Assistant directing & set coordination · Core
Third assistant director
Also called: 3rd AD, 2nd 2nd AD
ELI5
An assistant director supporting on-set movement, background action, lock-ups and communication.
Used in conversation
“The third assistant director needs the latest materials before the next production meeting.”
Pitch context
You may encounter “Third assistant director” in production, set safety, stunts & practical effects conversations or materials.
Why it matters: Explains the physical-production roles, plans and safety systems behind the shoot.
Connected terms
- Second assistant directorComputed from definition language and shared taxonomy. This indicates proximity, not synonymy.
Sources & evidence · 4
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Directors Guild of America — Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Association of Independent Commercial Producers — AICP Guidelines and Best PracticesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- SAG-AFTRA — Artificial Intelligence ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14