Lili-Anne Crevier - 1st Assistant Director

Translated from French

WHAT IS YOUR JOB? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?

I am a first assistant director, working mainly in fiction. Our department organizes the various aspects of a shoot. Based on the script, we make sure the production has all the necessary resources to bring the director’s vision to life. We assess the needs, establish the schedule and how the shoot will proceed, and convey all this information to the crew. Assistant directors are like control towers: they relay changes and adjustments to the other departments. Our work requires us to be thorough, attentive and clever. We need to communicate effectively and manage stress. We usually have three assistant directors on a production. The first assistant director is responsible for the work plan and logistics. The second assistant director is responsible for the actors and liaising with the other departments. The third assistant director oversees the extras.

During the prep phase, we organize and attend all the meetings, update the paperwork and visit locations with the director. The information we gather is documented and updated. Throughout the shoot, we make sure things go smoothly on the set in terms of timelines, resources and logistics. In sum, our role is to ensure everything goes as planned, from the preparations to the actual shoot.

WHAT PART OF THE JOB DO YOU LIKE THE BEST?

There are many things I love about my job. As first assistant director, I have an overview of the project, so I can see the story take shape. Watching a screenplay turn into images on the monitor is very rewarding—it gives me a great sense of pride. I’m always happy to see the fruits of the labour of the assistant directors. It takes cooperation and hard work. We don’t do everything but we make sure everything gets done.

Another part of my job that I enjoy very much is the relationships that develop among coworkers. We don’t have time for misunderstandings or squabbles. Trust, mutual respect and efficiency are a must from the start. The film industry brings together passionate and fascinating people. In the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many extraordinary and inspiring people, and I’m very grateful for this.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECT?

I’ve never been a fan of rankings, so I don’t really have a favourite project. I cherish the little moments. For example, I have fond memories of working on Xavier Dolan’s Mommy; the teamwork and commitment of each department were remarkable. We all believed totally in his work and his talent. The team spirit really touched me, it’s something that strikes a chord in me.

IS THERE AN ANECDOTE ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT COMES TO MIND?

In our work, there are often absurd situations. Once, I asked the whole crew to go look for an actor who had mysteriously disappeared from the set. Everyone was searching for him, calling him on his cellphone—no luck. Finally, we realized he was in the bathroom, answering nature’s call. I had sent everyone out to look for him when all he wanted was to discreetly tend to his business. Oops!

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION?

Many things have changed since I began working in this field. The developments are closely tied to the changes in technology. I have a love-hate relationship with advanced technology. On the one hand, it makes our lives easier. On the other hand, we must work faster because lead times are shorter. Everything has to be done at lightning speed. Smartphones let us communicate quickly at all times, but that also means people are always calling us.

I dream of a future in which we’ll be able to take the time to do things right and respect the boundaries around technicians’ personal lives. In our field, performance and results are king. We have to be available 24/7, and work-life balance is not always a priority. There is growing sensitivity to working conditions, however, so change is coming. At least, I hope so.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE QUEBEC AUDIOVISUAL INDUSTRY’S GREATEST STRENGTH?

In Quebec, we have a vast talent pool. Film and TV technicians are passionate about their work and not afraid to take on challenges. There is also a sense of camaraderie on the set that you don’t find elsewhere. I’ve spent a lot of time these past few years on American productions but I always enjoy working with young, up-and-coming Quebec directors on short films because I love the energy on those sets.