Meet Austin Dickholtz | 1st Assistant Director & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Dickholtz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always had a deep desire to know how things work. It blows my mind the insane ingenuity that filmmakers use to make movies look real on screen. I probably spend more time watching behind-the-scenes extras than actual television; I just have to know how the magic trick was done. This fascination eventually led me towards getting a bachelors in filmmaking at Full Sail University, where I learned to use my hobbies & skills to build myself a career as a 1st Assistant Director.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Getting started in film was not easy or straight-forward for me. Honestly, I didn’t consider a career as a filmmaker until I took a tour on campus at Full Sail University. Long story short, they had an incredibly good sales pitch, and I got hooked on the idea. My time there was priceless to me. They function more like a trade school than a traditional college, and we had hands-on experience with the film gear from day one. On and off campus, I worked on dozens of student and local productions. I tried crew positions in every department barring HMU, and a lot of production assistant work.

Near the end of my degree, I stumbled headfirst into the role of 1st Assistant Director when a student film I was working on needed someone to step up. I was reluctant due to sheer nervousness. The 1st AD is responsible for managing the entire crew, the captain of the ship some relate it to. Turns out, my prior experience in the other departments was instrumental in my success on that film. Things went so well, that I was brought on to be the AD on three more short films that same month.

Today, I love being the 1st Assistant Director for film and television productions. It is an absolute roller coaster every day on set. It’s high intensity crisis management that is not for the faint of heart. It’s constant problem solving and logistical headaches while keeping a cool demeanor. It’s about finding that balance of staying safe and pushing the limit. The clock is always ticking as we hustle to get the camera setups needed for the day and trying to wrap on time. I love the adrenaline rush I get on the job as well as the immense satisfaction of my schedule being executed successfully. I recently achieved my proudest accomplishment yet: 1st Assistant Director for a feature length western film and wrapping on time every single day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My wife and I finally visited the Fort Worth Stockyards, and is a true Texan treasure that exceeded our expectations! You have to go eat at historic Riscky’s Steakhouse, with their smoked meats and hearty country-style dishes. If you time it right, you could see the daily cattle drive from your table. Make sure to visit the local cowboy shops, where you can find unique western wear and souvenirs to take home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife Angel is my second half and best friend. She loves and supports me every day by helping me stay focused, energized, and even well-fed(she is a great cook!). As a fellow filmmaker, no set for me is complete without her there. She has an amazing eye for art and design while I cover logistics and organization, which makes her my perfect teammate on any project. She even hones our entrepreneurial spirit; we co-founded our company A&A Cinema for films and productions we take on.

I also would never have gotten this far without the love and support of my parents, Marshall and Lisa Dickholtz. My college mentor, Larry Katz, who taught me how to be a great AD. As well as all of the other AD’s, PA’s, and everyone in between that have helped, taught, and invited me into the filmmaking community!

Website: aandacinema.com