Film crew hire/Brighton/2nd AD
Hire a 2nd AD in Brighton. A 2nd AD writes the call sheet and gets the cast and background artists to set on time.
People book a 2nd AD in Brighton for offices at New England House, conferences at the Brighton Centre and shoots on the seafront. A 2nd AD works on adverts, drama, music videos and brand films. They write the call sheet, move the cast through make-up and costume, run the background artists and keep a street or the seafront workable round the unit. Our 2nd AD day rate starts at £355, and the 2nd AD gets all of it.
- 54 five-star Google reviews
- 2 hrs for our team to read your brief, in working hours
- £10m employers’ liability on every crew member we book
- 2,800+ freelance crew on our books, across the UK
Photos: Here Now Films, Mike Bautista, Jakob Owens, Tri Vo and Egor Myznik
The role
What a 2nd AD does on your shoot
The 2nd AD (second assistant director) works to the 1st AD, who runs the set and the schedule. The 2nd looks after everything that feeds the set. That includes the call sheet, the cast’s movements through hair, make-up and costume, the background artists and the paperwork. When the 1st calls for the next actor, the 2nd already has them ready.
On a small brand film there’s often no AD team at all, and the producer runs the floor. Book one when there’s a cast, background artists, a tight schedule, or a street full of people who didn’t ask to be in an advert. We book a 2nd AD who lives in Brighton or Hove first, and the rest of the AD team too. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew down from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked.
- The 2nd AD gets the call sheet right. It has the call times, locations, contacts, the nearest station and the nearest A&E, and it goes out the night before.
- The cast are where they should be. They go through make-up and costume and onto set on time, in the right order.
- The 2nd AD runs the background. Extras are signed in, checked, briefed and placed.
- The street keeps moving. The pavements stay clear, residents are told in advance and passers-by are asked politely to wait.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
In the day rate
- An 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch
- The call sheet and the next day’s schedule
- The cast’s day, including pick-ups, make-up, costume and set
- Signing in and placing background artists
- Releases and the progress report
- Running the unit base on the radio
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- Prep days for scheduling and call sheets
- A 3rd AD or floor runners, for a big cast or a busy street
- Travel from London or outside Brighton, and mileage and parking where the day needs them, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Brighton.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book an AD for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example day with a 2nd AD
An advert on the seafront with six cast and 20 background artists, filmed with the Sussex Film Office’s permission. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- 05:30 Cast arrive The 2nd AD signs the cast in and sends them to hair, make-up and costume in the order of their first scenes.
- 07:00 Crew call The 2nd AD briefs the changes to the call sheet, hands out the radios and opens the unit base. The unit’s vans park in bays suspended with the council 7 working days ahead. Brighton has no emission charge for vans.
- 07:45 Background Twenty background artists are signed in and their costume is checked. The 2nd AD briefs them and keeps them off the pavement until they’re called.
- 08:30 First set-up The 2nd AD walks the cast to set as the 1st AD calls them, with the next actor already in the chair. The pavement stays open for people walking through.
- 12:30 Lunch Lunch is called on time. Cast and crew eat in turn, so the afternoon starts on time.
- 14:00 The afternoon The 2nd AD tracks progress against the schedule and the permit’s hours, and warns the 1st early if anything is running long.
- 19:00 Wrap Cast and background are signed out and their times logged. The seafront is handed back, and tomorrow’s call sheet is out by nine.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council.
The AD team
Types of AD we book
The assistant directors work as a team. Each type below says who does what, and when each is worth booking.
1st AD Runs the set and the schedule Quoted on the brief
A 1st AD breaks down the script, builds the schedule and runs the floor on the day. They decide when to turn over and when to move on.
Good for drama, adverts and anything with a cast and a tight day.
2nd AD The call sheet, the cast and the base Card £355–448
A 2nd AD feeds the set from the unit base. They look after the call sheets, the cast, the background and the paperwork.
Good alongside a 1st AD on any shoot with a cast.
3rd AD On the floor with the 1st Quoted on the brief
A 3rd AD places the background, holds the public and relays the 1st AD’s calls on the floor.
Good for big units and busy places in Brighton, such as the Lanes, North Laine or the seafront on a summer weekend.
Floor runner An extra pair of hands for the ADs £245 a day
A floor runner runs messages, people and kit for the AD team. See runners in Brighton.
Good for any shoot with background artists, where the ADs need an extra pair of hands.
A producer on the floor Small crews, no cast From £450 a day
On an interview or a corporate shoot, the producer runs the floor. See producers in Brighton.
Good for interview and corporate shoots, when there’s no cast to move.
What it’s for
What people book a 2nd AD for in Brighton
Adverts and fashion on the seafront
Adverts and fashion shoots with a cast use the beach, Hove Lawns and the piers. The Sussex Film Office handles the beach, and the pier’s owner handles the pier.
Conferences at the Brighton Centre
Crews film the keynotes and record interviews between the sessions. On a big event, a 2nd AD keeps the speakers moving between the stage and the camera.
Founder and customer films
Many of the city’s tech and games companies work at New England House and round the station. When their brand films use actors, a 2nd AD looks after the cast.
The Downs and the coast
Brand films go out to Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Seven Sisters. Drones need permission from Shoreham’s air traffic control, and from Seven Sisters Country Park over the park.
University and research films
When films at the University of Sussex in Falmer or the University of Brighton put students and staff on camera, the 2nd AD signs them in and places them.
Recent work
AD teams on our jobs, and how we size one for Brighton
Full production · The Lizard, Cornwall · June 2026
An AD team along a mile of cliff path
Our 35mm shoot on the Lizard for Cohere’s AI for Empowerment ran with a 1st AD. The unit was strung out along a mile of cliff path with no phone signal, and ran on twelve walkie-talkies. The call was at 07:00 in the fog, and wrap came fourteen hours later. There was no 2nd AD on that call sheet. When there’s a cast and a street of background artists, a 2nd AD takes that work off the 1st.
How we crew it · Brighton
An AD team sized to the cast, and the street
A cast of two needs a producer on the floor. A cast of six with background needs a 1st and a 2nd AD, and a crowd needs a 3rd and floor runners. Brighton adds the street and the seafront, where filming on council land needs the Sussex Film Office’s permission. Someone has to keep the pavement open and the public moving while the unit works. That’s the AD team’s job, so we size it to the call sheet and the place. We start with ADs who live in Brighton or Hove, and bring the rest down from London.
Before you book
Things to know
The day
- The day is 11 hours, including an hour for lunch.
- Overtime is paid at card rates, and we agree it with you before it happens.
- Prep days for scheduling are quoted separately.
Cast, background and the street
- Background artists come through an agency or your own casting. The 2nd AD runs them on the day.
- Everyone on camera signs a release before they leave.
- If there are children in the cast, tell us in the brief, so the 2nd AD can plan their hours and who looks after them.
- Filming on the street, the seafront or the beach needs the Sussex Film Office’s permission. Private venues usually ask to see your public liability certificate, and the Royal Pavilion asks for at least £10m. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove Museums.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the 2nd AD.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the 2nd AD we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
£355 a day
APA/Bectu card: £355–448 a day for a 2nd AD.
| Day rate, 11 hours | £355 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £35.50 |
| Insurance, 2% | £7.10 |
| One day, before travel | £397.60 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the 2nd AD we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the 2nd AD.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book a 2nd AD in Brighton.
Tell us the date, the cast, any background artists and where you’re filming. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Brighton
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Brighton, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD This page £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Brighton, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Brighton.
Production support
Everything around the crew
An AD team in Brighton needs a unit base, suspended bays and the Sussex Film Office’s permission. If you want us to book them, each goes on its own line of the quote.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for a Brighton shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The Sussex Film Office, private places such as the pier, filming on the beach and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios in Brighton for interviews and product shots, and where to go for a bigger set build.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring a 2nd AD in Brighton
How much does a 2nd AD cost in Brighton?
The APA/Bectu card puts a 2nd AD at £355–448 for an 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch, and the 2nd AD gets all of it. We add our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, so a day starts at £397.60 + VAT, before any travel from London.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
What’s the difference between a 1st AD and a 2nd AD?
The 1st AD runs the set and the schedule on the floor. The 2nd AD works behind them, at the unit base. They make sure the next actor, the next background artists and tomorrow’s call sheet are ready.
Do I need an AD team for a corporate shoot?
Usually not. An interview or a corporate film with a few contributors runs fine with a producer on the floor. Book ADs when there’s a cast, background artists or a schedule with no slack.
Do we need a permit for a cast on a Brighton street?
Yes. Filming on council land in Brighton and Hove, including streets, parks, the seafront and the beach, goes through the Sussex Film Office. It doesn’t publish its fees, so we ask it for a price and add the permit to the quote. A road closure can take up to 12 weeks, and a suspended parking bay needs 7 working days’ notice. See filming permits in Brighton. Check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Can we film on Brighton Palace Pier or at the Royal Pavilion?
Yes, with the owner’s permission. Brighton Palace Pier is private. Its filming page asks for the date and time, the hours, the crew size, a lead name and a summary of the shoot. Filming at the Royal Pavilion goes through Brighton and Hove Museums. It asks for at least £10m public liability and doesn’t allow drones. LED lights are preferred, UV lights aren’t allowed, and dollies need tracking laid and rubber wheels. Check with the pier and Brighton and Hove Museums for the latest.
Can you crew a whole AD team in Brighton?
Yes. An AD team can be a single 2nd AD, or a 1st, 2nd and 3rd AD with floor runners. ADs and floor runners who live in Brighton or Hove come first. If the brief or the date needs someone else, they come down from London, about an hour away by train, and we add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.
How far ahead should I book a 2nd AD in Brighton?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. For a cast shoot, book the ADs early. They need prep days to schedule it, and the permission can take a while. A road closure can take up to 12 weeks, and filming in or near the sea needs at least 10 working days. The Brighton Marathon in April, the festivals in May and early June and Pride in early August make the city busy, so allow more time then. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.