Videos on the Web
- Director – Film & TV- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Working Life
The director's job is to turn the script into a finished film by bringing together all the other creative departments to realise their vision of how the story should be told visually.
Role and Responsibilities
- In charge of all creative and dramatic decisions, from selecting the actors and the crew to the locations and style of the film.
- Decide what to film, how to film it, and how it should look and sound.
- Cooperate with everyone else who works on the film, trying to get the most out of them.
Works with
- Producers
- Investors/Financiers
- Actors
- All other HOD’s such as Writer, Casting Director, DOP, Editor and Composer
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterisation, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimised.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
Qualities - Director – Film & TV
Is this role right for me?
For this role you need:
Artistic and creative vision and ideas.
The ability to communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and quickly.
An understanding of how each department works and how to get the best out of them. Sometimes the director will have to mediate when there are creative differences between people.
A single-minded determination to work for and protect your vision.
Focus and patience in fast paced stressful environment.
The role in more detail:
Because so many people contribute to the making of a film, the director is like a general, organising all the various departments to work together so everyone is trying to tell the same story. They oversee everything, including the editing, and contribute to the promotion of the finished film.
The director has to juggle all these disparate creative individuals and egos into a streamlined fast-paced operation while always working within the allocated budget.
The role of the film director can differ in many ways from the TV director, who usually has less autonomy or authorship over the project.
Eventually, each director has to find their own style and way of working through what can often be incredibly long hours. Some prefer to focus on the actors and some prefer to concentrate more on the visuals. Some work from their own scripts and some take material from elsewhere like books, or plays, or other writers. Ultimately, the director is responsible for it all. They are a genius if it all works, and a scapegoat if it doesn’t!
Interests - Director – Film & TV
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Entry / Progression - Director – Film & TV
Education Route: Qualifications in Film or Film Production, Media Studies, or Theatre of Arts can be beneficial.
Career Path to Director Film & TV: There are many pathways to becoming a film director. Some directors start by working in other departments such as writers, DOP’s, or editors.
Some move from in front of the camera as actors to behind it as directors. Some pursue a formal route through film school and others just learn by doing. With much easier access to equipment, (your phone is a camera and your computer is an edit suite), many learn from online tutorials and demonstration videos on both technical and artistic aspects.
Career Path from Director Film & TV: There are no shortages of interviews with great directors online; these can provide great insights to the craft. It is only by trying that you can discover if this is the job for you. You may direct a critically acclaimed film or hit series or become a high profile director.
