place_of_death scott beal
The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule , arranging logistics , preparing daily call sheets , checking cast and crew , and maintaining order on the set . They also have to take care of the health and safety of the crew . The role of an assistant to the director is often confused with assistant director but the responsibilities are entirely different . The assistant to the director manages all of the Director ' s in development , pre - production , while on set , through post - production and is often involved in both personal management as well as creative aspects of the production process . Historically , assistant to director was a stepping stone to directing work ; Alfred Hitchcock was an AD , as was James McTeigue . This transition into film directing is no longer common in feature films . It is more common now for an assistant to the director to transition to a production management or producer role than to directing . Scott R . `` Scotty '' Beal ( April 14 , 1890 -- July 10 , 1973 ) was a film Assistant director . Born in Quinnesec , Michigan , he began his career as an actor in 1915 , before switching to the other side of the camera the following year . He also occasionally doubled up as a production manager and a cinematographer . As an assistant director , he worked on Tod Browning ' s Dracula ( 1931 ) and Robert Florey ' s Murders in the Rue Morgue ' ( 1932 ) . Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock ( 13 ___MASK95___ 1899  29 April 1980 ) was an English film director and producer , at times referred to as " The Master of Suspense ". He pioneered many elements of the suspense and psychological thriller genres . He had a successful career in British cinema with both silent films and early talkies and became renowned as ___MASK21___ ' s best director . Hitchcock moved to ___MASK91___ in 1939 , and became a US citizen in 1955 .