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Who is a Film Director?
Movies are like an expensive form of therapy for me ~ Tim Burton
A film director is a professional head of film production involved in artistic and dramatic aspects along with the visualisation of the screenplay while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. Individuals who opt for a career as film directors play a key role in choosing the cast members, production design, as well as the creative aspects of filmmaking. In other words, the director can also be termed the author of the film.
Individuals who opt for a career as film directors give direction to the cast and crew and create an overall vision through which a film eventually becomes realised or noticed. Here in this article, we will be providing what film producers do, how to become a film director in India, or more specifically how to become a movie director.
Film Director in a Nutshell
Film direction is an art performed by the various directors which can be defined as a creative and interpretive process that culminates in the authorship of an original work of art rather than a simple recording of a simple event. Individuals who opt for a career as film directors are required to envisage a way to translate a screenplay into a fully formed film, and then realise the vision. The film director's job description includes overseeing the artistic and technical aspects of the film.
This involves organising the film crew in such a way as to achieve their vision of the film and communicating with the actors. Individuals who opt for a career as film directors are required to possess skills such as group leadership, as well as the ability to maintain a singular focus even in the stressful and fast-paced environment of the production set.
Quick Facts for Film Director
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Industry
Entertainment
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Suitable for
Male, Female
Individuals can take up a career as film directors, it is not gender-specific. Males, women, and others can choose a career as film directors. The profession is suitable for everyone who possesses great artistic and screening skills. The director is someone who controls the artistic and dramatic aspects of a film along with visualising the screenplay. Film directing is not something that asks for a specific gender. If anyone has appropriate talent and skill in addition to the technical knowledge of filming and cinematography, then the job easily fits.
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Any special needs
No
People with special needs should not choose a career as a film director. The career of a film director is not suited to everyone, specifically those with physical disabilities. Film Directing requires a lot of field research and physical movement. Hence, it becomes difficult for physically challenged people to match the profession.
Table of Contents for Film Director
What is the role of Film Director?
Individuals who opt for a career as film directors are responsible for things like defining artistic and dramatic aspects of filmmaking, selection of cast members, and production design. The director is one of the few professionals who are required to put their intimate involvement during every stage of filmmaking and film production. Hence, the position of a director is considered to be one of the most stressful and demanding jobs. The film director's job description includes performing additional roles such as producing, writing, or editing. Directors are also an important part of the post-production process.
During film production, the director is required to send ‘dailies’ to the film editor along with explaining the overall vision for the film or the particular scene, allowing the editor to assemble the editor’s cut. In post-production, the directors are responsible for working with the editors to edit the material into the director’s cut. Here in this article, we will be providing what film producers do, how to become a director or more specifically how to become a film director in India.
Pre- Production
Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to work in three different stages that are pre-production, shooting, and post-production.
Concept design
Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to coordinate all aspects of the script and producer’s approach to the picture in preliminary talks with the producer, analyse the script as a whole, analyse story structure, analyse structures, analyse characters, research period, events, general subject, and appropriate design elements, devise style, visualise styles, continue talks with the director on new ideas, come to an agreement with the director, discuss and come to an agreement with the production designer, discuss and come to an agreement with a technical adviser.
Blocking
Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to watch a rehearsal of the scenes to be shot. They are required to devise a shot list with the director. The roles and responsibilities of a film director also include a selection of lens and composition, making sure composition and movement fulfil scene tasks, workout mechanical problems with the camera, and crane grips.
Planning
Individuals who opt for a career as film directors check and approve all call sheets and shooting orders of the day’s work. They watch the rehearsal of the scene to be shot, device shot list with the director, choose the lens and composition, show to the director for approval, make sure of composition and movement, fulfil scene tasks, workout mechanical problems with the camera, crane groups, set any camera-movement cues, place stand-ins and rehearse and fine-tunes, ensure proper coverage of scene for the editor, work with an assistant director on background action.
Testing
Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to shoot tests for style, shoot tests for the lab, shoot tests for the lighting of principal actors, shoot tests for camera and lenses, shoot tests for wardrobe and makeup, shoot tests for any special effects processes, unusual rigs props or methods.
Quality control
The film director's job is to select and approve crew, film stock, lab, equipment, second-unit, and visual-effects crews, supervise the manufacture and testing of newly modified equipment, visit sets under construction, approve wild elements, ceiling pieces and moving set pieces, check lighting-fixture crew, walk locations and stages with all departments to discuss requirements, approve set colours and textures, check dailies screening rooms for correct standards.
Under implementation, film directors are required to cast stand-ins, train crew to use any new equipment, walk locations and stages with the director and devise a shooting plan, make a list of special equipment for the production manager and indicate a number of days required, work with assistant director on shooting schedule, estimate and order film stock, generate and approve rigging and shooting manpower and man-days, visit cast run-throughs and rehearsal, advise and back up director on any problems, help production problems.
Types of a Film Director
We have mentioned below the Film Director career options or the types of a Film Director.
Film Editor: As a film editor, you are required to conceptualise, shoot & edit a variety of patient stories, along with the educational script, that drive the organisation’s objectives, often under strict deadlines, in an ever-changing production landscape, able to juggle various projects, including coordinating pre-production work.
Tape Editor: The tape editors are the professionals who are required to execute the live webcast of the court session including operating a high-definition switcher, 4+ cameras (some robotic), on-screen graphics overlay, audio mixing, digital encoding for live and archival streams and ensuring adequate operation of the closed captioning interface.
Film Critics: Film critics and reviewers are the professionals who write essays or articles describing a movie's content and plot analysing its theme and evaluating how engaging the viewing experience was. These types of director's work include interviewing actors and actresses or other individuals involved in making/ producing a film. To perform their job, film critics usually take notes or create outlines during a film so that they can thoroughly and accurately write their reviews. They might also be required to research a subject or the technical details of a film.
Screenwriter: A screenwriter, also known as a scenarist, is a professional who writes screenplays for television, film, video games, and comics. Screenwriters are required to be good at writing, and storytelling, and have a vivid imagination. Screenwriters love movies and television and think they have the passion to make it in this competitive industry. With hundreds of feature films, and dozens of television movies and weekly series produced each year, somebody must be writing screenplays.
Cinematographer: A director of photography, also known as a cinematographer, can be defined as the head of camera and light crews working on a movie, entertainment television production, news, sports, or any other form of live production piece. These types of director's work include taking artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The area is referred to as cinematography.
What is the workplace/work environment of Film Director like?
Our lives have been connected and engaged with cinema for a very long time now and the Indian cinema industry has completed 107 years. But film direction is not just limited to working for the cinema industry making films or serials, there is a lot more to it that one can expect. Film direction is a work of imperative passion and hard work.
The work environment for film directors is not a cakewalk. Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to work at odd hours putting in much more effort than most of the crew members. This section contains relevant information regarding the work environment, working hours, certain shifts, nature of work, workplace specifics, and much more.
Does Film Director require travelling?
Likely
Individuals who opt for a film director career are required to work across various locations both countrywide and globally. Travelling is an essential part of the directing career. Depending on the demand of script and production houses, the professionals can be working anywhere around the world. The travelling expenses are covered by the production house they work for, which includes travelling fair, accommodation compensation, food and beverages.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Directing a career is a full-time job. Individuals who opt for a film director career are required to make important decisions related to filmmaking and the creative approach to shooting. Hence, the professionals are required to work on shoot locations and stay there for days, even months, if required. The working hours are not fixed and there is no particular starting and shutting downtime in the directing career. It all depends on the script and production requirements.
Employment Nature
Permanent
Individuals who opt for a film director career are required to usually work on a contract basis. The professionals are hired for a particular project and are required to work until all the requirements of the project are met. However, there are some production houses that hire film directors on a permanent basis to work on several smaller projects rather than a long-stretched film.
Work Place
Home Office, Office
Film directors are expected to work outside at real locations most of the time. In directing career the professionals working for big media productions sometimes work in big film or project sets.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
Almost every media or production house is based in Mumbai, making it a hub for film directors. As a film director, you are expected to work in Mumbai for at least one project. However, the odds are you’ll be working in Mumbai for a lot of your film projects as the film city is situated in Mumbai and all the big banners and production houses have their headquarters in Mumbai. The secondary cities for the cinema and filmmaking industry would be New Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Time Pressure
Likely
The time pressure for directors is quite high. Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to perform long and arduous tasks in a limited set of time. The professionals are also required to work under unfavourable weather conditions and late-night shifts are not something new in the industry. Depending on the project and the deadlines, film directors are sometimes required to work for months continuously in different sets of locations around the country or world. The working hours are not fixed and there is no particular starting and shutting downtime.
Overtime Details
On a usual basis, film directors are required to work for 12-14 hours per day. The work hours can be extended depending on the requirements of the project. There are no specific work hours. Sometimes, their work starts at night because of the demand for a script. Hence, the work hours vary from project to project. Quite often, they are required to work overtime to complete a shoot or meet a deadline.
Weekly Hours of Work
Individuals who opt for a career as a film director are required to work under certain shifts depending on the script of the project. Quite often, they work all day long for continuous days or months until the shoot is completed. Most of the creative decisions are made with the advice of film directors hence they often work post-production helping in important decisions like quality control, editing and enhancing, and many more.
How to become a Film Director?
Steps to become a Film Director
If you have ever dreamed of bringing stories to life on the big screen, this guide on how to become a film director will navigate you through the essential steps, from honing your creative vision to mastering the technical aspects of directing, and ultimately, making your mark in the dynamic film industry. So let us get started:
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Film Director?
Storytelling: Individuals who opt for a film director career spend hours, months and even years physically making a film, but there’s no way they can make a successful film without having the skills required for written and visual storytelling. It is obvious that not everyone can write a creative script and create the best storyboards.
Everyone can surely foster the skills needed to understand, draft, evaluate, and analyse stories, along with written scripts, and wordless visual stories. As film directors, they are required to understand the story they are trying to portray in order to create a story well throughout every element of the production.
Technical Skills: It becomes important for you to make sure that your requirement is invaluable, which means that as a film director, you have the technical experience needed to do the job right and do it well. It is not mandatory for candidates to be an expert in every element of filmmaking, but it is sure important to have knowledge of what a good shot looks like and how to achieve it.
It includes framing, staging, lighting, and the actual technology that should be used. In other words, for as long as a candidate knows how to do things, they will have an easy time learning how to do them.
Creativity: Creativity is an essential part of filmmaking and film direction, and it is impossible to make films without creativity. To claim yourself to be a film director, you are required to invest your time in understanding the range of filmmaking specialities. As a film director, you need creative talent to be able to visualise the production of the film.
From the very beginning of the filmmaking process till the end, you are required to see the filmmaking from everyone’s perspective, everyone feeds into and off of the ideas for the film. Individuals who opt for a film director career have to be both creative and flexible, this way you can always find a way to contribute to a film, whether you are just starting out, or running the show.
Problem-Solving Ability: Individuals who opt for a career as film directors are required to play many roles, and it is important for them to be responsible for every task their position requires, and they should be able to contribute to every section by understanding how their work is affected and affects the work of everyone around them.
Film directors are required to act as a leader whenever necessary. Film direction is not easy, the film directors will be required to face problems they do not know how to solve, have dilemmas that will complicate their vision, and might even encounter problems that will require them to make difficult decisions before moving forward.
Communication Skills: Irrespective of the industry one works in, communication is the key. But when you are a film director working on set with countless other crew and cast members, having good communication skills is essential. Without the ability to communicate effectively, no amount of experience or film-directing expertise can help you bring a vision to life and effectively communicate a story. Effective communication makes sure that everyone working on the production is on the same page on and off the set, whether it includes explaining your own artistic vision or clarifying your role in creating a film.
Popular Online Arts And Crafts Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Film Director?
We have provided below several certification courses that you may opt to upgrade your skills and knowledge for a film director's role.
| Digital Filmmaking Course in India | Vfx Film Making |
| Digital Filmmaking Course in India | Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen |
Internship Availability
Internships are a great way to learn and develop technical expertise in the industry and have a comprehensive understanding of all the factors responsible for film production. A film director job is a creative and artistic work, hence there are a lot of internship opportunities available for students aspiring to become filmmaking professionals. These internships help the students to develop advanced skills and enhance their professional working skills along with developing a great portfolio. Careers in the film industry are rapidly growing.
In the internship, the candidates can work as an intern assisting the camera production team, motion control operator, assistant director, assistant production controller, camera operator, and camera assistant. The main goal of internships is to teach the candidates about professional work in the industry hence it requires them to be very attentive, observing huge to little details applied in filmmaking.
Career Path Progression for Film Director
Assistant Director: Starting as a production assistant or assistant director, one gains hands-on experience in various aspects of filmmaking. Progressing to directing short films or independent projects showcases creative vision and storytelling skills.
Director: As experience accumulates, directing larger productions like TV episodes or feature films becomes attainable. Successful directors may establish their production companies or work on high-budget projects, collaborating with renowned industry professionals. Continuous learning, networking, and a strong portfolio are pivotal in advancing along this path, leading to a fulfilling and influential career in film direction.
What is the job outlook for Film Director?
Film direction is one of the most prominent majors offered in the universities that offer the course, hence it is expected to get very competitive in the future. More the experience in the industry, the more important and difficult it gets to be ahead of the competition. The film director job is expected to grow as much as up to 10 per cent in the upcoming ten years.
Careers in the film industry are rapidly growing. This rate of growth ensures that the competition remains fierce in this industry with new talent entering the industry every year and engaging in the field. The art of film direction is not only limited to making fictional movies. Science and technology is also a wide area where the use of film direction plays a crucial role. Moreover, documentaries and non-fictional series are becoming popular and there is a huge scope in that area.
The problems encountered in this field are such as the requirement of a network in order to get a job, the ability to present oneself and be around people who can help you move past many barricades in your directing career, unlike other desk jobs, professionals are required to stay up late at night in order to get a perfect shot.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Film Director
Que. How much does a film director make?
Ans.In India, the initial pay for a film director would be somewhere between Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 95,000 per project which increases with the gain in experience upto anything between 20-30 lakhs per project. The compensation mentioned above is on an average basis. It can decrease or increase depending on the skills and experience one possesses.
Que. How many hours does a film director work?
Ans.On a usual basis, the film directors are required to work for 12-14 hours per day. The work hours can be extended depending on the requirements of the project. Film directors work in outdoor settings for most of the time. They shoot in a real location which can be anywhere across the globe. There are no specific work hours. Sometimes, their work starts at night because of the demand for a script. Hence, the work hours vary from project to project. Quite often, they are required to work overtime in order to complete a shoot or meet a deadline.
Que. What skills do cinematographer need?
Ans.Cinematographer are required to possess skills such as group leadership, as well as the ability to maintain a singular focus even in the stressful and fast-paced environment of the production set.
Que. How do you become a film director?
Ans.More and more schools are offering bachelor's and master's in film directing. Most film directors typically hold a bachelor's in film or a related field and have several years of work experience. They often begin their film directing career as a film editor, actor, or assistant to an established director.
Que. How to become a director without film school?
Ans.There is no compulsion to have formal education but you are required to atleast certification courses or diploma courses if you opt for formal education your resume will be valued and will be given first preference.
Que. What subjects are needed to become a film director?
Ans.The subjects that are needed to become a film director are film editing, cinematography, screenwriting and film history.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
In the 1970s, India cinema overtook America as the world's largest film producer and the term 'Bollywood' was coined.
Fact 2
Released in 1937, Kisan Kanya, a film about the plight of poor farmers, was the first Indian film in colour.
Fact 3
Bollywood produces around 1000 films every year – almost double the output of Hollywood.
Fact 4
'Indra Sabha', an opera about a prince's romance with a fairy, has an incredible 71 songs in it – the most in any Indian film.
Fact 5
Fatima Begum became Indian cinema's first female director in 1926 with Bulbul-e-Paristan.
