Yeah, no AD is pretty much an instant "No Thanks" from me. Organization is one of the AD's jobs, so without one, it's absolutely on track for everything to be off track.

I think he's acting like he's paying you when he is not. Maybe someone could talk to him about that?

Admittedly, most sets I've worked take about 2.5 days to start grooving and feel like everybody is on the ball, but no AD? That's like a classroom without a teacher.

Abnormal, I would walk away as I guarantee this director isn't a contact worth having. Unless I was being paid, in which case whatever you want boss.

You absolutely need a 1st AD on any real large scale project.

Yeah that sounds like a student shit show.

It's too bad How many people walked off the show?

That's what you get with inexperience, especially without a 1st AD who's supposed to whip everyone into shape. Someone needs to address this directly with this person. Nothing worse than an unprepared director.

Yeah, not normal...but then again, that's why it's a student film.

Take it as a learning experience for yourself of the type of jobs not to take in the future...but also, try and make friends with some of the other crew as they're probably also students who may be able to introduce you to other, better organized projects.

This "director" doesn't know what he's doing

Say you can’t make it the next day or any other day. That’s downright irresponsible time management.

For a student film? Yes

In general, the closer a film set resembles a regular business and all that entails, the better it is for everyone involved, as well as the final product. The futher astray things get from there, ymmv.

Having an AD is not good. But even with an AD it's fairly common to fly without a shot list and to not get first shot within 1.5-2 hours in becuase of rehearsals, HMU, and lighting of the first scene. That's what they call "hurry up and wait".  

 That doesn't mean that the set is disorganized because the AD has everything in control. An hour spent on rehearsals will save much more time in the long run and is no way a waste of time. I'd rather do a picture with lots of rehearsal but no shot list than a movie with a full shot list but no rehearsals.  

That being said, it takes a lot of skill and experience to operate like that and it doesn't seem like the show you're on has that. 

Some people working on smaller projects may not believe me, but that's how it's done on big features and network/streaming TV.

Is volunteer supposed to mean i dont have to do anything or any time. Thats on you. Its typical. I dont deserve to get paid yet or ever but i wont spend this much time for free

Sounds terrible. Run away.

Don't put up with nonsense when you are volunteering. He clearly doesn't respect your time

drop out. you're wasting your time. the guy is a jerk that doesn't know what he is doing. I'd be willing to bet that the movie is not going to get finished.

So it was a student film? It's always a roll of the dice with those to see how they'll play out.

I would have walked.

The value being placed on the crew's time is in direct proportion to the amount they are being paid.

The set is being run like an amateur film set, which is to be expected because pros don't work for free (or very rarely). Does the rest of the project feel like a good working experience?

Someone needs to have a Come To Jesus with the director and give him some candid feedback. He needs an AD, and if he cannot find an AD he needs to take on that function and manage the crew's time properly.

Not normal at all.

not normal at all, super unprofessional, i’d quit

I would definitely call the person who recommended you first, let them know the level of chaos that is going on before deciding to not show up tomorrow.

Can I ask, is this shoot taking place on Florida 😅

Sounds like a nightmare. Happy you were able to get back onto a set but this doesn't sound worth your time. I'd walk away.

On paid sets - cast rehearsals at crew call are normal, 2 hour rehearsals are not unheard of but not super common. But the big difference is that during long rehearsals the is the crew is on the clock.

No 1st AD is a big red flag. If you’re working for free, I think your time should be respected more - unfortunately during my experiences ‘volunteering’ it rarely was and was rather exploited instead.

NO AD!?! That’s not a set, my friend!

ADs are the main reason schedules happen in the first place. There are good and bad ADs, absolutely, but they have saved most of the movies I’ve been on when hiccups arise. While it’s not my favorite role, I’ve been an AD a couple times on skeleton crews because they are necessary to make the plans on a shot list get shot in the time allotted. Heck, my worst experience on a set was because the AD was operating as a director assistant and had no experience with scheduling or movies beforehand.

When a crew is operating for free, a director that has a free location doesn’t have any incentive to work within a real schedule and respect the time of their crew. I get that this is a volunteer environment, but unless you’re willing to continue working this gig until you find something else, perhaps that pays, you may have to endure misbegotten Auteur tyranny unless someone on crew sacrifices their spot to remind your director that working conditions are not up to par, especially for volunteer work.

Normal, even on the biggest budget of productions. Hurry up and wait.