AD grades in all regions of the UK - more are joining every day. Our Self-certification scheme for new members ends on 31st December. After this date, applicants for membership will be required to submit paperwork supporting the grade and number of days worked.
Naturally, there is great interest in UK ADs having our own representative body and a voice at any negotiation table. We ask you all to support us and keep up the momentum.
As well as looking closely at working conditions and rates of pay, the AD Guild seeks to drive improvements in –
Education and Diversity
Training
Mentoring
Outreach programs
Industry placements
We also intend to seek a dialogue and closer ties with Directors and PMs, Line Producers and UPM’s.
The Assistant Directors Guild is committed to education within the industry and will seek to implement an industry-recognised Academy, setting up training and grading schemes which will promote fluid and dynamic progression through all AD grades.
One pivotal aim is to encourage professional mentoring and shadowing, sharing our collective AD experience and helping those who are less privileged to access our industry. This will be allied to an Outreach Programme.
Progressive tutoring with established AD professionals should deliver swift results and will further enhance the UK’s reputation for training world-class ADs.
Other committees will include a Covid-19 group, which will look at working in the ‘new normal’ world, sharing advice, best practice and policy from organisations at home and abroad.
Following the Guild Council election on 23rd and 24th January, the 2021 Guild Council met formally for the first time on Saturday 6th February 2021.
The Council also voted and elected a new Chair and Vice Chairs at this meeting for the year ahead. Click on the link below to view -
The AD Guild also plans to provide an availability service for its members and post details of upcoming production and job opportunities through its network.
Our Guild will remain separate from BECTU, but we will work alongside our union and benefit from its established relationship with key industry players like PACT and from many other advantages the Union may be able to offer.
The AD Guild aims to help all AD's working in the UK and beyond. Help us to help you...
