How to Become a Director for Film and TV
Becoming a director for film and TV is a dream for many film enthusiasts. If you can’t resist the allure of the silver screen, you may be interested in pursuing this exciting, fulfilling career. There is no straight path that leads to a successful career in directing. In fact, most directors find themselves in the role after spending several years working in other areas of filmmaking.
What Are the Responsibilities of a Film Director?
Let’s begin by exploring the responsibilities of a film director. Most directors wear many hats and need some basic knowledge of all aspects of filmmaking throughout all stages of production. The director is in charge of guiding each team through the production process to turn their united creative vision into a reality on screen.
Here are some of the film director skills you may need if you wish to pursue this career.
- Interpreting the script
- Coming up with an artistic vision, including tone, mood, and style
- Collaborating with heads of department to ensure the artistic vision is executed
- Taking part in the casting process
- Leading the production by directing actors and collaborating with the DOP
- Oversee the film editing process to assemble shots and incorporate sound and music in post-production
How to Become a Director
Now that you have a better idea of the director’s typical responsibilities, let’s look at a step-by-step guide of how to become a film director.
Learning Your Craft
Because film directors have such a wide range of responsibilities throughout the filmmaking process, young aspirational directors certainly have a lot to learn. The more you know about the basic principles of storytelling and the practicalities of filmmaking, the more confident you will feel leading a team through the production process.
Study All Kinds of Films
Begin by becoming an avid and critical film-watcher. Try to watch as many films as you can. Broaden your tastes, and make a point of seeing films from all genres, styles, and time periods.
By watching a wide variety of films, you’ll begin to refine your artistic tastes and your analytical eye. Make note of which filming styles you most admire. Do you prefer standard, classic framing, or are you excited by more experimental, artistic shots? Are you a fan of naturalistic, overlapping dialogue, or do you find more heightened acting effective? By asking yourself these sorts of questions, you’ll begin to develop your own unique filmmaking style.
Of course, you may find that your directing style shifts and changes depending on the script you are working with. However, by watching a range of films, you’ll begin to understand how various styles can contribute to a film’s storytelling and aesthetic appeal.
Learn about All Aspects of Filmmaking
The primary role of a film director is to create a stylistic vision for the story and the script that will create the desired effect on the audience. In order to make sophisticated, nuanced choices, you will need to understand how each and every department functions throughout the process.
For this reason, it can be incredibly useful to take some courses in other aspects of filmmaking. Many directors learn about acting, cinematography, sound mixing, and so on, in order to understand the tools they have at their disposal.
Seek Out Internships and Entry-Level Roles on Film Sets
In the film industry, experience is often the best teacher. You will learn a huge amount by simply experiencing life on set and watching professionals at work. Try to find a role as a crew member on a film set.
If you have little to no experience, looking for production assistant roles is a great place to start. Production assistants help out in various departments. The role will give you the opportunity to see the director at work. Notice the versatility and creativity required during each stage of filmmaking.
The more you understand the ins and outs of life on set, the better prepared you will be to take on more responsibility in other filmmaking job roles. When you finally begin to direct your own films, you’ll come to set armed with this valuable experience.
University Courses for Film Directors
Many film directors take the route of formal education. Filmmaking courses can be an excellent way to hone practical skills and pick up vital technical knowledge. Several film schools in the UK offer degree programs in film directing, but you’ll also be able to find a range of excellent part-time directing courses.
Here a few examples of some of the country’s best film schools and their undergraduate and postgraduate courses that are available for aspiring film directors:
- MetFilm School – 2-Year and a 3-Year BA in Filmmaking, an MA in Directing, and several short courses in filmmaking
- London Film School – MA in Filmmaking
- NFTS – Specialised MA in Directing Fiction, Documentary, TV Entertainment, or Animation
- London Film Academy – BA in Filmmaking, or 4-Day Directing Certificate
Technical Film Director Skills
Film schools will teach you the basic techniques of filmmaking that every director should know. You will learn about the standard shot setups, camera angles, and framing devices that are traditionally used in film. You’ll learn about how to manipulate the viewer’s emotions with your films by exploring the power of close-ups, colour palettes, lighting techniques, and sound.
You’ll also learn all about the power of editing. The editing room is where shots are spliced together by the editor and director. The choices that are made during this process can transform the quality and power of the film. Understanding the power of editing is crucial for any director.
Thorough knowledge of all of these techniques will enable you to visualise the final version of the film while you are on-set. The ability to foresee the final product will help you to make sophisticated, well-informed directorial choices during production.
Industry Connections
Attending one of these film school courses can also arm you with invaluable tools and industry connections before you enter the “real world”. Most film courses include a module in which you’ll make your own short film. While you’ll learn how to confidently lead your crew on set, you’ll also leave with professional footage for your showreel, giving you a leg up in the competitive industry.
Finding Your First Jobs
Once you’ve experienced life on set as an assistant and/or you’ve completed a filmmaking course or two, you’ll probably be itching to start making your own films. Finding a foothold in the industry can seem difficult if you have little experience. Try following these steps to begin your career in directing.
Seek Opportunities Online
There are plenty of websites where you will find producers and screenwriters looking for someone to direct their project.
( Opportunity to discuss FILMD maybe?)
Make a Short Film
If you are struggling to find your way into larger production companies, the best thing to do is to start making your own work. Collaborate with friends in the industry to create your own short film. You may write your own script, or you might prefer to create a makeshift production company with connections you’ve made in film school or on set.
Creating a short film will give you the chance to submit a project to film festivals where your work may gain more traction and become noticed by larger players in the industry.
Find a Role on a Film Set
Almost every well-known director began their career elsewhere in the filmmaking world. In fact, it’s almost impossible to start directing films without first establishing yourself as a capable cinematographer, actor, writer, editor, first AD, or another crew role.
By working as a crew member on set, you’ll begin to form connections in the industry. You’ll also begin to make a name for yourself and establish a reputation. This will help you to get hired in more and more advanced roles on set.
Self-Promotion
In order to direct your own films, you will need funding and support. Most young directors begin with a few of their own self-funded films before they are noticed by production companies and writers.
Make a Showreel
In order to show off your previous work, you’ll need a showreel. Cut together a small reel of your best work. This could include short films, web content, small commercials, and so on. The next time you come across someone looking for a director, you’ll have your showreel ready to go as an example of the style and quality of your work.
Submit to Film Festivals
Make your own work and submit it to film festivals. There are a number of well-respected short film festivals in the UK where your work might get noticed.
- BFI Future Film Festival – London, open to young people aged 16-25, includes industry-led workshops on creating a career in film
- East End Film Festival – London, jurors have included Joe Wright, Peter Bradshaw, Amma Assante, and Peter Bradshaw
- Raindance Film Festival – London, largest indie festival in the UK
- Aesthetica Short Film Festival – York, films have gone on to win BAFTAs and Oscars
- Norwich Film Festival – Norwich, patrons include Stephen Fry, Brian Cox, Olivia Coleman, and Julian Jerrold
Getting accepted into a film festival is a great way to kickstart your directing career and make some valuable connections that will serve you later in your career. You’ll also be exposed to useful workshops and talks where you will continue to learn about the art of filmmaking.
Make Networking a Priority
In every sector of the film industry, from acting to editing, it’s all about who you know. If you really want to know how to become a film director, the simple answer is that you will need to make networking a priority if you wish to progress into larger and larger projects as time goes on.
Use every interaction with industry professionals as an opportunity to network. Practice being friendly, engaged, and outgoing. Introduce yourself to as many people as you can and tell them about your previous work.
There is also a lot of opportunity for online networking. Create a professional Twitter profile and follow the professionals you admire in the industry. Post about your work and film screenings. Plenty of hopeful filmmakers find work by posting their showreel online, so investing in online self-marketing is well worth the time and effort.
Keep Experimenting and Learning
As a director, you should always be trying to create something fresh and exciting. The best films offer something unique to the world of film. Keep experimenting with directing techniques and keep challenging yourself to create material that excites you and your audiences.
By staying artistically curious and playful, your work will speak for itself and will draw in more and more viewers. While the industry is tricky to navigate, especially for young directors, try to keep your artistic integrity at the forefront of your work.