Meet the ADs

This is part two of our two-part Assistant Director Awards Special - because this year, Meet the ADs partnered with the Assistant Director Awards (ADA) to share the winning teams’ insights with a wider audience. We’re not part of the awards organisation itself, but we’re proud to collaborate in celebrating outstanding AD work from around the globe. Julia hosted the 2025 ADA Winners’ Q&A featuring the gold-winning AD teams of Ripley and The Substance. The conversations were far too good to disappear into a Zoom archive, so we’re bringing them to you as two special podcast episodes.For "The Substance" the entire AD team was present consisting of 1st AD Matthieu de la Mortière, 2nd ADs Olivia Delplace & Benoît Seiller, 2nd 2nd AD Anne Juin and 3rd ADs Agathe Manzanares & Joséphine Anquiez.This Q&A was recorded live on Zoom, with a visual audience present and questions coming in throughout the session so the conversation style is a little different from our usual episodes. You’ll notice a few audio hiccups here and there.Learn more about the Assistant Director Awards:⁠www.assistant-director-awards.com⁠@assistant_director_awardsWe’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas or guest suggestions for future episodes—send us a DM on Instagram or email [email protected] us & stay updated:Podcast: @meettheads_podcastJulia & Tim: @juliaeiber @tim.schaerPost Production Audio: Fabian Simon @fabian_a_simonMusic: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠)ADU (AD Union Germany): ⁠www.ad-union.org/en/home

Today’s episode is part one of our two-part Assistant Director Awards Special because this year, Meet the ADs partnered with the Assistant Director Awards (ADA) to share the winning teams’ insights with a wider audience. We’re not part of the awards organisation itself, but we’re proud to collaborate in celebrating outstanding AD work from around the globe. Julia hosted the 2025 ADA Winners’ Q&A featuring the gold-winning AD teams of Ripley and The Substance. The conversations were far too good to disappear into a Zoom archive, so we’re bringing them to you as two special podcast episodes.This episode (Part 1) focuses on the beautifully crafted black-and-white series RIPLEY, an AD-masterclass in precision, planning, and the challenge of locking off extraordinary film locations across Italy. Julia speaks with: 1st AD Peter Thorell. Key 2nd AD Barbara Pastrovich and Floor 2nd AD Gianluca La RosaAlso mentioned, though not part of the recording, are Italian 1st AD Davide Sacchetti and 2nd Unit 1st AD Lorenzo de Nicola.This Q&A was recorded live on Zoom, with a visual audience present and questions coming in throughout the session — so the conversation style is a little different from our usual episodes. You’ll notice a few audio hiccups here and there.Learn more about the Assistant Director Awards:www.assistant-director-awards.com@assistant_director_awardsWe’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas or guest suggestions for future episodes—send us a DM on Instagram or email [email protected] us & stay updated:Podcast: @meettheads_podcastJulia & Tim: @juliaeiber @tim.schaerPost Production Audio: Fabian Simon @fabian_a_simonMusic: Daniel Herget (⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠)ADU (AD Union Germany): www.ad-union.org/en/home

On today's episode we will dive deep into the world of "The Last of Us" with 1st Assistant Director Paul Domick.Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey the show is set in a post-apocalyptic America haunted by a fungal infection that turns humans into terrifying creatures, it’s as much about survival as it is about the bonds we form under pressure. It's about why and not about how one survives.We are talking about training the cast for all those crazy stunts, how long it took to get many many stunt players into infected makeup and how the weather made several shooting days the worst. But we also speak about where Production Design starts, VFX ends and how he pulled all of that off with the tiniest AD team you can imagine for a show of this size. As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the fur, we are happy to hear form you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] us & stay updated:Podcast: @meettheads_podcastJulia & Tim: @juliaeiber @tim.schaerPost Production Audio: Fabian Simon @fabian_a_simonMusic: Daniel Herget (www.blacktriaudio.de)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (www.benjamin-probst.de)

This episode features Justin Ritson - the 1st Assistant Director of all three Seasons of the HBO series "The White Lotus" created by Mike White.Justin told us the most interesting things about how shooting changed from Season 1 to 3 and why the shoot days tripled over time. You will never guess how many shoot days the first season had! He also speaks about how troubling filming out on the sea is, among other things explains the famous boat stunt with Jennifer Coolidge in Season 2 and the challenge of filming with only Russian speaking extras. We can't wait to travel to Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand for at least an hour on todays show. And we hope you do, too!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: Follow us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

This episode features two Assistant Directors who might as well be legends already: 1st AD Sarah Lucas and 3rd AD Ash Spall. Sarah and Ash will be telling us how the hell they pulled off Netflix’s latest hit miniseries, Adolescence.The show got so much love from within the industry because of its sheer technical ambition. The show uses these long, unbroken one-shots that only work when every single department is perfectly in sync – camera, lighting, sound and of course the ADs and the background action. It’s so rare to see our craft so clearly reflected on screen. And honestly? It’s a bit of a love letter to what we do. So we couldn't be happier to speak with Sarah and Ash today about how you plan a shoot when you can´t do it with a regular shooting schedule. So let´s dive and hear about their work which is nothing short of a masterclass in AD-ing. Enjoy!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: ⁠[email protected]⁠Follow us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

We´re back! This episode features the 1st Assistant Director of "Anora": Liza Mann. "Anora" has won five Oscars this year, including best picture, best director for Sean Baker and best actress for Mikey Madison. Today we are be talking to 1st AD Liza Mann who also won this years DGA award as part of the directorial team of Anora. She is taking us behind the scenes – showing us what real indie filmmaking looks like, and how you can create truly great cinema on a not so Hollywood like budget. We’ll also hear about shooting in a real strip club, why the location manager was Lisas hero and how they managed to pull off a 30-minute house invasion sequence. Plus, why first the weather and then the police almost ruined the film’s final scene. And Liza will share how her side job working for famous magician David Blaine actually makes her a better AD. There’s a lot to unpack – so let’s get into it!As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] us & stay updated:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia & Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Post Production Audio: Fabian Simon (@fabian_a_simon)Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features Australian Art Director Bryce Tibbey. Bryce has over 25 years experience in the Art Department. His most famous jobs that he will also talk about include „All Quiet on the Western Front“, „Anonymous“, „Mad Max: Fury Road“, „Tribes of Europe“ and „James Bond: Spectre“. Learn more about the perks of his job and why having Bryce on can save productions a lot of money on this episode. Enjoy!And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected]:Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

Episode 11 features two industry legends who we spoke to about one of the most anticipated films of 2024: "Joker: Folie A Deux" directed by Todd Phillips. 1st Assistant Director David Webb and 2nd Assistant Director Trevor Tavares will be telling us about the logistics and challenges the musical aspect brought to the shoot, achieving impressive one shots, building the prison yard set, working with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga and Todd Phillip directorial style which they call "advanced filmmaking“. And in the end, a trip down memory lane will tell us how to convince Martin Scorcese to shoot in a typhoon. So stay tuned! And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features ‘The Apprentice’ - a film about young Donald Trump building his business in the ’70s and ’80s in America as he was mentored by the famously ruthless lawyer Roy Cohn. Canadian 1st Assistant Director Joel Hay takes us behind the scenes of this brilliant film. It is not a conversation about political views, controversies or accusations. It is about how this very important film was made. We are talking not only about the incredible acting performances by Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, their wigs and the genius prosthetics work by the hair and makeup team but also about the directors unique style of working and filming a hair transplant as well as a difficult rape scene. On top of that we are touching the subject of finishing days too early, finding locations that exist in real life to recreate in Canada without a Location Manager and doing all of this in a little over 30 days. Have lovely Christmas holidays and enjoy the last episode of this year. And as always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are happy to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany

This episode features the American Apple TV sports comedy series "Ted Lasso" developed by Jason Sudeikis who also plays the lead role of Ted. We are talking to the three British 1st ADs James Blackwell, Sophie Worger and Jim Imber about the art of "letting go" as an AD, scheduling an entire series on beat sheets and not on scripts. But also about working with guest directors like Zach Braff, bringing real life football clubs to the big screen and why the American and British way of spending a film budget is quite different. Would you have guessed that the locker room scenes were the most difficult to shoot? Find out why on this episode. Sit back and enjoy this very fun conversation with James, Sophie and Jim! As always, if you have any thoughts, ideas or guest requests for the future, we are always happy to hear from you. Write to us: [email protected] INSTAGRAM: Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@meettheads_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Julia: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@juliaeiber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tim.schaer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: Daniel Herget (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blacktriaudio.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Logo Design: Benjamin Probst (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.benjamin-probst.de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Powered by the ADU (Assistant Directors Union) Germany: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@adu_germany⁠