According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the associate director is in charge of making creative decisions for the company as a whole, while the assistant director is the second-highest decision-maker in this area. There are different levels of responsibility for associate directors and assistant directors.
The executive director is in charge of the whole project. Often, he or she will hire an associate director or assistant to help run a big show or movie. Associate directors help the executive with big decisions, while the assistant often helps with day-to-day tasks. In general, business decisions for any film, TV, or stage project are up to the director. One of their jobs is to help actors and actresses develop their skills. Depending on how complicated the show is, the crew can include costume designers, choreographers, and even a set director. Associate directors help the executive directors with things like choosing camera angles and costumes, and assistant directors do what the associate directors tell them to do.
Most of the time, the associate director has worked on all parts of a production, from planning to editing. The assistant director helps make sure that the creative flow and look of the set and actors are done right. The assistant director and the associate director will have different jobs to do.