Second unit director

The second unit director is the leader of the second unit, which is the smaller of the two units used on almost every modern large-scale film production. This director is often responsible for minor shots, such as establishing shots. Occasionally, the second unit director will direct more important sequences, especially in action movie, which often feature many shots with car chases, explosions, and special effect, but no dialogue. For this reason, many second unit directors are former stunt coordinator. Stunt coordinators turned second unit directors include Vic Armstrong (Bear Island, Mission: Impossible III), Simon Crane (Frankenstein (1994), X-Men 3), and Terry J. Leonard (Big Wednesday, The Forgotten). One noted career second unit director is Michael D. Moore who has worked in that capacity on more than sixty films including a number of major hit films. As well as action setpieces, the second unit may also shoot in locations that it would be too expensive or too dangerous to... full article at wikipedia