Director Job Role

A director is the main driving source for a films production. They are a very respected figure and is the link or bond between the production, technical areas and the creative based work. They overlook everything and is the person who is responsible for getting the story from script to screen. The process they will go through is they will create a visually in their head how they want it to turn out, using style and structure. He or she then has to go in to a storytelling mode and bring his vision to reality. They are interpreting what the producers and writers see. Creativity is key in this process as he would need to go into as much detail as possible, for the rest of the crew to visualise the production the way he does.

To keep up to date with the progress of production, a director keeps up to date and in contact the head of every department involved. This is to see if they are sticking to a schedule or uncover any problems that may have occurred. The decision making is the hardest task for a director as its left down to them to pick cast, crew and locations for filming. They have to direct rehearsals and assess it, and if something is not being done right they should be vocal with their feelings on the matter. They manage the technical aspects of filming such as the camera, sound, lighting, design and special effects. These are big responsibilities and it will take a lot to get to this level.

Like any other role they require skills and the main one for director is the ability to develop an original film. From the planning all the through to post-production, his ideas must be original and be what the audience wants. It's a thought draining process but these people are in this role because they worked hard and stuck at what they wanted to finally achieve. The saying you only get out what you put in is very true in the media industry. You have to push yourself to limits to see as a person what limit you can go to. Along with practical work, studying the art of directing is a quite important. But you need the experience there to meet you halfway. Before the though of university, a good starting point be having studied Art & Design, English, Photography and Film & Media studies. These allow you to explore the different areas that require creativeness, visuals and thought and make your own decision on what you want to do. When your a teenager doing these courses, you may not think they will benefit you in the future. But for a directors job, they will look at your complete history of education to how committed you really are.

From there the first job you usually go for is a runner. Once you have the relevant 2 or 3 year's experience, you can start to work your way up the levels in the hierarchy, and work hard at each one to the best of your ability. The strive to succeed in such a challenging field of work, should be the motivation for you to carry on and achieve your goals.