7 answers
Walker
Student
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Asked
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What does a film director do?
How do I start building the skills needed to be a film director?
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7 answers
Jennifer Jackson
Film Director
79
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Walker,
To start building the skills needed to be a film director, consider taking film or media courses, practicing storytelling through writing or filmmaking, and studying the work of renowned directors. Get hands-on experience by creating short films, collaborating with other aspiring filmmakers, and learning about the technical aspects of filmmaking. Additionally, seek out mentorship opportunities, attend film festivals and workshops, and be open to feedback to continuously improve your craft as a director.
Best of luck,
Jennifer
To start building the skills needed to be a film director, consider taking film or media courses, practicing storytelling through writing or filmmaking, and studying the work of renowned directors. Get hands-on experience by creating short films, collaborating with other aspiring filmmakers, and learning about the technical aspects of filmmaking. Additionally, seek out mentorship opportunities, attend film festivals and workshops, and be open to feedback to continuously improve your craft as a director.
Best of luck,
Jennifer
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1886
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Walker !
What does the Director do ? Everything. The director's job is to see that what gets put on the screen is worth being called a final cut. The Director works with every professional pre-production, during filming and post-production. Some projects utilize a 1st Assistant Director which is a director, but responsible for a certain segment of the project, for example, directs all the Background//Extra actors. It depends on the scale of the project but you should look into what assistant directing is, too, because that career gives people the hands on directing work experience, too. The Director's job is to make sure that everything looks and sounds perfect for what the project is trying to achieve. With professional actors, the director doesn't have to direct their acting much, rather their action and the mood that should be played.
You can do many things to develop an understanding and skill to be a Director for film and television as stated in your tags. While in high school, get an introduction by being involved in any performing arts classes and clubs such as acting, theater, film clubs and video. So, your first step would be to become familiar with performing arts and obtain experience. Be in some plays - be directed - and you will pick up on the things a director focuses on and every director is different, so there's no one answer or clear cut thing to expect. Education will help you understand the why and what of directing and you will then know how to apply it. It depends on the story, the actors, the medium, and many other factors.
Directors work in collaboration with the other media professionals and have many meetings prior to production to discuss all aspects of the project and see who says what must happen with every aspect of the project. So, directors get "direction" too.
After your initial introduction to performance from high school, I would advise going to film school to major in your selected medium with an emphasis on Directing. You can go to a University or an actual private film school depending on how you want to take your career path. I don't see any film schools near your area so you can consider relocating to study film at a well-equipped specialized Film School. Also do a search for possible Universities that offer a Film or Television major and Communication Studies would be good, too, but my advice is to go to film school to major in Directing. Just a Tip: New York City, which has great film schools, is a two hour drive from where you live. But figure out how you want to do your training and education and do what will serve you the best and is doable for you.
I wish you all the best considering a career in Directing and hope that your path towards the industry is a fun and worthwhile journey !
What does the Director do ? Everything. The director's job is to see that what gets put on the screen is worth being called a final cut. The Director works with every professional pre-production, during filming and post-production. Some projects utilize a 1st Assistant Director which is a director, but responsible for a certain segment of the project, for example, directs all the Background//Extra actors. It depends on the scale of the project but you should look into what assistant directing is, too, because that career gives people the hands on directing work experience, too. The Director's job is to make sure that everything looks and sounds perfect for what the project is trying to achieve. With professional actors, the director doesn't have to direct their acting much, rather their action and the mood that should be played.
You can do many things to develop an understanding and skill to be a Director for film and television as stated in your tags. While in high school, get an introduction by being involved in any performing arts classes and clubs such as acting, theater, film clubs and video. So, your first step would be to become familiar with performing arts and obtain experience. Be in some plays - be directed - and you will pick up on the things a director focuses on and every director is different, so there's no one answer or clear cut thing to expect. Education will help you understand the why and what of directing and you will then know how to apply it. It depends on the story, the actors, the medium, and many other factors.
Directors work in collaboration with the other media professionals and have many meetings prior to production to discuss all aspects of the project and see who says what must happen with every aspect of the project. So, directors get "direction" too.
After your initial introduction to performance from high school, I would advise going to film school to major in your selected medium with an emphasis on Directing. You can go to a University or an actual private film school depending on how you want to take your career path. I don't see any film schools near your area so you can consider relocating to study film at a well-equipped specialized Film School. Also do a search for possible Universities that offer a Film or Television major and Communication Studies would be good, too, but my advice is to go to film school to major in Directing. Just a Tip: New York City, which has great film schools, is a two hour drive from where you live. But figure out how you want to do your training and education and do what will serve you the best and is doable for you.
I wish you all the best considering a career in Directing and hope that your path towards the industry is a fun and worthwhile journey !
Susan Elaine Smith
4
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Susan Elaine’s Answer
Start a paper or online notebook with ideas, resources around your community, photos of free public spaces such as parks, river sides, beautiful trees, people who want to act etc where you can film. Start watching all the videos on youtube- at least 2 a day about how to produce a film, both short and long and take lots of notes. Start by writing a short 2 minute script about something simple like a tree , flower or pet and practice using dialogue, lighting, sound etc until it is beautiful then show it to people who will encourage you...not those who will discourage you.
Get a notwbook online or on paper and start writing ideas that interest you that you would like to research or do a short film about.
Susan Elaine recommends the following next steps:
Annaleigh Niedzielski
Videographer, Producer, Assistant Director
65
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Annaleigh’s Answer
Hi Walker! Simply put, a Director is the creative head of any project! It is a ton of work, but it is so rewarding to be so involved in a project! I would recommend being a part of every part of production before becoming a director, as it helps you understand your team much better.
As far as skills needed, you should focus on both creative and technical development. Watching films critically is a great first step—study how established directors use camera angles, lighting, and editing to tell a story. Don’t just stick to Hollywood blockbusters; explore indie films, foreign cinema, and documentaries to get a well-rounded understanding of various styles. While you're watching, pay attention to narrative structure, pacing, and how characters are developed.
Next, learning the basics of filmmaking is crucial. This includes understanding cinematography, editing, sound design, and even production management. You don’t need to be an expert in all of these areas, but knowing how they work will make you a better communicator on set. Take advantage of online tutorials, film courses, or workshops to sharpen these skills. If you're in college, enroll in film-related classes to get hands-on experience.
Start small by shooting your own projects. Even if it’s with a smartphone or a basic camera, practicing how to frame shots, direct actors, and capture a scene will give you valuable experience. Don’t wait for the perfect equipment—filmmaking is about creativity, not just tech. Edit your own work to understand pacing and storytelling from a post-production perspective.
Additionally, working on other people’s sets is a great way to gain insight into how a director leads a team and makes decisions. Volunteering as a production assistant or helping out on student films will help you network and learn the process firsthand. Finally, practice leadership and collaboration. As a director, your vision is only as strong as your ability to guide a crew. Good communication skills, a clear vision, and a collaborative spirit are key to being successful in this role.
As far as skills needed, you should focus on both creative and technical development. Watching films critically is a great first step—study how established directors use camera angles, lighting, and editing to tell a story. Don’t just stick to Hollywood blockbusters; explore indie films, foreign cinema, and documentaries to get a well-rounded understanding of various styles. While you're watching, pay attention to narrative structure, pacing, and how characters are developed.
Next, learning the basics of filmmaking is crucial. This includes understanding cinematography, editing, sound design, and even production management. You don’t need to be an expert in all of these areas, but knowing how they work will make you a better communicator on set. Take advantage of online tutorials, film courses, or workshops to sharpen these skills. If you're in college, enroll in film-related classes to get hands-on experience.
Start small by shooting your own projects. Even if it’s with a smartphone or a basic camera, practicing how to frame shots, direct actors, and capture a scene will give you valuable experience. Don’t wait for the perfect equipment—filmmaking is about creativity, not just tech. Edit your own work to understand pacing and storytelling from a post-production perspective.
Additionally, working on other people’s sets is a great way to gain insight into how a director leads a team and makes decisions. Volunteering as a production assistant or helping out on student films will help you network and learn the process firsthand. Finally, practice leadership and collaboration. As a director, your vision is only as strong as your ability to guide a crew. Good communication skills, a clear vision, and a collaborative spirit are key to being successful in this role.
Daniel Ruff
1
Answer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
As the director, you are basically steering the ship that is the production. While the technical knowledge is highly important, you must be able to communicate clearly with your team, and reprimand if needed. And I know directors sometimes get the cold shoulder because of this but it's important that you learn to put the project first. At the same time, try to be the fun director as well, because afterall, the film industry is a fun place too.
And if you have never touched the film industry, then maybe specializing in directing isn't a good move. Because seldom people ever become directors hot off the plate; specialize in something you love and work your way up the ladder. You got this!
And if you have never touched the film industry, then maybe specializing in directing isn't a good move. Because seldom people ever become directors hot off the plate; specialize in something you love and work your way up the ladder. You got this!
Linda Mire
Interior Design
131
Answers
Lake Charles
Updated
Linda’s Answer
I think the director is the most vital person involved in story telling. They must dissect a script to discover all of the clues and nuances present for developing each characters personally so it is believable and understood in the story being told. Ever hand gesture or facial expression or movement around the stories environment has to be given much attention so the audience is not distracted from the story by small details like the wrong hat for the stories given time and numerous other details which a movie entertaining or an annoyance.
Henrien McDonald
Teacher
14
Answers
Las Vegas, Nevada
Updated
Henrien’s Answer
Before any script is written, first you need a story to tell. I give my students one word and ask them to build me a story on one word. Another way is to tell me a story about a holiday family dinner. Sometimes, read an old newspaper. Pick a story and build a story. Film directors are storytellers that use cinematic techniques to tell a tall tale. The director brings to together the story, the sounds, the actors interpretation of the dialogue, and the different sets to create a fluid and magical moment caught in time on film. This is what a filmmaker does.