August 16, 2018
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 that will begin in 2018 and the names of this year's graduates who are now qualified to join the Guild as Second Assistant Directors.
West Coast ADTP Graduates
Front Row: Andrea Block and Zachary Davenport. Back Row: Katherine Wincor, Anja Lill, Alexis Dvorak, and LaTrisa Jackson. (Not pictured: West Gibson and Jordan Radar.)
West Coast ADTP New Trainees
Front Row: Jacqueline Wilton, Michelle Musser, Jessica Wan, Grace Jordan. Middle Row: Michelle Akeley, Ruddy Salazar, Chad Shields. Back Row: Esraa Darwish, Keegan Limbrick.
New York ADTP New Trainees & Graduates
Front Row: Jonathan Ibañez (’19), Kelly Mahoney (1st AD), Melissa Garcia (’18), Mitchell Allen (’20). Middle Row: Sarah Harding (’18), Kyler Griffin (’18), TJ Hallet (’20), Alannah Fehrenbach (’19), Lisha Johnson (’20), Rachel Sikora (’18), Sarah Bowers (’20), Stephanie Fox (’20), Abel Herrera (’18). Back Row: Felix Jordan (’19), J. Michael Polisano (’18), Luke Wittel (’20), Larry McGee (’18), Peter Nix (’19), Davis Woodall (’18), Nuekellar Hardy (’20), Cody Maher (’19), Jimmy Waltrip (’20).
For more information about both ADTP programs visit the Training Programs page
photos courtesy ADTP