Kristian Setälä

Assistant Director

Say hello to Kristian – our social butterfly, multi-talent and newcomer Assistant Director!

Kristian’s background is as a Director-DP. He has worked on dozens of commercials, music videos and short films and gotten to work with 1st AD’s himself. Some of these productions were shot with a lighter crew and during these he often took it upon himself to make sure the production proceeds and all material is shot in time. This has given him the added valuable experience of running a set, even though he hasn’t been credited as the 1st AD.

In the last years Kristian has properly jumped into Assistant Directing completing his first productions as the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Assistant Director. Kristian is natural with performers, understands stories and content, has talent in organising things and vision for scheduling shoots. He comes along with people, can small talk well with anyone and is always excited to join any kinds of projects. With his former experience from other departments Kristian’s understanding of technical departments is better than most AD’s. And he speaks three languages daily – making him a perfect candidate to join any production speaking Finnish, Swedish or English (or a combination of these)!

As his next steps Kristian could either get more experience on longer productions as the 2nd or 3rd AD or even take on a local, lighter scale production as the 1st AD. He has previously ran commercials and short films and is familiar with MMS due to his work as the 2nd. He has potential to take over a new challenge – and we’re confident he’ll quickly become a routined 1st AD when given the chance.

Skills

Working with crowds and actors
Running the set
Call sheets
Assisting in script breakdowns
Videography

Softwares

Adobe Premiere Pro CC (advanced)
Adobe Photoshop (intermediate)
Microsoft Office Suite (intermediate)
Movie Magic Scheduling (intermediate)

Languages

Finnish (native)
Swedish (native)
English (professional working proficiency)

Education details

Participant at BBG AD Bootcamp – 8-week further education course of Assistant Directing / 2022

BA in directing and screenwriting
/ Arcada University Of Applied Sciences / Graduated in 2018

Vocational degree in media science, digital communication and media/multimedia / Yrkesinstitutet Prakticum / Graduated in 2010

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Selected works

Feature Films

AS A 2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Perhoset / Tekele / 2024 – dir. Jenni Toivoniemi

AS A CROWD AD

Dracula: A Love Story (working title) / LBP Productions / TBA – dir. Luc Besson – Finnish Unit

AS AN AD ASSISTANT

TBA / Made / TBA – dir. TBA – development (assisting in script breakdown)
Levoton tuhkimo / Yellow Film & TV / 2024 – dir. Mari Rantasila – development, script breakdown and shooting schedule draft during BBG AD Bootcamp 2022

TV Series

AS A 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Året i Sagoskogen / PARAD / 2023 – dir. Sanna Sofia Vuori – additional

AS A 2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Limbo S2 / Yellow Film & TV / TBA – dir. TBA
L/Over / Gutsy Animations / TBA – dir. Aleksi Salmenperä

AS A 3RD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love S1  / Inland Film Company / 2023 – dir. TBA – Helsinki Unit, additional
Kotka 10 S1 / Yellow Film & TV / 2023 – dir. Jyri Kähönen – additional

AS A CROWD MARSHALL

Constellation / Turbine Studios / 2023 – dir. Michelle McLauren, Oliver Hirschbiegel, Joseph Cedar – additional, Finnish Unit

Documentaries

AS A 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Vilpitön mieli / Kameron / 2023 – dir. Terjo Aaltonen – additional

Shorts

AS A 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Katastrofielokuvien loppukohtauksia / Empire Pictures, Production Company Firma / 2023 – dir. Tellervo Kalleinen, Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen
Menage a Trois / Aracada Film School / 2022 – dir. Tomas Linders von Kantzow
Fore! / ELO Film school / 2022 – dir. Kiia Kuivalainen

Commercials

AS A 1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Koskenkorva / TBWA Screen / 2024 – dir. Henry Littlechild
Karhu Core / Koski Syväri / 2023 – dir. Simo Liukka
Rockstar LIVE / Duotone / 2023 – dir. Kaverikarim
Subway pt. 2 / Tonto Helsinki / 2022 – dir. Sami Joensuu
Subway pt. 1 / Tonto Helsinki / 2022 – dir. Sami Joensuu

Kristian on other platforms: