Rachael Bagley

Large-scale action, second unit, marine, aerial, and water-based productions. Working with Children Blue Card, 30 years experience, supporting both DGA films and non-DGA local production.

Gold Coast

With nearly 30 years of experience in international film and television, Rachael Bagley specialises in delivering world-class stunt action sequences, marine, aerial on complex large-scale productions with precision leadership, elite safety management and proven on-set problem-solving expertise.

Lists as:

Assistant Director - 1st

Rachael Bagley is a highly experienced Australian First Assistant Director with almost three decades of international film and television production experience across Australia, Thailand, Fiji, Malaysia, Japan, and New Zealand. Rachael has worked on large scale DGA films and also supports non DGA local production.

She specialises in large-scale action, second unit, marine, aerial, and water-based productions, with a strong reputation for leadership under pressure, complex logistics management, and safety-focused execution on high-end international productions.

Her expertise includes:

First Assistant Directing for major US studio films, streaming productions, and international television series.
Managing complex action sequences, second unit operations, stunt coordination support, marine units, and remote-location productions.
Extensive experience in water environments, aerial units, and technically demanding shoots involving difficult terrain, weather, and large-scale logistics.
Advanced scheduling, crew leadership, production problem-solving, and on-set operational management.
Strong collaboration with internationally recognised directors, stunt coordinators, producers, and studios including Netflix, Disney+, MGM, Columbia Pictures, STX, Lionsgate, WWE, Paramount, and Universal Pictures.

Her recent credits include:

John Rambo — 1st AD, 2nd Unit/Action Unit in Thailand
Anaconda — 1st AD, 2nd Unit/Action Unit
Thirteen Lives — 1st AD for additional photography and second unit work under director Ron Howard
Nautilus — 1st AD
Kate — 1st AD for Action Unit in Thailand and Japan
Adrift — Key 2nd AD on major marine and remote-location production work in Fiji and New Zealand
The Shallows — Key 2nd AD on water-based production work

Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for calm leadership, precision scheduling, and the ability to deliver complex productions efficiently under demanding conditions. A testimonial from Millennium Media’s Line Producer on “John Rambo” specifically praised her for integrating reshoots into a compressed schedule while still achieving an early wrap and saving a shooting day.

Her career progression demonstrates deep industry experience, advancing from 3rd AD and 2nd AD roles on international productions in the late 1990s and early 2000s to leading major action units and main units on global studio projects today.

Please refer to my CV for list of credits and referrees.

IMDb profile: IMDb Pro Profile

Assistant Director - 1st

Rachael Bagley

Kara Chandler

Andrew McInally