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. The new West Coast film and television trainees are Jennifer Bendik, Melissa Feuchtinger, Tobey Humphries, Susan Iskiwitch, Mikaela Mathern, Susana Matos, Mindy McKoin, Ni’Cole Pettis, Tristan Ringenoldus, Jeffrey Sheets, and Robb Thompson. The new East Coast film trainees are Paul Alary, Alana Bonilla, Wendy Granger, Melina Greene, Jim Lanier, Findlay Zotter, and Chris Zou; and commercials trainees Jake Leibowitz and Matt Smith.
Congratulations are also in order to West Coast ADTP graduates Keisha Ansley, Donna Davenport, Kirisa Gavrin, Bryce Hudson, Alex Lambrinidis, Christina Lee, Alejandro Mora, Tara Nicole, Jinny Parron, Sydney Patapoff, Gina Triola, Corinne Wedlake, and Richard Welch; New York ADTP film graduates Joe Landry, Kristina Massie, Erika McGowan and Jennifer Winterbotham; and Commercial graduates Dave Ebel, Jamie Gustis and Henrieltte Ohno. All these graduate trainees are now qualified to join the Guild as Second Assistant Directors.
photos courtesy ADTP
