Wtih this insight on how the craft of 2nd AD is evolving, I hope that your interest in the Guild's ongoing efforts on your behalf will increase, and that in future contract negotiations some new ideas might make their appearance and that might make a difference in your work lives.

I believe that the best 2nd Assistant Directors in the World are in the DGA.  By continuing to focus on how our jobs can be done better and how our Guild can help us, we add to the collective effort to attract our work back to our domestic U.S. workplaces.  Thanks for participating.

Free to pass it along to any other 2nd AD's you might know,.

All responses will be consolidated into a statistical summary & all written comments will be forwarded complete but anonymously -- no names will be passed along for any reason. Please answer the questions that apply to you. If a question isn't relevant to you, skip it, or better, put "not relevant" next to the question.Thanks for participating in this survey.

Robert Mendel
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Instructions:
Copy and paste the survey into an email & once there mark your answers and type in your comments.
-or --
Print out the survey, mark your answers w/ pen/pencil and either fax or mail to me.
Please be assured that if you copy, paste and email it to me, your anonymity will be preserved.
My addresses:
email:    robertmendel@ymail.com
fax: (323) 258-9282
"Snail" Mail: Rob Mendel - 843 N. Ave. 66 - LA, CA 90042

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S  U  R  V  E  Y:

* How long have you made a majority of your living working as a Key 2nd AD? (pick closest one)
2 yrs
5 yrs
8 yrs
10 yrs
15 yrs+

*  How long have you made a majority of your living working as a 2nd 2nd AD?
2 yrs
5 yrs
8 yrs
10 yrs
15 yrs+

* How long have you made a majority of your living working in another DGA capacity (stage manager, AP, etc.)
2 yrs
5 yrs
8 yrs
10 yrs
15 yrs+

*  Has it been easier or harder for you to maintain a stream of income as 2nd AD over the past 5 yrs?
Easier
Harder
Unchanged

* Has it been easier or harder for you to maintain a stream of income as 2nd AD over the past 10 yrs?
Easier
Harder
Unchanged

* On a 1 to 5 rating, w/ 5 being "greatest" please rate the following factors that have made a perceived difference in your ability to work as a 2nd AD.
a. Maintaining 1st AD contacts who call me
1 2 3 4 5
b. Maintaining UPM contacts who call me
1 2 3 4 5
c. Maintaining Producer contacts who call me
1 2 3 4 5
d. Maintaining 2nd AD contacts who call me
1 2 3 4 5
e. Finding jobs in the trades or via outside production lists
1 2 3 4 5
f. Tips from other crew members, standins, extras, etc.
1 2 3 4 5
g. Calls to me made off of the DGA availability list
1 2 3 4 5
h. Calls to me made off the low budget DGA availability list
1 2 3 4 5
i. Contacts made at DGA events (mentor program, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5
j. Contacts I initiate after reading the DGA production list (either viewed online or picked up at AD/UPM Council Meetings)
1 2 3 4 5
k. Other _____________________________________________

* Has the use of computers to create callsheets helped you do your job more efficiently?
a. a little
b somewhat
c. not much
d. less efficient  -- If so, HOW/WHY?________________________________________________________________

e. a lot less efficient  -- If so, HOW/WHY?________________________________________________________________

COMMENT_________________________________________________________________________________________
 

* Would special training in using computers to make callsheets, such as a DGA sponsored 'callsheet intensive' weekend retreat for 2nd AD's likely help you be more efficient at using computers to create callsheets, production reports, etc.?
a. No I am presently as efficient on the computer as I can get
b. Maybe a little more efficient - I'd maybe attend and pick up a few new tricks or tips
c. Somewhat helpful in making me a more efficient user of the computer for creating callsheets - I might attend
d. Considerably helpful in making me a more efficient user of the computer for creating callsheets - I would attend if possible.
e. I am relatively inexperienced at using the computer to create callsheets, need training and would definitely make it a priority to attend.
 

* Are you required to have a computer as a condition of employment as a Key 2nd AD?
a. No my job doesn't utilize a computer and none is required
b. In a sense - I use my computer, but my job provides a computer, or, my job doesn't require frequent use of a computer & none is required of me.
c. Somewhat - I use my computer regularly to do my job, and my employer was aware I owned a computer & while it was not formally reqired of me, I felt that not providing my own computer would weigh negatively on my hiring
d. Yes - I was asked if I had a computer, or I emphasized my computer and my capabilities, and/or examples of computer created callsheets, etc. were shown to me as examples of work output expected from my job.
e. Definitely - I was clearly asked to provide a computer as a condition of my hiring.
 

* Do you receive any additional compensation for your computer?
Yes
No

*  If yes, how much do you receive?      ____________________________
 

* Do you provide additional equipment ?- check all that apply:
a. Printer
b. Spare printer
c. Spare computer
d. AD boxes
e. Tables or other portable work surfaces
f. Portable lighting
g. misc. office supplies & a personal 2nd AD 'bible.'
h. online internet services (email, etc.)
i. Other ________________________
 

* Do you receive any additional compensation for your additional equipment?
Yes
No

*If yes, how much do you receive? _____________________________
 

* Generally, Is your additional compensation:
a. offered by my 1st AD & accepted
b. offered by my UPM & accepted
c. negotiated or asked for by my 1st AD & offered
d. negotiated or asked for by me & offered
e. asked for by me, but not offered
 

* Which type of computer(s) do you use?
Check all that apply.
a. Mac laptop (older)
b. Mac laptop (titanium or newer)
c. PC laptop (new or old)c. Mac desktop
d.PC desktop
e. Portable tablet style computeror "hiptop" computer
f. PDAg. "hiptop" device

* How did you acquire a template for your callsheet/production report?
a. Designed it myself
b. Received it from another who designed it themselves
c. Received it from another who did not design it themselves
d. Part of a professional software package
e. Other __________________________________________________________________

* What forms do you provide to your employers?
a. callsheet
b. production report
c. Schedule G
d. Others (please list) ______________________________________________________________
 

* (Occasionally we hear of new devices and programs being developed for studios for callsheets, production reports, etc.)
Has a studio ever provided you with a computer, portable tablet style computer, or other modern technology (proprietary software, callsheet programs, etc.?
Yes
No
 

* Was the system easy or hard to learn and use?
Easy
Hard
Other ________________
 
 

* Was the system experimental or an adopted policy?
Experimental
Adopted
Other __________________
 
 

* What year did you use this? _______________
 

* Do you know the names of Companies providing these types of services?
Y / N - if Yes, which?____________________________________________
 

* Please comment on your experience, any good or bad features, how it improved or not your job performance, etc. ______________________________________________________________________
 
 

* Have you utilized your medical coverage (i.e. visited the doctor, etc.):
a. once in the last 24 months
b. once in the last 12 months
c. twice in the last 12 months
d. more than twice in the last 12 months
 

* Do you hesitate to see the Dr. for ANY reason when you have an ailment?
a. Yes
b. No
 

If Yes, Is it because: (check all that apply)
a. I have trouble getting off work to go to the doctor
b. I don't have coverage that includes doctor visits, and I am concerned about the cost
c. I don't want to utilize my coverage unless it is absolutely necessary
(I want to be careful not to add too much to my medical record in the event I have to shop for coverage in the future)
d. I don't have a personal physician (or I don't have one I like to go to)
e. Other
please elaborate____________________________________________________________________________
 

*  Are you satisfied with your health care provider (Dr., clinic, hospital, etc.) available to you via your DGA coverage?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other _________________________________________________________________________________
 

*  Have you experienced health related issues with respect to your feet?
a. Yes - related to excessive standing on hard surfaces at work - Describe: __________________________
b. Yes - other. Describe: __________________________________
c. No
 

*. Have you experienced health related issues with respect to your back?
a. Yes - related to wearing unbalanced belt-loads of professional equipment (i.e. radios, packs, etc.) - Describe: ___________________
b. Yes - related to excessive standing on hard surfaces at work ___________________________________
c. Yes - other - Describe: _________________________________________________
d. No
 

* Have you experienced health related issues with respect to stress / hypertension?
a. Yes - Higher blood pressure than normal
b. Yes - Elevated cholesterol level above normal
c. Yes - Gastric ulcer or related disorder
d. Yes - excessive use of caffeine
e. Other _____________________________________________
f. No
 

* Have you visited a chiropracter to help w/ health problems?
a. Yes - for my back issues - occasionally
b. Yes - for my back issues - regularly
c. Yes for other issues
d. No
 

* Have you visited an alternative medicine provider, bought alternative remedies, or practice any alternative therapies?
a. Yes - please elaborate________________________________________________________
b. No
 

* What health related concerns/issues have you experienced or are you interested in learning more about?____________________________________________________________________________
 

* Do you have a clear understanding about your health plan, its recent changes, and how to be a more informed and prudent "consumer" of health services in these challenging times for the health plan?
a. Yes, I am very informed about how the health plan works.
b. I am moderately informed about how the health plan works.
c. I am cloudy on how the health plan works.
 

* Do you utilize the "Wellness" features of the health plan (preventative educational offerings about health issues)
a. yes
b. no
c. I am unaware of these offerings.
 

* Do you carry health insurance coverage outside the Guild?
a. yes - for myself only
b. yes - for myself and my dependents
c. no, but I am thinking about it.
d. no
 

* Has your DGA health insurance ever expired due to not meeting minimum contributions to the plan?
a. yes, but I have subsequently restored it due to adequate contributions.
b. yes, I presently self-pay for DGA health insurance coverage
c. yes - I have no DGA health insurance coverage
d. no, but I am concerned with this possibility
e. no, I have DGA health insurance based on adequate contributions to the plan.
 

*  Do you understand how the plan works with respect to annual earnings levels to qualify for health insurance benefits
a. yes
b. no
c. sort of - I receive benefits updates but don't always take the time to review them to see how it affects my situation.
 

* Have you exercised a "self-pay" option for carrying DGA health insurance?
a. yes
b. no
 
 

* Are you working on location currently more or less than previously (within the last 3-5 years)?
a. More
b. Less
c. About the same
 

* Have you had the occasion to work out of the country on a DGA project?
Yes - (if yes, which country/countries?):_______________________________________________________
No
 

* Have you found yourself  under more or less pressure to waive overtime or other provisions of your contract?
Yes - overtime (specifically):____________________________________________
Yes - other (specifically):________________________________________________
No

* Do your employers  hire: (check all that apply)
a) A UPM always
b) A UPM usually
c) A "Production Supervisor" always
d) A "Production Supervisor" usually
e) A "Production Supervisor" sometimes
f)  A "Production Supervisor" never
 

* Does your Assistant Directing career path seem to be on the ascendancy or descendancy?
a) ascendancy
b) descendancy
c) plateau
 

* Do you have alternative income streams that augment your assistant directing work?
Yes (please elaborate briefly)_______________________________________________
No, but am considering (please elaborate briefly)________________________________________
No
 

* Have you left 2nd Assistant Directing or moved to another line of work permanently?
Yes (please elaborate briefly)________________________________________________
Yes - have moved up in classification(s) with DGA employment________________
No, but am considering (please elaborate briefly)__________________________________
No
 

* Do you desire career counselling toward finding alternatives to work in assistant directing?
Yes
No
Possibly
 

* If the DGA offered career counselling toward finding alternatives to work in assistant directing, would you take advantage of such offerings?
Yes
No
Possibly
 

* Do you attend Guild events/ programs toward expanding your understanding of the craft and our industry?
Yes, Regularly when offered
Yes, occasionally when offered
Yes, but seldomly when offered
No
 

* Are you encountering more situations where a greater understanding of post production effects, CGI, etc. would be helpful in your work?
Yes
No
 

* Are you encountering more situations where a greater understanding of other aspects of production beyond what you were trained in would be helpful in your work?
Yes (please elaborate briefly)_______________________________________________________________
No
 

* Based on your own experience, are your peers that entered the Guild about the same time as you working:
A. about as frequently as me
B. more regularly than me - if so, why do you think?_____________________________________________
C. less regularly than me - if so, why do you think? ____________________________________________

* Has "Runaway Production" affected your ability to find jobs?
a. Yes, - if so, why do you think or what have you been told by your Producers, AD's, UPM's, etc.? _______________________________________________
b. No

Are you aware of Non-DGA 2nd AD jobs being filled outside the Guild from time to time?
a. Yes - there appears to be about the same amount of this type of work out there as past years
b  Yes, but there appears to be less of this type of work out there as past years
c.  Yes, and there appears to be slightly more of this type of work out there as past years
d.  Yes, and there appears to be moderately or a lot more of this type of work out there as past years
e.  No

* Are you aware of DGA members accepting non-Guild work as 2nd AD's?
a. Yes  - there appears to be about the same amount of this type of contract violation out there as past years
b. Yes, but there appears to be less of this type of contract violation out there as past years
c. Yes, and there appears to be slightly more of this contract violation of work out there as past years
d. Yes, and there appears to be moderately or a lot more of this contract violation of work out there as past years
e. No

* Do members that you have spoken with that have committed this type of contract violation tell you: check all that apply -
a. That they simply need the money to survive, but know that they are violating their contract
b. That they simply need the money to survive, and don't appear to know clearly that they are violating their contract.
c. That while they aren't in $ trouble per se', but that they have contacts from the non-union side from before their membership in the Guild, and they want to continue working for them, & that Guild work has slowed down.
d. other _______________________________________________________

* Do 3rd area DGA members work alongside you or other AD's you know as PA's on the West Coast?
a. Frequently
b. Sometimes
c. Seldomly

* Have recent changes in the East Coast Commercial Qualifications List Requirements for 2nd AD's to accumulate Commercial days before transferring to the West Coast Entertainment QL impacted 3rd Area AD's that you know?
a. Yes - they are having trouble getting their days & are discouraged
b. Yes - they are getting their days but with some difficulty
c. Yes - they are getting their days reasonably well
d. No - I don't know any 3rd area members trying to get their days to work on the West Coast Entertainment QL

* How do you feel about the changes mentioned in the above question?
a. I support the changes - we need to have the commercial qualifications list on the East Coast not be manipulated to gain admission to the West Coast Entertainment Qualifications List - the changes address that effectively

b. I don't support the changes - members that have joined and worked for Entertainment AD's on the West Coast as PA's should have an easier time of it getting their qualifications for work on the West Coast as AD's.

c. I have no opinion or am unfamiliar with the issue

d. Comment_________________________________________________________________________________
 

* What is your opinion of the DGA's advocacy for the 2nd AD category overall?
a.   I support it and approve generally of the way it advocates for me and my category
b. I support it but think there could be more advocacy for my category
c. I am not happy with the DGA's level of advocacy for my category
d. I am neutral
COMMENTS / SUGGESTIONS ON AREAS OF ADVOCACY FOR 2ND AD'S, (i.e. working conditions, salary minimums, hours, etc.)
\_________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

* Have you ever attended a meeting of the New Member Orientation Committee of the AD/UPM/TC Council which outlines the benefits and provisions of DGA membership? (Established members may attend these meetings)
a. Yes
b. No
c. Didn't know about it
 

* Have you contributed $ to the DGA Political Action Committee (PAC) - which works with professional lobbyists to influence Federal Legislation toward curbing runaway production?
a. Yes
b. No
 

* If Not, is it because: (check all that apply)
a. I don't have extra money to spare
b. I contribute to charity and don't elect to contribute to the Guild's PAC
c. I don't know enough about the PAC's use of my contribution $ or how the PAC's work will help me personaly, and so I elect not to contribute.
d. I don't have faith that the PAC is making meaningful progress toward solving Runaway Production problems which affect me, so I elect not to contribute.
e. I believe that the PAC's work is worthwhile, but that other more affluent members should support it, so I elect not to contribute.
f. I believe the PAC's work on creative rights issues doesn't affect me as much as the Directors, so I elect not to contribute.
f. Nobody I know or work with talks about the benefits of contributing to the PAC, so I elect not to contribute.
g. Other _______________________________________________________________________
 

* Have you established a regular monthly or quarterly contribution to the PAC
Yes
No
 

* Do you contribute $ to the PAC with your dues statement payment?
Yes
No
 

* Do you contribute $ to the PAC after hearing about it at the annual meeting?
a. Yes
b. No
c. I didn't hear about it at the annual meeting
d. I don't attend the annual meeting
 

* Do you contribute $ to the PAC after reading about it on the DGA website? (http://dga.org)
a. Yes
b. No
c. I don't visit the DGA website
 

* On jobs where there are two or more 2nd AD's, does your company stagger the times of the 2nd AD's in order to minimize extended workdays?
a. Yes and it works
b. Yes, and although doesn't work that well (It is difficult to stagger the 2nd AD hours and get the work done correctly), we do it anyway.
c. No, but we tried to and decided that it didn't work so now we don't.
d. No
Comments______________________________________________________________________________
 

* Are your supervisors (1st AD/s / UPM's ) sensitive to the perils of extended workdays for you and the crews you've worked with? (i.e. falling asleep at the wheel, etc.)?
Yes
No
Sometimes
 

* Do you find yourself in the position as last person on set worrying about the fatigue level of crew members after wrap?
Yes
No
Occasionally
 

* Do your supervisors offer, or allow you to offer Motel Rooms or Transportation
Yes
No
Sometimes
 

* Are Safety meetings a regular feature of your workdays?
a. Yes - I and my 1st AD's take them seriously, discuss their content, and hold them regularly & watch for safety issues on the set.
b. Yes - We have short safety meetings and we watch for safety issues on the set
c. Yes - We have occasional safety meetings, but watch for safety issues on the set
d. Sometimes - Safety meetings don't always take place on days without stunts, special effects or other obvious reasons to hold them.
e. Rarely
f. Never
 

*  Do you call in your work to the DGA when you are hired?
Yes
No
Sometims
 

* Have you had occasion to call your Business Representatives of the DGA to report contract violations?
Yes
No
 

* If yes, what type of violation(s) did you report?______________________________________________________
 

* What types of Media Products have you worked on Regularly in your career to date?
a. Feature Films
b. Episodic TV
c. TV movies
d. Multi-Camera TV
e. Low Budget Feature Films
f. Commercials
g. Variety / Live Action / Sports /  or News
h.  Other _________________________________
 

* What types of Media Products have you worked on Occasionally in your career to date?
a. Feature Films
b. Episodic TV
c. TV movies
d. Multi-Camera TV
e. Low Budget Feature Films
f. Commercials
g. Variety / Live Action / Sports /  or News
h.  Other _________________________________
 

* What types of Media Products have you worked on Rarely in your career to date?
a. Feature Films
b. Episodic TV
c. TV movies
d. Multi-Camera TV
e. Low Budget Feature Films
f. Commercials
g. Variety / Live Action / Sports /  or News
h.  Other _________________________________
 

* What types of Media Products do you most wish to work on that you have little experience in to date in your career?
a. Feature Films
b. Episodic TV
c. TV movies
d. Multi-Camera TV
e. Low Budget Feature Films
f. Commercials
g. Variety / Live Action / Sports /  or News
h.  Other _________________________________