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Director

Film Director

What does a Movie Director do?

Directors supply the creative vision of a film—from development through the final edit. The creative choices and the impact of those decisions all lie on the director's shoulders. Whether it is wardrobe, location, or acting dilemmas, the final accountability all rests on them.

Directors are typically employed by the producer, who is in charge of the production. Unless, of course, this is the director's project, and they team up with a producing partner. Although the director is the authoritative figure on the shoot, the director answers to the producer, especially when creative choices impact the budget or schedule. However, the producer does strive to support the director's creative vision. After all, moviemaking is a collaborative process.

The director should have a broad knowledge of the art of filmmaking. The director should have a general understanding of every crew member's duties and responsibilities they must direct.

The director's primary focus is the following:

Visualize and define the structure of the script and then bringing it to life
Carry out duties, such as casting, script editing, shot composition, shot selection, and editing
Work with the producers to select department heads, such as the director of photography, assistant director, and production designer.
They work with the director of photography to develop the shots and the overall film's look and style.
They manage the technical aspects of filming, including the camera, sound, lighting, production design, and special effects department.
At the same time, a director will also guide and paint their vision to other crew members, including wardrobe, hair, and makeup supervisors.
Directors rehearse and 'block' the performance with the actors before filming begins. Blocking rehearsals also include the director of photography, the lighting department, the sound department, and the Assistant Director.
During post-production, the director leads the film's editing and prepares the 'director's cut.' Producers will review that cut before the final cut is signed off.

Skills You’ll Need

To nail this role, you’ll need a strong mix of creativity, leadership, and technical skills:

Creative Vision: You should see the story in your head and know how to bring it to life visually.
Leadership: Be confident leading a team of dozens (or even hundreds) of people.
Communication: Work with actors, writers, and crew to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
Problem-Solving: Adjust to setbacks—like budget cuts or bad weather—without breaking a sweat.
Time Management: Keep the production on schedule and running smoothly.
Technical Knowledge: Understand how cameras, lighting, and editing work (you don’t need to be an expert, but basic knowledge helps).

Qualifications
You don’t need to go to film school to become a director, but some education and experience can help you build confidence and skills:

A Bachelor’s degree in Film, Theater, Visual Arts, or a related field can be helpful but isn’t required.
Specialized workshops or certificates in directing, screenwriting, or cinematography.
On-set experience is often more valuable than formal education—get involved in any production you can.

Pay Rate
A director’s salary can vary wildly depending on the size of the production and their level of experience. According to Salary.com:

Entry-Level/Assistant Director: $40,000–$70,000 per year
Mid-Level Director: $100,000–$250,000 per film
Experienced/High-Profile Directors: $1 million+ per film (think Hollywood blockbuster level)
Directors may also earn bonuses or percentages of a film’s profits, especially for large studio productions.

Education & Training
While there’s no set path, here are a few ways to learn the craft and build your skills:

Film School: Learn technical skills, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong network.
Online courses in directing, editing, screenwriting, and cinematography through platforms like MasterClass, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning.
Diversity in Cinema Academy offers online courses and webinars specifically designed for underrepresented voices in the film industry.
Join workshops, film festivals, or industry meetups to make connections and get real-world experience.

Experience
The best way to learn directing is to just start making stuff. Here’s how you can build experience:

Direct student films, indie projects, or community theater productions.
Work on set in entry-level roles like Production Assistant (PA) or Assistant Director (AD).
Volunteer at film festivals or offer to help on local productions.
Shadow experienced directors to see how they run a set in real-time

Career Track

Here’s a typical journey from starting out to becoming a top-tier director:

Where to Find Jobs?
Ready to get behind the camera? Check out the Diversity in Cinema Academy resource page for a list of job boards tailored for film industry opportunities.

A Day in the Life of a Movie Director
Your day kicks off at 5:30 AM with a quick glance at the shot list over breakfast. By 7 AM, you’re on set, checking in with the cinematographer to adjust lighting for a crucial scene. As filming starts, you’re giving direction to actors, fine-tuning their performances to match your vision. At lunch, you review morning footage with the editor and make script tweaks for tomorrow’s shoot. After a long afternoon of shooting multiple takes, the day wraps around 7 PM—but your night isn’t over. You head home to brainstorm for the next day's scenes. Exhausting? Yes. But seeing your creative vision unfold? Absolutely worth it.