Directing: More Than Fame And Fortune

Perhaps, the most important position in film production is the director. The director can make or break a film. Once a film is released, the director receives the credit for its success or the blame for its failure. He carries most of the responsibilities in the filmmaking process; the director leads the creative team in the making of the film. The key person in the making of a film is the director, the individual who visualizes the script and guides the production crew and actors to carry out that vision. The director has artistic control over everything from the script itself to the final cut of the film. It is the director's sense of the dramatic along with the creative visualization of the script that transforms a story into a well-made motion picture. The director is usually selected by the producer. Along with the producer, the director then puts together the production team (Wikipedia). The director gains input from many people in the creation of the movie, but in the end he holds the final say during the production process. The director holds the most essential position on the production team.

Most of the world's feature films are made in the United States making Hollywood the center of filmmaking; Because of this, directors are some of the most important people in the film industry. Filmmaking is a risky business due to the thousands of films that are made each year with very few making it into the box office. Due to the risky nature, many directors have large gaps in their work schedule where they are simply not working. Working against deadlines and staying within budget while dealing with other production problems put a great deal of stress on the director; work hazards such as this may not be for everyone. There are also the hazards of shooting on location. A film may require that the production team shoots in the sweltering heat of the desert or in the blistering cold of the arctic tundra such as George Lucas in the making of the Star Wars films. These hazards should be considered before taking a job on a production team especially that of the director. The director is required to be on set at all times to ensure he is getting the shots needed to complete the film. Depending on the type of job, the director's salary varies. Many low-level directors can make around $30,000 a year whereas many prestigious directors can make millions per film. The risky nature and stress of the job make the glamour of directing a bit scary for beginners.

There are many times of directors in the film industry with each holding different job responsibilities. One lower tier position is the art director. He designs the environment of the film to create the mood required by the script. This may call for lavish expensive sets or shooting on location. Art directors decide how to best translate the environment visually so that it is eye catching and appealing to the audience. Although the art director is an important position, the film director ranks higher in the hierarchy. The director is second only to the producer. Film directors work in every stage of film production putting them in charge of all creative and technical aspects of the film. Their main job is to translate the script onto film. The director must also perform various other tasks such as conducting auditions and directing the entire cast and crew. His approval is needed on all scenery, costumes, music, choreography, and even the location (BLS). The director heads a large team of people, but most notably the assistant director. The assistant director takes care of some of the less important jobs of film production such as hiring extras in the film. The director's influence can be seen in every aspect of film production.

Many people can get into directing through many different ways. Essential qualities needed for a director is the ability to deal with many people and the ability to perform well under stress. No training is necessary to become a director; most directors are chosen due to their experience, talent, and good judgment. Most people try to break into directing by first gaining experience as assistant directors, actors, or writers. Many times two or more of these jobs are performed by the director. It isn't odd to see a person performing the role of director, writer, and producer. George Lucas has performed all of these roles with his Star Wars franchise. Beginners can also gain entry into the industry through many of the film schools across the country.