Meet Katerina Gerlach

We were lucky to catch up with Katerina Gerlach recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Katerina, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

A big part of my job as an assistant director (AD) is to make sure that every department on a film a film set knows what’s going on, so the ability to communicate effectively is vital. This ability was first formed in my upbringing. It was very important to my parents that my siblings and I received a good education, so they decided early on that we would be homeschooled through high school. It was imperative to them that we weren’t just memorizing material and repeating it back, but that we were learning how to think for ourselves, do our own research, and clearly articulate our thoughts and opinions. In addition, my Mom has always been a type-A planner – growing up we were constantly hosting events that required a good deal of planning and communication. Observing my parents and how they communicated with us and with others was a great step in learning it for myself. When the time came and I began to work on my first film sets, simply growing up in my household had given me the natural skillset to AD effectively.
The rest came with a great deal of time and practice. I went to a university where I was able to work hands-on with my peers to create short films on a weekly basis and I quickly learned to hone my communication skills specifically to this career. I learned how to create a “call sheet” – the document that lays out all of the information that the cast and crew needs for the following shoot day. I learned how to format the nightly emails that an AD department sends out in such a way to keep them brief, informative, and easy to read. I learned which departments need what information, when they need it, and in what detail. After graduating, it was easy to transition those skills to the professional film industry.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a freelance assistant director (AD) in the film industry. For those unfamiliar with the term “AD,” the role does not consist of being an assistant TO the director, but rather working hand in hand with them to bring the film from script to screen. An AD is one of the first crew members brought onto a shoot – they are the one to take a script and create the shooting schedule, working with the producers to ensure that the film can be made in the allotted time. They work with each of the film’s department heads (lighting, wardrobe, hair and makeup, props, etc.) to make sure that everyone has what they need and knows exactly what is happening and when. Another big part of the ADs job is safety – making sure that everything on set is done as safely as possible to avoid any cast or crew being injured in such a fast-paced environment. This includes everything from making sure that there is plenty of water and sunscreen and shade on sunny days, to making sure that weapons being used as props do not have real bullets in them, working with a stunt coordinator to choreograph stunt scenes, and coordinating road closures for car chase scenes. When it comes time for production, the AD is the one that runs the set – they are the loud one, the one to yell “Action” and “Cut,” the one to keep things moving quickly so that the production gets all of the footage they need without going over budget.
To many people, the job of an AD sounds technical and boring. We sit in front of a computer for hours on end. We make schedules and adjust them and adjust again. We send thousands of emails and texts, make hundreds of calls, and are constantly putting out fires. But to me, it is a lot more than that. Being an AD means that I get to know each and every cast and crew member on a personal level. I get to be their go-to person to solve problems. I get to have a hand in every department and every decision and I get to know every little thing that’s going on behind the scenes. I get to work more closely with the director than any other crew member and I get to see their creative vision on a very deep level and help communicate it to the other departments. I’m there to make sure everyone is heard and everyone is happy. It’s a very fulfilling job.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

There are many qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge needed to be successful as a freelance AD. Three that have particularly impacted me are the ability to be relentless, resourceful, and realistic. These things come naturally to some, while others may need to put them into practice and build them up over time – for me it has been a combination of both.
Having talked to many professionals in this industry, I know I’m not alone when I say that the ability to keep pushing forward no matter the circumstances is essential, especially when first starting out. Unless you are grandfathered into the industry or know someone that can get you on set early on, you have to work for it. It doesn’t matter how talented you are if you’re not willing to fail sometimes, to live paycheck to paycheck or spend months couch-surfing to afford groceries or gas. There are thousands of young people that move to LA to get into film – the difference between those who “make it” and those who don’t is who is willing to relentlessly push through difficulties and challenges, take risks, and make sacrifices versus those who give up when things get too hard.
Hand-in-hand with that, resourcefulness is crucial – both with money and material things, but also with relationships and opportunities. Feast or famine is the name of the game. You may pull in $10k one month and make nothing the next. Saving money whenever possible and being frugal with what you do spend is very important, especially when first navigating the instability of the career. I remember the first year I was working freelance I was cruising along all summer and fall and then late November hit and there was no work to be found again until February.
You also have to be resourceful with your relationships – get to know as many people as you can, learn what they do, and see what you can offer them. In the freelance world, you are always pitching yourself. You are your own product in your business and the more widespread you can sell yourself and your work, the busier you will find yourself. Finally, you have to be resourceful with the opportunities that you are offered. I took two opportunities early on in my career to volunteer for films that I believed had potential. The first was as a 2nd AD – the 1st AD ended up walking off the set and I was bumped up to his position (which was paid). I was also later hired by the same producers for various films. The second was as a script supervisor on a film being shot in Poland. They had agreed to cover my travel, food, and lodging expenses if I came on to help for free. I ended up 2nd ADing starting the first day on set and then eventually taking over the 1st AD position and now that film is the most successful indie that I have worked on. I’ve gotten other jobs through that team as well and it’s all because I saw opportunities to make connections and make good art and I took them.
On the flip side, you also have to be realistic with your ability and your capacity. This one is a struggle for me personally and one that I am still working on, but more and more I see how important it is. While it is essential to constantly be pitching yourself and getting yourself out there and staying relevant, it’s also important to know what’s realistic for you as a person. Filmmaking is exhausting, especially in an AD capacity. The days are long and demanding. You’re putting out fires constantly, sometimes before they even begin. You can only do so many productions back to back before you begin to feel the effects of burnout. In the worst case scenario, you could begin to lose the passion and love you have for your craft. Unfortunately, I (and so many others) have had to learn this lesson the hard way.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents did a lot of things that impacted where I am today, but the things that stick out to me the most are (1) the encouragement that they’ve given me since day one and (2) their example as leaders and hard workers.
It may seem small and insignificant, but the encouragement from the first day I told my parents that I wanted to be a filmmaker was very influential. I would imagine it’s not easy to hear your ten-year-old say that they want to move to one of the most dangerous and expensive cities in the country to try to get into what is arguably one of the most competitive, corrupt, and cut-throat industries. And don’t get me wrong, they sat me down and made sure that I knew that it wouldn’t be easy. But they never tried to convince me to do anything else. In fact, they went out of their way to help me to begin building connections as early as I could. When I was in middle school, my Dad taught at a university where he became acquainted with the film and acting teachers. Soon, I was joining classes of students twice my age, studying acting techniques, participating in film studies, and even helping to create some of my first short films. My Christmas presents included a slate (or “clapperboard”), books on filmmaking, and the gear I needed to mount my iPad onto a tripod and screw on lenses. My parents helped me to enter and attend my first film festivals and eventually they flew with me to California to look at my dream film school. During my first year of full-time freelancing, they loaned me money to pay my rent multiple times so that I could keep pursuing the work that I loved.
In addition to the emotional and monetary support, my parents greatly impacted me through their own example. In many ways, the AD is the leader of a film set – they’re the one to make a lot of the major logistical decisions while shooting and it’s important that they are a hard worker, that they’re wise, that they’re there for others and not themselves, and that they’re able to think through problems quickly and come up with creative and logical solutions. These are all things that I learned from my parents – in the way that they lead in their workplaces, but also in the way that they lead us as a family. They’ve shown me how to be a good leader and a hard worker and I’ve seen first-hand the impact that they have had on those around and under them. I couldn’t be more grateful for the way that they raised me and the values that they instilled in me and I firmly believe that I would not be where I am today without them.

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